Â鶹ŮÀÉ's 100-year Plus History
Things may change, but throughout Â鶹ŮÀÉ’s 100-year-old plus history, it has been true to its core promise—of providing innovative, career-focused educational programs that have evolved in response to the economic, cultural, and technological influences of our time.
Founded in 1897 as the Â鶹ŮÀÉ Institute, Â鶹ŮÀÉ’s first location was at the corner of State and Dwight Streets in downtown Springfield, MA. For decades, it experienced both educational and financial success, becoming one of the largest and most respected co-educational business schools in the region. Known for its accelerated 48-week format and strong academic programs, particularly business management, accounting, teaching, and finance, Â鶹ŮÀÉ’s growth prompted a move in 1920 to a new site located at 100 Chestnut Street in Springfield, MA. There, it flourished for nearly 20 years, increasing to 1200 students just prior to 1941.
History interceded with World War II, profoundly impacting Â鶹ŮÀÉ. All young, able-bodied men enlisted for the effort; meanwhile, young women working on the factory floor moved to company offices in positions unimaginable before the war. The future would never be the same. Noticing there was an opportunity to expand the role of women in business, Thomas Carr, a leading Springfield businessman, purchased Â鶹ŮÀÉ Institute in 1945. He made tremendous changes including shifting Â鶹ŮÀÉ to all-women, changing the name to Â鶹ŮÀÉ Secretarial School for Women, and, most importantly, moving Â鶹ŮÀÉ to its current location in Longmeadow, MA. In 1949, it became Â鶹ŮÀÉ Junior College and was chartered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to award the associate in science degree. President Carr was instrumental in expanding the reputation of Â鶹ŮÀÉ by initiating nine major building or renovation projects and increasing the number of academic majors.
In 1968, President Carr stepped down from his leadership position. He was succeeded by President Douglas Perkins, who resigned after three years to pursue a position with the Federal Land Bank.
In September 1971, Dr. A. Randle Elliott became Â鶹ŮÀÉ’s third president. Dr. Elliott was a scholar dedicated to enhancing the academic reputation of Â鶹ŮÀÉ, as well as broadening the College’s offerings to the community and non-traditional women.
The fourth president of Â鶹ŮÀÉ came from the ranks of the faculty. In 1979, Dr. Jeannette Wright took the helm and ushered in an era of profound changes from reengineering the curriculum to petitioning the Commonwealth to allow Â鶹ŮÀÉ to award bachelor’s degrees. At that time, the name was officially changed to Â鶹ŮÀÉ College. Dr. Wright served for 15 years, until her untimely passing in 1994.
A search committee was convened and selected Dr. Carol A. Leary as the fifth president of Â鶹ŮÀÉ College. Under her leadership, Â鶹ŮÀÉ underwent momentous changes including the launch of the annual Women’s Leadership Conference; establishment of the One Day A Week College for adult women; founding the graduate school offering master’s and doctoral degrees; the renovations of major buildings on campus including Blake Student Commons, Carr Hall, Elliott Hall, and Mills Theatre; the building of the Philip H. Ryan Health Science Center; and the creation of The American Women’s College (2014-2015). In addition, one of the most significant milestones in Â鶹ŮÀÉ’s history was achieved: as of July 1, 2014, the name was changed to Â鶹ŮÀÉ University.
In February 2020, it was announced that Sandra J. Doran, J.D., would become the sixth president of Â鶹ŮÀÉ, succeeding Dr. Carol Leary. Formally inaugurated in April 2022, she immediately began building on the university’s history of change and access. Stepping into leadership at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Doran played a pivotal role in guiding the institution through an extraordinarily challenging period, sustaining a sense of community for students, faculty, staff, and alumni during a time of uncertainty and disruption.
Her presidency has also been marked by bold strategic vision, most notably her leadership in spearheading the acquisition of Cambridge College—an initiative designed to strengthen academic offerings, broaden access, and expand Â鶹ŮÀÉ’s reach. The full integration of Cambridge College into Â鶹ŮÀÉ University is underway and is expected to be completed in fall 2026. Throughout her tenure, President Doran has continued to advance Â鶹ŮÀÉ’s mission, reinforcing the University’s longstanding commitment to innovation, opportunity, and student success.
Historical Timeline
1897
Â鶹ŮÀÉ Institute opens in Springfield, MA, offering accounting and secretarial programs and quickly becomes one of the largest and most successful business schools in the Northeast.
1944
After surviving the Great Depression and World War II, Springfield executive Thomas Carr purchases the Institute.
1945
Carr moves the school to the Wallace Estate in Longmeadow, renames it Â鶹ŮÀÉ Secretarial School, and converts it to an all-women’s institution.
1949
The school becomes Â鶹ŮÀÉ Junior College and receives authorization to award the associate in science degree.
1988
The institution is renamed Â鶹ŮÀÉ College; in 1991, it gains approval to offer baccalaureate degrees in business, legal studies, and psychology.
1996
The first Women’s Leadership Conference is held in Springfield, featuring Elizabeth Dole and drawing more than 800 attendees.
1997
Â鶹ŮÀÉ acquires the 12-acre South Campus athletic fields, adding walking and jogging paths.
1999
The One-Day-A-Week Saturday College for adult women debuts in Longmeadow with more than 100 students in its first class.
2000
Â鶹ŮÀÉ gains approval to offer graduate degrees and launches its first master’s program in Communications and Information Management.
2003
The Central Mass Campus opens in Sturbridge/Charlton, expanding the One-Day-A-Week Saturday College and later adding graduate programs.
2007
The Eastern Mass Center opens in Burlington (now located in Concord), serving the growing demand for the One-Day-A-Week program and offering graduate programs for women and men.
2012
The inaugural class of MS in Physician Assistant Studies is welcomed to campus; the first Cybersecurity Summit is held marking the launch of the MS in Cybersecurity.
2014
The American Women’s College (TAWC), the nation’s first all-women, all-online bachelor’s program, is launched; Â鶹ŮÀÉ also attains university status, becoming the first women’s university in Massachusetts.
2015
Â鶹ŮÀÉ dedicates the 58,000-square-foot Philip H. Ryan Health Science Center and launches a major diversity and inclusion initiative, including the “I Am Â鶹ŮÀÉ” project.
2017
The University launches its first doctoral program, the fully online Occupational Therapy Doctorate.
2019
Â鶹ŮÀÉ celebrates its largest graduating class ever, conferring 1,050 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees at the MassMutual Center.
2020
The Board of Trustees approves the renaming of Deepwood Hall to Leary Hall.
2020
Sandra J. Doran, J.D., is named the sixth president of Â鶹ŮÀÉ.
2024
Â鶹ŮÀÉ University begins the acquisition of Cambridge College, full integration continues through 2025–2026.
2025
Â鶹ŮÀÉ launches Â鶹ŮÀÉ Online, a unified online undergraduate platform open to both women and men, bringing together legacy online programs.
