Women’s History Month Spotlight: Dr. Bobbie Rowland

Women’s History Month is the perfect opportunity to honor one of the school’s female pioneers, former longtime Gaston College trustee Dr. Bobbie Haynes Rowland.

A 1951 graduate of UNC Greensboro, Rowland was named Professor Emeritus of Child and Family Development at UNC Charlotte after her 37-year tenure at that school ended, Rowland was Gaston College’s first female trustee in August 1971.

At the time, Rowland said she had to get her fellow male trustees accustomed to her presence at early meetings. “They would start off their statements in the meetings with, ‘Now gentleman….'” Rowland said.

Rowland served until the 1978-79 school year and had nothing but praise for the time she served. “It was the most forward-looking board I ever served on,” said Rowland, who served during the presidential tenures of Woody Sugg and Joe Mills and for Gaston Board of Trustees chairman Ed Stowe.

In her final year on the board, Rowland was joined by Linda M. Roberts, giving Gaston College two female trustees that year. Roberts served until the 1986-87 school year, and Mary Lou Craig joined the board for two years before Gaston College went without a female trustee in the 1989-90 and 1990-91 school years.

That would be the last time the school had an all-male board as Rebecca Carter joined in 1991-92 and served for four years.

Sarah Knowles (12 years), Mariana Davis (three years), and Johnnie Moore (six years) were other early female pioneers who served on Gaston College’s board of trustees.