Rose Embly McCoy, a longtime member of the faculty at Jackson State University in Mississippi, died at her daughter’s home in Hampton, Virginia. She was 97 years old.
Dr. McCoy grew up in South Carolina and attended the laboratory school of what is now Claflin University in Orangeburg. She earned a bachelor’s degree at South Carolina State University and a master’s degree at Teachers College of Columbia University.
Professor McCoy joined the faculty at Jackson State University in 1944. Other a leave of absence to pursue a Ph.D. in psychology at the University of Oklahoma, Dr. McCoy remained on the faculty at Jackson State until her retirement in 1980. She was the driving force in the creation of the psychology department at Jackson State University. When she retired in 1980, she was serving as chair of the department.
The main auditorium on the campus of Jackson State University is named in honor of Professor McCoy.