Nancy Stone Wilson ’50
Retired

Major: Spanish and French

Leadership roles: I was president of my sophomore class, on Student Council (now called Congress) my junior year, and vice president of Student Government my senior year. The big accomplishment was getting permission to stay out until 12:30 on Saturday nights. We also initiated a coordinating committee so we could work more closely with Hobart Student Government and talk to the administration with a united voice on issues that concerned both Colleges. For six years during the 60s, I was president of the Alumnae Association. It was a difficult time for the Colleges because many alumnae were upset with all the social changes going on.

Extracurricular activities: I sang with Schola Contorum all four years and occasionally went skiing at Turin, N.Y., on weekends

Favorite professor: Father Labigan with whom I had a Western Civ Discussion group

First job after College: I was a secretary in a publishing company. When my three children were in high school I had a part-time job as a secretary in a private school where I helped with college applications. My only real job was from 1976-1986 as administrative assistant in a small firm that did pension administration.

On the coordinate system
As far as book-learning education, I don’t imagine that it was much different from a typical co-ed college. During our time on campus, women were outnumbered about 3 to 1 and most of the men were 2-4 years older (veterans of WWII). Their more mature viewpoints made great contributions to classroom discussions. The great thing about the coordinate system was that women had their own yearbook, The Pine, their own literary magazine, The Ridge, their own athletic association, their own class officers, and their own student government. All provided opportunities for leadership and growth. Through my experiences there, I realized that women are just as capable as men.

Current events
I retired when I married again in 1986. I have been an active volunteer all my life and in leadership roles. I have cut back considerably in the past year. I’m a member of the Symphony Guild of Asheville and was on the Board and now am Treasurer of a DAR chapter in Asheville.