Since the 196o’s, the role of the African American woman has certainly changed here at the University of Houston. African American women have transitioned from being students, to faculty, and even holding the most high office of university president.
Myra Conley, UH Alumni and Assistant Dean of Students, has seen change up close at UH. Conley arrived on the campus as a student in the 70′s, not long after the reign of Lynn Eusan, UH’s first African American Homecoming Queen. Lynn Eusan
“Historically, higher education has been dominated by white males”, said Conley, “Although our population of African American faculty is small, it has improved from when I was a student here.
Conley explained that when she was a student, most of the African American Faculty were in the African American Studies department, but now UH is more diverse.
Although the 70′s and 80′s was a time where many African American Women experienced racism and limitations, Conley said for her, that was not the case. “I’ve always had opportunities to move up, I never really experienced a glass ceiling,” she said.
A glass ceiling is the unofficial, invisible barrier that prevents women and minorities from advancing in businesses dominated by white men.
As UH faculty, Conley also had the opportunity to work under the leadership of Marguerite Ross Barnett, who was the first African American Female President of UH. Barnett “I was excited.” Conley said. “I feel her presidency here was timely and she was well qualified for the position.”
Barnett was president from 1990-1992. Her life was cut short when she lost the battle to cancer at age 49.
Conley said that she is proud of the progress that African American women have made and are continuing to make at UH and all around the world. “UH is a great place to be because there is so much diversity and the differences of people are acknowledged, embraced, and celebrated here,” she said, ”When I look at the news and I see what’s happening with other African American Women, they are buckling down, overcoming obstacles, stepping out of their environments and making things happen for themselves.”
There are signs of progress on this campus for African American women and African American women all over the world.
