Nancy Duke Lewis

Nancy Duke Lewis (1 November 1910 - 31 July 1961) was the Dean of Pembroke College, Brown University.

Nancy Duke Lewis graduated from the University of Kentucky with a master's degree in 1933.^[1] She subsequently studied at Syracuse University before joining the faculty at University of North Carolina.^[1] In 1943, she moved to Brown University, where she initially taught mathematics and was social director of Pembroke College.^[1][2] She held a series of administrative roles in the college: Assistant Dean (1944–47), Dean of Students (1947–49), and Acting Dean (1949–50), before being appointed as Dean in 1950.^[2][3]

In 1949, Lewis was the first woman to be awarded a grant by the Carnegie Institute for the study of the Administration of Higher Education.^[1]

Lewis was awarded honorary degrees by Tufts University (1956), Muhlenberg College (1957), Wheaton College (1960), and the Women's College of North Carolina (1960).^[4][5]

The Nancy Duke Lewis Chair was the first chair endowed at Brown University for a female faculty member.^[6] It is held by "a senior scholar in any field who is distinguished in any area of gender and sexuality studies".^[7] Since 2014 the chair has been held by Bonnie Honig, following Anne Fausto-Sterling (2009–2014), Nancy Armstrong (1992–2009), Naomi Schor (1985–1989), Joan Wallach Scott (1980–1985) and Rosalie Colie (1967–1972).^[7]