The Roles and Contributions of Women in Nazarene Higher Education, 1895-1980

At the end of the nineteenth century, a holiness revival swept across the United States of which a denomination called the Church of the Nazarene developed. An essential part of that denomination's formation was an educational system which would provide the Church of the Nazarene with educated clergy and laity to secure the future of the denomination. This study reviews briefly the historical background which led up to and the founding of this denomination as well as the establishment of six colleges sponsored by the Church of the Nazarene. It focuses on the roles and contributions made by women who served in Nazarene higher education. In the early years, women served as initiators, administrators, and frequently comprised 60% of the faculty at each educational institution. As the colleges grew and sought accreditation, the composition of administration and faculty changed from predominately female to predominately male. As men returned from World War II service and took advantage of the GI bill to advance their education, more men with doctorates were available at the time when the issue of faculty preparation was critical for colleges to become accredited. During the period after World War II, the gender composition of faculty at Nazarene colleges was no larger than 30%. The last woman dean retired in late 1968. Short vignettes are included to present some of the women who were part of the historical background and those who were part of the establishment and development of the colleges of the Church of the Nazarene.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ed.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• David, Albertta Verne

Contributors dc:contributor

• Fley, Jo Ann

• Religion, History of
• Women's Studies
• Education, History of

Identifier

(UMI)AAI9329007

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/71938