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1974 Western College alumna was also Miami’s commencement speaker in 2021
By Josh Chapin, associate director of content
Fifty-two years have passed since Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins first stepped foot in Kumler Chapel. Then a part of the Western College for Women, Kumler was part of the place that helped Carolyn define, refine and realize the dreams of her life.
Carolyn was the first in her family to go to college. She was the first Black woman elected as president of the League of Women Voters of the United States. As an educator, author and powerful advocate for civil rights and social justice, Carolyn has not only realized many of her own dreams, but she has helped others reach theirs.
“I want to always be a dreamer,” Carolyn said as she stood once again in Kumler Chapel, this time as the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Miami University. President Gregory Crawford presented the honorary degree to her during the traditional hooding ceremony.
A 1974 graduate of Western College, Carolyn also earned degrees from John Carroll University (M.Ed.), Kent State University (Ed.S.) and Cleveland State University (Ph.D.) as she embarked on her career as a teacher and administrator. She served as president of the League of Women Voters of the United States (1998-2002) and was an important voice in the league’s Get Out the Vote Campaign as well as its Wired for Democracy project.
Carolyn was part of Western’s last graduating class. During its more than 100 years of existence, the school emphasized excellence of education for women, social justice, and a strong and unique emphasis on international studies and experience.
“Throughout her career and life experiences, Carolyn has shared her Western gift,” said Fran Hoffman, a 1965 Western graduate and the president of the Western College Alumnae Association. “Through her work, she continues to exude the leadership critical to change and further a legacy that enhances the lives of others.”
Miamians are very familiar with Carolyn’s inspiring story. She has donated more than 13,000 documents, videos, records, papers and ephemera from her life and career as part of the Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins collection for University Libraries’ Western College Memorial Archives Collection.
Carolyn was also the commencement speaker for Miami in 2021 and the third honoree of the university’s Freedom Summer of ’64 Award.
The Freedom Summer award was created to honor champions of civil rights and social justice. It is given in remembrance and recognition of the site at Western College, now part of Miami’s campus, where 800 young Americans trained to register Black voters in the South.
Carolyn noted she was just feet away from the marker that memorializes the efforts of those Freedom Summer dreamers.
“I am not only a dreamer, but the beneficiary of dreams,” she said. “By accepting this honor, I leave a dream for the future – this dream requires action. Our work is not over. We must stop talking about the dream and live the dream.”