The Hankey Center
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The Hankey Center for the History of Women's Education established in 2003.
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Joan Hankey and classmates from the class of 1959 enjoy Reunion Dinner on the porch of the Hankey Center
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Amy Ensley, Director of the Hankey Center from 2010 - 2023, leads a group of social studies teachers on a workshop and tour of the Hankey Center
In her retirement, Joan also spent many hours volunteering in the college archives.
She felt so strongly that the historical collection was important and valuable to the history of women’s education that she and her family donated well over a million dollars to hire an archivist and secure a space worthy of the collection.
The Hankey Center was dedicated in 2003.
Joan later wrote “I am pleased at what has been and will be created in the Hankey name. the Hankey Center is a tribute to my parents. It is a lasting legacy to my everlasting gratitude to Wilson College for all the opportunities the college has afforded me through life.”
When Joan passed away in June of 2020, she left additional funds to increase the endowment of the Hankey Center. We are well positioned to expand the scope of our work in uncovering and raising up the voices of educated women in the United States and abroad. And so as we celebrate Women’s History Month and live in a world in which the vision and leadership of strong women is needed more than ever, we celebrate one Wilson Woman as well as all those who serve in uniform to protect our democracy.