During her time studying as an undergraduate, Stuart was a part of Virginia State College's Delta Sigma Theta chapter.

The case even brought significant changes to the educational policies towards African-American students of the State of Virginia at that time.

After being "rejected respectfully" by the University of Virginia on her application for studying a Master of Arts in French,[4] Stuart tried to seek advice and assistance from the NAACP.

It is an organization which aims "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.

"[5] The NAACP "had threatened court action in an effort to compel the University of Virginia to admit a Negro graduate student".

[6][7] The National Student League (NSL) wrote a highly publicized letter to the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia and President John Newcomb condemning their action.

It passed House Bill 470, the Dovell Act, which promised to pay qualified black applicants the additional amount of tuition and travel expenses required to attend school outside the state offering a similar course of study.

Because of the Act, Gregory Swanson[9] finally broke the color barrier in 1950 and became the first African-American student at the University of Virginia Law School.

[11] Though Jackson's actions were important in the long process of desegregation at the University of Virginia, the first African-American student was not accepted at the graduate level until Gregory Swanson in 1950.