Celebrating 50 Years
The fall of 2019 marks 50 years since Xavier’s undergraduate day program opened to women, breaking a 138-year, men-only tradition. To acknowledge this milestone, the campus will come together in a variety of ways. Through academic, student, athletic, mission, diversity, and alumni events and programming, we celebrate the contributions, achievements and sustaining impact that women have had—and continue to have—on Xavier University.
Moments from the Beginning
1914
New regulations mandating teaching certification led to the creation of the St. Xavier summer school program in 1914. In 1917, 93 nuns were enrolled in the downtown campus.
1926
Alumnae Association formed. Catherine Carter, a School of Law graduate, became the first president and Luella Sauer, also a charter member, helped to create an annual scholarship.
1973
The 1973 Homecoming half-time saw the reinstatement of the Homecoming Queen tradition along with the establishment of the position of Homecoming King.
Share and Celebrate with Us
All-year, we are celebrating the contributions, achievements and sustaining impact that women have made and continue to make on Xavier University. If you are among the pioneering women who helped blaze the trail for today’s women of Xavier we want to hear from you.
Women of Excellence
Created to honor, extend and advance the legacy of Xavier's and Edgecliff's extraordinary women graduates, as well as provide opportunities for women to grow as organizational and philanthropic leaders for the University.