Dr. Myra Dinnerstein, Contemporary Inductee, transformed the academic and cultural landscape of Arizona and the nation by pioneering one of the most respected Women’s Studies programs in the country. As the founding director of the University of Arizona’s Women’s Studies Program and the Southwest Institute for Research on Women (SIROW), she helped expand the presence of women’s voices in academia, creating a legacy for students and educators.

Born in 1934, Myra Dinnerstein earned her A.B. degree from the University of Pennsylvania, followed by her M.A. and Ph.D. in History from Columbia University. She began her academic career at the University of Arizona in 1974, where she was hired to create a new course on the history of women in America and to lead the development of a Women’s Studies program. At the time, women were nearly absent from scholarly curricula, and the notion of studying women’s lives and contributions was often dismissed or marginalized.

Undeterred by skepticism and resistance, Dr. Dinnerstein approached the task with both scholarly rigor and organizational skill. She built a substantial network of allies across campus, community and nationally who supported Women’s Studies. As one of the early leaders of the Women’s Studies movement, universities and colleges across the country sought her out to provide advice, mentor emerging leaders, evaluate programs, and guide conversations around gender equality. At the national level, she was a founding member of both the National Women’s Studies Association and the National Council for Research on women. She represented and organized the Southwest region. Her leadership and advocacy helped shape Women’s Studies as a serious and respected academic discipline.

Dr. Dinnerstein championed the integration of women’s scholarship into the broader university curriculum. She developed an interdisciplinary academic program that not only included coursework across departments but also introduced new feminist theories and methodologies into the curriculum. By 1975, the program launched a Women’s Studies minor with 11 courses and 20 enthusiastic students. Within a decade, she helped secure approval for a Women’s Studies major, and by 1995, a master’s degree. The program later added a Ph.D. in 2007, reflecting its national stature and scholarly excellence.

With support from major foundations, she led curriculum transformation initiatives that trained faculty across disciplines to incorporate women’s voices and experiences into general education courses. These efforts reached hundreds of faculty and influenced the academic journey of thousands of students. By 1999, due to advocacy from Women’s Studies faculty, the University of Arizona adopted new general education requirements focused on gender, race, ethnicity, and non-Western cultures.

A major part of her legacy was the creation of the Southwest Institute for Research on Women (SIROW) in 1979, funded initially by the Ford Foundation. SIROW became one of the most successful women’s research institutes in the nation, conducting more than 50 projects and raising over $33.5 million in grants by its 40th anniversary. SIROW’s work combined rigorous academic research with grassroots engagement, addressing critical issues affecting women and girls across Arizona, the Southwest, and the U.S.–Mexico border region. The institute supported projects on health, education, economic justice, and cultural diversity, many of which led to long-term community impacts and national recognition.

Dr. Dinnerstein was instrumental in bridging the academic and community worlds.  She built wide support across campus, engaging faculty from diverse disciplines, and formed the Women’s Studies Advisory Council (WOSAC), a group of community leaders and professionals who supported the department’s growth. She co-founded the Association for Women Faculty at the University of Arizona in 1981 to address pay equity and faculty inclusion, and she co-chaired the Millennium Project and its oversight committee to examine and improve the campus climate for women and faculty of color. 

Her scholarship also explored the intersection of gender, work, and family. Her book, Women Between Two Worlds: Midlife Reflections on Work and Family (1992), examined the lives of post-WWII women balancing traditional roles with emerging opportunities. She also co-authored influential articles on body image, aging, and curriculum change.

Dr. Dinnerstein’s contributions were recognized through multiple awards, including the YWCA Lifetime Achievement Award, the Woman of Excellence Award from the Southern Arizona Women’s Foundation, and induction into the University of Arizona’s Mortar Board Hall of Fame. She was also honored on the University of Arizona campus at the Women’s Plaza of Honor, a tribute to her enduring impact.

Now Research Professor Emerita at the University of Arizona, Dr. Myra Dinnerstein’s work laid the groundwork for the institutionalization of feminist thought and the academic advancement of women. Through visionary leadership and tireless advocacy, she elevated the status of women in academia and society alike. As a result, hundreds of students were exposed to female authors, artists, and scholars, learned about women’s issues, social movements, women’s lives, and the questions posed by the new scholarship on women. Her influence continues to resonate in classrooms, communities, and policies throughout Arizona and the nation.