Celebrating CSU women on #IWD2019

By CSU Media | March 8, 2019

In honor of International Women’s Day 2019, we’ll highlight a few very special ladies who have made their mark at Charleston Southern University and beyond.

June Scobee Rodgers

Dr. June Scobee Rodgers ’71, widow of Challenger Space Shuttle Commander Dick Scobee, founded the Challenger Center for Space Science Education to continue the crew’s educational mission. She shared that CSU prepared her for the unthinkable.

She said, “I learned at CSU that it’s how you react to problems that carry you across to a shore of calm with the rewards of overcoming difficulty that result in learning how to solve problems and seek new opportunities.” That strength helped June lead the nation to overcome tremendous grief after the 1986 Challenger accident.

Kandie Smith

Kandie Smith ’91 is currently a state representative for North Carolina State House District 8. She previously served on City Council for seven years and became the first female African-American to hold the title of mayor in the city of Greenville.

“I feel like my education allowed me to have the process to use critical thinking… in college, I was the treasurer for the student body [which] prepared me for this position,” Smith said. Smith also owns a business consulting firm in addition to her political role.

Barbara Mead

Nearly everyone has heard the name Barbara Mead while on campus. For the last 52 years (yes, you read that right), Mead has worked for the university in areas of enrollment and student services.

“The Lord has been so good to me,” Mead said at her 50th work anniversary celebration in 2017. “If I’m successful at anything, it’s because my parents taught me.”

Mead currently serves as the Associate Dean of Students, International Services Director for CSU.

Do you know a woman who deserves recognition for their work in the community? We want to hear about it! Submit story ideas to media@csuniv.edu.