Anna McKeag

Anna McKeag began teaching at the age of seventeen.  During this time she studied privately with professors from Washington and Jefferson University. She came to Wilson in 1892 as an instructor in English and was awarded an A.B. degree in 1895 concurrent with her teaching. After several years teaching at Wellesley, she was hired as President at Wilson in 1912. Although she was president for only three years, McKeag increased the stature of the college enormously. Under her leadership admissions standards were increased and the College Board of the Presbyterian Church ranked Wilson as a class A institution.  The curriculum was re-designed to match the leading women’s colleges of the era. The art and music programs were re-organized into departments rather than diploma programs.  She strengthened the faculty by appointing women with high scholarly attainment. She re-organized the business office, created the registrar’s office,  balanced the budget and increased enrollment.