Celebrating Women’s History Month

Women have been an integral part of Columbia GS since its inception, dating all the way back to 1891 — before it was formally known as Extension Teaching (1904), then University Extension (1911), and later, the School of General Studies (1947) — when Columbia University began to offer classes to non-degree students and the general public, including women. To celebrate Women's History Month, we are highlighting many of the different women who’ve come through the doors of Columbia GS and have helped shaped our past and continue to build our future.

Three women served as Dean of the School of General Studies and have had a significant impact on the school and its history. Caroline Bynum (1993-1994) initiated the process of separating GS from what would become the School of Professional Studies, allowing GS to focus on its core mission of educating nontraditional students. She was also the first woman to be appointed University Professor at Columbia Univeristy. Gillian Lindt (1994-1997) oversaw the implementation of the administrative reorganization, finalizing GS’s shift to focusing on nontraditional undergraduates and Postbac Premed students. And our current dean, Lisa Rosen-Metsch ’90, is the first alumna dean of GS. “It is a deep honor to be the dean of this school,” she said in a Columbia Spectator interview. “My experiences getting to know the students and alumni of GS, and the staff and faculty have reaffirmed my excitement and my enthusiasm and how proud I am…we really are the premier school for nontraditional students.”