猫咪头条

Etta Curtis and Dee 鈥楧oc Hunt鈥� Were Caring and Influential Campus Leaders 

To our readers: In 1972, Title IX of the Education Amendments was signed into law by President Richard Nixon. In a year-long celebration of the law鈥檚 50th anniversary, 猫咪头条 will recognize its individual pioneers and trailblazers, women influencers and administrators, and honor several teams and alumni groups at games and events on campus. Profiles on these women will be published in the Newscenter twice a month.

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥擨n 猫咪头条 University鈥檚 117-year academic history, many outstanding women made their mark on the school. Two of those influential and caring leaders were Etta Curtis and Dee 鈥淒oc Hunt.鈥�

Etta Curtis

In 1909, Curtis was 鈥淟ady Principal,鈥� a title that changed to Dean of Women in 1928. She served in that position until 1936. She was appointed alumni secretary in 1933. In the book, 鈥淟engthened Shadows: A History of 猫咪头条, 1907-1956,鈥� Curtis is described as 鈥渁 lady of refined culture, kind and sympathetic, rich in experience, firm and steadfast in purpose and prizing the cardinal virtues above everything else.鈥�

The 猫咪头条 history book also noted that Curtis was a tireless worker, on duty at all times, watching over the girls. Curtis made sure the girls didn鈥檛 visit each other during study hours and called for the oil lamps to be blown out at 10 p.m. She also worked to decorate and furnish the parlors and social halls, and contributed to many improvements on the campus. She retired at the age of 78, and a year later, the Memorial Building on 猫咪头条鈥檚 campus burned. Curtis wrote a check for all of her savings to help in its rebuilding, and she died a pauper in 1940.      

Dee 鈥淒oc Hunt鈥�

Hunt retired in 2017 as vice president of Student Development, after working at 猫咪头条 for nearly 40 years. During that time she held several roles: professor, coach, administrator, dean, department chair and other positions. Over the years, students gave her the nickname, 鈥淒oc Hunt,鈥� which was used by everyone on campus.

Hunt joined the GWU faculty in 1978 as associate professor of health education and physical education. She distinguished herself as a coach and consultant in the field of women鈥檚 athletics, particularly volleyball and softball. She also provided distinguished leadership to the Department of Physical Education, Wellness and Sport Studies as chair from 1988 to 1995 and again from 1998 to 1999. As the founding dean of the College of Education, Hunt provided innovative and energetic leadership, directing the program鈥檚 inception and accreditation from 1995-99.

She continued to teach physical education until 2010, when she was named vice president of Student Development and dean of students. In 2012, Hunt successfully directed the physical move of the Student Development division into the newly constructed Tucker Student Center, which she helped plan. The dedication ceremony was at the top of her list of favorite GWU memories. She once said, 鈥淩obert Tucker surprised me鈥攕urprised us all鈥攚ith an additional half-million dollar gift. He didn鈥檛 know he was going to do it. I鈥檒l never, ever forget that.鈥�

One year after her retirement from 猫咪头条, Hunt became the first faculty member to receive three emeriti titles. On May 4, 2018, she was honored for her service as a professor emerita of physical education, dean emerita of the College of Education and vice president emerita of Student Development. In 2020, the Dr. Dee M. Hunt Student Development Suite in Tucker Center was named in her honor. Hunt passed away on July 8, 2021.

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猫咪头条 University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to six professional schools, 14 academic departments, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., 猫咪头条 prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at 猫咪头条.edu.