Kate Lupton

When Kate Lupton attended classes as an unenrolled observer in the 1870s, she understood women were only “listeners” at Vanderbilt. Despite her stellar academic record, she received her degree in secret and rejected the honor of valedictorian due to her “irregular connection with the institution.” Vanderbilt treated women as second-class students, subjecting them to gender-specific policies related to housing, dress, and social life. While some women found a way to exist and even thrive under these regulations, others took action to improve the experience of women at Vanderbilt by raising funds, protesting, and working around the system. Today, women have earned visible status and participate in every part of campus life in a way Lupton could never have imagined. This exhibit shares stories of trailblazers who challenged restrictions, demanded change, and created space for women not only to listen but also to lead.