Myra Dinnerstein

Myra Dinnerstein is a prominent advocate for women's studies, born in 1934. She pursued higher education at the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her undergraduate degree, and later at Columbia University, where she completed her doctorate. Dinnerstein's academic career led her to the University of Arizona, where she began teaching and eventually became a driving force in the development of women's studies.

As the founding director of the women's studies program at the University of Arizona, Dinnerstein played a crucial role in its establishment and growth. Launched in 1975 as an academic minor, the program flourished under her leadership, expanding into a full department that offered accredited undergraduate and master's degrees. Her dedication to the field was further demonstrated by her successful defense of the program against an attempt by the Arizona State Legislature to dismantle it due to the inclusion of lesbian history and achievements in the curriculum. After retiring in 2003, Dinnerstein's contributions were recognized with an honor in the Women's Plaza of Honor in 2005.