Dear Vanguard Community,
On August 26, we observe Women’s Equality Day. This day commemorates the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which secured women’s right to vote in the United States. The milestone was the fruit of decades of organizing, vision, and sacrifice. The roots of that movement trace back to Seneca Falls in 1848, when reformers like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, joined by allies such as Frederick Douglass, gathered to declare that women deserved full equality. Their Declaration of Sentiments boldly proclaimed that “all men and women are created equal,” demanding rights in education, employment, property, and political life.
The Seneca Falls women were not content with the roles society prescribed. They envisioned a world where women could lead, think, vote, and shape culture alongside men. Their courage reverberated beyond politics; it challenged the theological assumptions of the day, which often claimed women’s voices belonged in silence. By raising their voices, these women planted seeds that would blossom generations later.
But 1920 also marks the founding of our beloved Vanguard, when our co-founder Huldah Needham described the school as “a vine of His own planting.” In Dr. Lewis Wilson’s history of Vanguard named for Needham’s vision, he names women along with men working together. The vine metaphor, referenced in John 15, has inspired generations of Vanguard leaders. Needham’s vision included space for women to participate fully in shaping a Christian academic community. In her imagination, women were not an afterthought; they were essential branches of the vine. Just as Seneca Falls was about claiming a voice, Vanguard’s story has always included women who leaned into their calling to teach, lead, and build His kingdom.
Wilson’s history mentions just a few of the early women, beginning with Huldah Eldridge Needham, Anne Eldridge, Betty Price, Christine Olsen, Faith Ginn, Florence Christie, Ila Borders, Josephine Turnbull, and Kathryn Knudson. However, a review of the Vanguard emerita faculty roster shows dozens more who were determined to ensure the pursuit of knowledge was open to all, grounded in both academic excellence and spiritual formation.
Conversations with alums remind us of women who have impacted Vanguard students in more recent decades. Nancy Heidebrecht, Elizabeth Dermody Leonard, Sheri Benvenuti, and Carol Taylor. Their classrooms and conversations created space where faith and intellect intertwined, and where women found encouragement to lead in churches, the public square, and communities. Dr. Benvenuti and Dr. Leonard co-founded what is now the Global Center for Women and Justice and launched a Women’s Studies minor. Dr. Leonard’s research on incarcerated women not only shaped scholarship but inspired generations of students to pursue justice. Space does not permit more stories; however, the research, teaching, and advocacy of these women demonstrate the contributions women have made in cultivating this vine of His own planting.
The Ongoing Story: LIFT GOLD Awards
The story is not over! It continues today. Think of the women on our campus making a difference right now. To celebrate their contributions, we are launching a new tradition. The LIFT GOLD Awards will honor Vanguard women who embody truth, virtue, and service in their leadership and lives. These awards are not merely symbolic. They link the present to the past and highlight the legacy of the women at Vanguard.
Each year, three women will be recognized for embodying one of our values – Truth, Virtue, and Service. This year, we will be honoring women across campus who exemplify the university value of Service based on these 3 core expressions:
- Community Involvement: Actively participates in initiatives that benefit women and the broader VU community, contributing to collective well-being and growth.
- Mentorship & Support: Serves as a source of guidance and encouragement, empowering other women to reach their goals and navigate challenges.
- Sustainable Impact: Models a lifelong commitment to service that creates meaningful and enduring change.
The nomination deadline is Friday, September 5, at 5:00 p.m. 🔗 Click here to submit a nomination . A list of eligible women is available on the link. We will celebrate with our colleagues in chapel on September 25.
Women’s Equality Day reminds us that women are not only equally created in God’s Image, but they are also called to serve as contributors to our Vanguard vision and mission to pursue knowledge, cultivate character, deepen faith in a Christ-centered, Spirit-led community.
Have a wonderful start to your semester!