Ruth Schmidt's tenure as the first female president of Agnes Scott College marked a period of innovation and growth at the institution.
Sarah Blanshei of Decatur experienced the last four years of Dr. Schmidt's leadership, from 1990 to 1994. The college dean fondly recalled years of change coupled with encouragement from the president to develop a strategic academic plan.
The Atlanta Semester Program is one initiative from those years that resonates with the retired educator. It brings students from other colleges to campus each spring to take classes, intern and interact with powerful female leaders.
Dr. Blanshei called Dr. Schmidt's tenure a "rich period" for the institution because of programs like that and others.
"She was in that generation of ‘first' women -- the first this or that -- and she brought a new perspective to the college," Dr. Blanshei said. "The perspective of a woman."
On Monday, Dr. Ruth A. Schmidt of Atlanta and Decatur died of natural causes at Piedmont Hospital. She was 79. A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at North Decatur Presbyterian Church. Agnes Scott is planning a June campus service. A.S. Turner & Sons is in charge of arrangements.
In 1952, Dr. Schmidt graduated summa cum laude from Augsburg College in Minneapolis with a bachelor's degree in English. Three years later, she earned a master's in Spanish from the University of Missouri, followed by a doctorate in the language from the University of Illinois.
Afterward, she began her career teaching Spanish and English at Detroit Lakes High School in Minnesota. Three years later, she became a professor of Spanish at Mary Baldwin College. Another teaching stop was the State University of New York at Albany, where she rose to dean of humanities.
From 1978 to 1982, she was provost and a professor of Spanish at Wheaton College. She then came to Agnes Scott, where she served as president from 1982 to 1994. She made diversification of the faculty and student body, along with international study, part of her priorities.
In the mid-1980s, she created Agnes Scott's Global Awareness, an introductory program that includes a campus course and travel abroad. Recent excursions have been to Japan and India.
"It was already a great college, but during her tenure she really brought it along," said Dan West of Decatur, a former college trustee. "She was not only a scholar and respected faculty member, but she was an excellent businesswoman. She left that college in excellent financial condition."
In retirement, Dr. Schmidt traveled extensively, often to support efforts in developing countries. She was active in the Georgia Women's Action for New Directions (WAND), an organization that works to reduce militarism and violence. The peace advocate opposed American involvement in the Middle East. She was a member of Stand for Peace, a group that has held a Friday noon peace vigil in Midtown the past seven years.
While her accomplishments as an educator are noteworthy, niece Lorene Brown of Chanhassen, Minn., said her aunt was much more than a college president.
"She would like to be known for her vigils for peace in the world and empowering women to do what they are capable of doing," Mrs. Brown said. "That was her main thing."
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