In celebration of Women's History Month, State University of New York Chancellor John B. King, Jr. announced on March 27, 2023 the Dr. L. Eudora Pettigrew Women's History Summer Research Excellence Grants as one of two new initiatives to promote research into the significant role women have led in the development of New York State and to recognize the contributions women leaders have played in the state and the region.
Named in honor of the first Black college president in the SUNY system when she was appointed to Old Westbury, the Dr. L. Eudora Pettigrew Women's History Summer Research Excellence Grants will provide five SUNY undergraduate students with the opportunity to pursue an innovative community-based applied-learning experience in women's history.
Working under the advisement of campus faculty members, and each receiving a stipend and other financial support, those selected will conduct original research at New York historical sites, libraries, historical societies, museums, and other institutions. Participating students will be expected to document their studies and share the results of their research on their campus and through a SUNY system administration social media spotlight in the fall.
In addition to the Pettigrew grant program, SUNY announced the Dr. Virginia Radley SUNY Fellowship Program. Named in honor of the first woman to be appointed as a SUNY state-operated campus president. Dr, Radley led SUNY Oswego from 1977 until 1988. the Dr. Virginia Radley SUNY Fellowship Program provides support for a SUNY faculty member with scholarly expertise in history.
"As we celebrate the significant impact women have had in leadership roles in New York State, I am honored to announce these two initiatives to support the research excellence of SUNY students and faculty exploring women's history," said SUNY Chancellor King. "SUNY's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion includes addressing current gender inequities, which requires an honest and complete accounting of history."
SUNY Board Chairman Merryl H. Tisch and SUNY Board Trustees Eunice A. Lewin, Courtney Eagles Burke, Alexandria Chun, Camille Joseph Varlack, and Christy Woods said, "Phenomenal women have broken barriers and made lasting contributions to our state. As the largest comprehensive system of public higher education, it is SUNY's role to elevate women's history in New York, recognize those before us, tell their stories of struggle and triumph, and, in doing so, inspire our future leaders for generations to follow. The research initiatives announced today help ensure their legacies will live on."
Dr. L. Eudora Pettigrew was named SUNY Old Westbury's president in 1986 and stayed in that role until 1998. Before leading Old Westbury, Dr. Pettigrew was the first Black professor to chair a department at Michigan State University in the 1970s and the first Black leader in central administration at the University of Delaware, where she was named associate provost for instruction in 1981. Dr. Pettigrew served as chair of the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP)/United Nations Commission on Disarmament Education Conflict Resolution, and Peace, which promotes global awareness and competence as well as peace and international understanding through education.
Dr. Pettigrew earned a bachelor's degree from West Virginia State College and master's and doctorate degrees from Southern Illinois University. In addition to her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, Dr. Pettigrew received three honorary doctorate degrees: the first Ph.D. from the University of Pretoria, South Africa in 1997; the second from Holy Family University in Philadelphia, PA in 2002; and the third from Western Connecticut State University in 2004. In 1991, she received the Distinguished Black Women in Education Award, the National Council of Negro Women's highest citation. Dr. Pettigrew passed away in December 2021.