Opening Doors & Breaking Ceilings The Legacy of Janet D. Greenwood, Longwood's First Woman President

Dr. Janet D. Greenwood was named President of Longwood College by the Board of Visitors on March 16, 1981. She was the first woman president of Longwood, and the first woman president of a Virginia four-year state institution with graduate and undergraduate degrees.

Being the president of a State College, Dr. Greenwood was aware of the "fishbowl" environment she was in and that people would scrutinize her decisions and actions. However, she hoped that her success would open doors and inspire other women to seek leadership roles in the future.

Dr. Greenwood advocated for defining a Longwood education and she stressed emphasizing real world skills. She implemented the fourteen goals program, which required students to achieve each goal before graduation.

When Dr. Greenwood took over as President, Longwood had only one minicomputer with only a handful of terminals, and no computers for employees. By 1987, a mainframe computer with over 90 workstations, and 129 new computers had been installed across campus. As well, planning had begun for a campus wide telecommunications network. Dr. Greenwood knew that technology would be important to the future of education and she worked hard to implement new advances.

Under Dr. Greenwood's leadership academic programs grew and changed, an Honors programs in Arts and Sciences and a Special Education program were introduced. The Business Program was overhauled and the Home Economics program was discontinued. The Therapeutic Recreation program became the first nationally accredited undergraduate program in the United States.

Growth of community involvement was also important to Dr. Greenwood, and during her tenure, numerous community programs were created. She was a part of implementing the Southside Virginia Literacy Network to link community members to reading material, as well as other community programs such as fireside chats, picnics, and festivals all to help build trust with the local community. Additionally, Longwood opened its first Business Innovation Center which enhanced regional economic development while providing research opportunities for faculty and students.

There was also substantial growth in international programs, as Longwood partnered with an international school for the first time, exchanging 17 faculty members with a Finnish school. Study abroad programs grew quickly and international students were admitted more frequently during Greenwood’s administration.

Thanks to Dr. Greenwood’s leadership Longwood also secured funding for the planning of a new library. At the time, hopes were that Lancaster Library could be renovated for the second time to accommodate growth of the collection, but by 1987 it became clear a new library was needed. Dr. Greenwood convinced the General Assembly of the important need and the building was completed in 1991. In 2004, Dr. Patricia Cormier, Longwood’s second woman president, honored Dr. Greenwood by naming Greenwood Library in her honor.

Dr. Greenwood’s commitment to building the new library and advancing Longwood’s academic goals helped to fortify the school's place in the 21st century ensuring the school’s educational mission.

Photos from the Longwood University Archives and Special Collection: LU-085 President's Subject files, LU-117 Building Subject Files, and LU-123 Public Relations Collection.

Appreciate