Emilie Watts McVea

McVea taught at her alma mater, St. Mary's School in Raleigh, and in 1898 became the school's "lady principal".^[3] After a break to attend college in Washington, D.C., she taught English literature at the University of Tennessee^[4] and at the University of Cincinnati; at the latter school she was also dean of women from 1909 to 1916.^[5]

McVea was the second president of Sweet Briar College, in office from 1916 to 1925.^[6][7][8] Her tenure saw the school expand and improve in endowment, campus facilities, and reputation.^[9][10] After she retired from the presidency for health reasons in 1925,^[11] succeeded by Meta Glass,^[3] she taught English at Rollins College in Florida.^[12][13]

She was a co-founder of the Southern Association of College Women from 1903 to 1904,^[14][15] chaired the Education committee of the Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs in 1916,^[16] led the Cincinnati Woman's Club,^[17] and was active in the women's suffrage movement and the YWCA.^[3][5] During World War I, she toured as a lecturer supporting the YMCA and wartime food programs.^[18] She wrote biographical articles for the Encyclopedia Americana (1920), and two monographs, Equal Franchise in Ohio and Suggestions for Teaching Literature in the Grades.^[1]

McVea was presented with two honorary doctorates, from the University of Cincinnati in 1916^[19] and from the University of North Carolina in 1921.^[3]

McVea died in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1928, aged 61 years.^[10][18][20] Her grave is in Raleigh's Historic Oakwood Cemetery.^[3] Sweet Briar College honors the highest-ranking student in each class as an Emilie Watts McVea Scholar.^[21]