Mable Parker McLean (1922 – January 27, 2012) was an American academic administrator who served two terms as president of Barber–Scotia College from 1974 to 1988 and 1994 to 1996.
Mable Parker McLean | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President of Barber–Scotia College | |
| In office 1974–1988 | |
| Preceded by | John Gresham |
| Succeeded by | Tyrone Burkette |
| In office 1994–1996 | |
| Preceded by | Asa T. Spaulding Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mable Parker 1922 |
| Died | January 27, 2012 (aged 89) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Barber–Scotia College Johnson C. Smith University Howard University |
Life
editMcLean was born in 1922 and was raised near Southern Pines in Moore County, North Carolina.[1][2] Her mother died when she was nine years old and she was raised with her younger sister by aunts and her grandmothers.[3] She moved from Carthage to Concord in 1939.[3] McLean completed her first two years of undergraduate studies at Barber–Scotia College, graduating in 1941.[3] She finished a bachelor's degree in education from Johnson C. Smith University.[1]
McLean worked as an elementary school teacher.[3] She served as an instructor at Bowie State University.[3] She completed a master's degree in education at Howard University.[1] She completed post-graduate studies at Northwestern University, Catholic University of America, and Harvard University.[1] From 1947 to 1963, she was an instructor at Johnson C. Smith University.[3] She was a professor and head of the elementary education department at Barber–Scotia College from 1963 to 1973.[3] From 1973 to 1974, she was a college dean.[3] In 1974, McLean became its ninth president, succeeding John Gresham.[1][3] She was the first female president.[1] At the time, she was the nation's only Black woman college president.[3] She was succeeded by Tyrone Burkette in 1988.[3]
In 1986, she became the first female elected chair of the council of presidents of the United Negro College Fund.[1] In 1993, she was inducted into the National Black College Hall of Fame.[3] From 1994 to 1996, she returned to Barber–Scotia College as its president, succeeding Asa T. Spaulding Jr..[1] She served as its interim president in 2006.[4]
Personal life
editMcLean married Earl McLean, her high school sweetheart in 1955.[3] They had a son.[3] Earl died in 1981.[3] McLean died on January 27, 2012, from heart failure.[2][4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h Bates, Gerri (2007). "These Hallowed Halls: African American Women College and University Presidents". The Journal of Negro Education. 76 (3): 373–390. ISSN 0022-2984. JSTOR 40034579.
- ^ a b "In Memoriam: Mable Parker McLean (1922-2012)". The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. 2012-02-11. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "President's Mission: Restore Barber-Scotia". The Charlotte Observer. 1995-08-25. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-11-26 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Mable McLean Obituary (2012) - Kannapolis, NC - Concord & Kannapolis Independent Tribune". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2023-11-26.