Lorene Rogers
Encyclopedia
Lorene Lane Rogers was an American
biochemist
and educator who served as the president of the University of Texas at Austin
in the 1970s, who has been described as the first woman in the United States to lead a public university
.
as Lorene Lane, she was awarded a bachelor's degree from North Texas State Teachers College (now the University of North Texas
), majoring in English. She met her husband, Burl Rogers, when she was in college and she had been employed as a school teacher after she graduated. Her husband, a biochemist, was hired by a New Jersey chemical company and was killed in a 1941 explosion there.
At a time when biochemistry was a "field dominated by men", Rogers decided to follow in her husband's footsteps, figuring that "if he liked chemistry so well, that she wanted to pursue it also." She earned a master's degree and a doctoral degree in biochemistry from the University of Texas at Austin and taught at Sam Houston State College (now Sam Houston State University
) before returning to Austin, Texas
.
She was named as interim president of the University in September 1974, succeeding Dr. Stephen H. Spurr, who had just been dismissed after becoming the school's fifth president in a six-year period. She became president in 1975, and was variously described as the first woman to be president of a major state university or was believed to be the first. Faculty members were critical of the appointment, claiming that they should have been involved in the selection process, and protest rallies were conducted by faculty and students demanding that she resign. President Rogers and the Board of Regents were the target of a 1975 lawsuit filed by Philip L. White
and seven other UT Austin professors, who claimed that they had been denied raises as part of an effort to stifle their dissent, in violation of the First Amendment
rights. She served as president of the university until 1979.
In a 1975 profile, she described how she had "never been one who pushed ahead and scratched the walls trying to climb my way up". She stated that "I had no plans or ambitions to become a career woman. If my husband had lived, I probably would have been a housewife."
William C. Powers
, president of The University of Texas at Austin at the time of her death, described how she was "the first and only woman to serve as president of the university, a position she accepted under difficult circumstances. She was not afraid to make tough decisions."
Rogers served as a director of Texaco
starting in 1976, serving until 1989.
Rogers died at age 94 on January 11, 2009 of natural causes in Dallas.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
biochemist
Biochemist
Biochemists are scientists who are trained in biochemistry. Typical biochemists study chemical processes and chemical transformations in living organisms. The prefix of "bio" in "biochemist" can be understood as a fusion of "biological chemist."-Role:...
and educator who served as the president of the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
in the 1970s, who has been described as the first woman in the United States to lead a public university
Public university
A public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government, as opposed to private universities. A national university may or may not be considered a public university, depending on regions...
.
Early life and education
Born on April 3, 1914 in Prosper, TexasProsper, Texas
Prosper is a town in Collin and Denton counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 2,097 at the 2000 census.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,097 people, 678 households, and 589 families residing in the town. The latest 2009 census brought Prosper to a population of...
as Lorene Lane, she was awarded a bachelor's degree from North Texas State Teachers College (now the University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
), majoring in English. She met her husband, Burl Rogers, when she was in college and she had been employed as a school teacher after she graduated. Her husband, a biochemist, was hired by a New Jersey chemical company and was killed in a 1941 explosion there.
At a time when biochemistry was a "field dominated by men", Rogers decided to follow in her husband's footsteps, figuring that "if he liked chemistry so well, that she wanted to pursue it also." She earned a master's degree and a doctoral degree in biochemistry from the University of Texas at Austin and taught at Sam Houston State College (now Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University was founded in 1879 and is the third oldest public institution of higher learning in the State of Texas. It is located in Huntsville, Texas. It is one of the oldest purpose-built institutions for the instruction of teachers west of the Mississippi River and the first...
) before returning to Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
.
University career
She had been a researcher at the University of Texas at Austin, but her application in 1962 for a teaching position was rejected, despite the fact that she had already taught courses in the chemistry department. She ultimately was given a position as a professor of nutrition in the university's home economics department, before becoming a full professor, assistant director of a biochemical institute, associate dean of graduate studies and vice president.She was named as interim president of the University in September 1974, succeeding Dr. Stephen H. Spurr, who had just been dismissed after becoming the school's fifth president in a six-year period. She became president in 1975, and was variously described as the first woman to be president of a major state university or was believed to be the first. Faculty members were critical of the appointment, claiming that they should have been involved in the selection process, and protest rallies were conducted by faculty and students demanding that she resign. President Rogers and the Board of Regents were the target of a 1975 lawsuit filed by Philip L. White
Philip L. White
Philip Lloyd "Phil" White was an American history academic and civil community organizer. A tenured professor of early American history at the University of Texas at Austin from the 1960s through 2000, White is acknowledged by many citizens of Austin, Texas, to have been a primary architect of...
and seven other UT Austin professors, who claimed that they had been denied raises as part of an effort to stifle their dissent, in violation of the First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
rights. She served as president of the university until 1979.
In a 1975 profile, she described how she had "never been one who pushed ahead and scratched the walls trying to climb my way up". She stated that "I had no plans or ambitions to become a career woman. If my husband had lived, I probably would have been a housewife."
William C. Powers
William C. Powers
William Charles Powers Jr. is the 28th president of The University of Texas at Austin, a position he has held since February 1, 2006....
, president of The University of Texas at Austin at the time of her death, described how she was "the first and only woman to serve as president of the university, a position she accepted under difficult circumstances. She was not afraid to make tough decisions."
Rogers served as a director of Texaco
Texaco
Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand....
starting in 1976, serving until 1989.
Rogers died at age 94 on January 11, 2009 of natural causes in Dallas.