Mary Louise McBee, a long-time administrator at the University of Georgia, who also served in the state legislature, died on March 2. She was 96 years old.
A native of Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, Dr. McBee was a graduate of East Tennessee State University, where she later served as dean of women. Dr. McBee held a master’s degree in counseling and student personnel administration from Columbia University and a doctorate in counseling and psychology from Ohio State University.
McBee arrived at the university in 1963 as dean of women and worked under four university presidents before retiring in 1988 as acting vice president for academic affairs, the second-highest position at the University of Georgia at the time. She also held appointments as an associate professor of psychology and an associate professor of higher education. McBee was a role model and mentor to many women at the university and worked to expand opportunities for women in higher education. For her service to the university, the Louise McBee Professorship of Higher Education was established in the Institute of Higher Education and the annual Louise McBee Lecture was created in her honor.
Dr. McBee was member of the Georgia House of Representatives from 1992 to 2004. She served as chair of the House Higher Education Committee.