Jessie Scott Hathcock

Jessie Valeria Scott Hathcock (April 24, 1894 – January 30, 1986) was an American humanitarian, educator, and civil rights leader active in Dayton, Ohio.

[2][3] In 1930, she completed her bachelor's degree in Education and became the first African American woman to graduate from the University of Dayton.

[8] On April 30, 1978, Hathcock received an honorary doctorate of humanities from the University of Dayton,[9] making her the first African American woman to do so.

After visiting India and witnessing begging and starving children, her founding and chairmanship of the Dayton and Miami Valley Committee for UNICEF in 1966 earned her the nickname, "Mrs.

[14] She also held positions on the Dayton Council of World Affairs, Volunteers of America, City Beautiful Council, Wegerzyn Garden Center board, YWCA, the American Association of University Women, and the Women's Board of Children's Medical Center (now known as Dayton Children's Hospital).

[15] Hathcock was a member of the Bridgettes, a group of socialites and civic service activists who met bi-weekly to play bridge and to host events in the Dayton community.

She and the NAACP assisted Andrew Freeman, a man accused of killing a police officer and sentenced to death.

The University of Dayton named its computer science building the Jessie S. Hathcock Hall in honor of her in January 2021.