In Memoriam: Mable Parker McLean (1922-2012)

Mable Parker McLean, who in 1974 became the first woman president of Barber-Scotia College in Concord, North Carolina, died late last month as a result of heart failure. She was 89 years old.

A native of North Carolina, McLean earned a bachelor’s degree at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte. She held a master’s degree in education from Howard University and was awarded seven honorary doctorates.

She spent 60 years as an educator teaching at the nursery school through college levels. She spent 18 years as president of historically Black Barber-Scotia College in three different time periods, 1974 to 1988, 1994 to 1996, and 2006 to 2007. The college union building on the Barber-Scotia campus was named in her honor.