Pam Massey

Mary Rippon (1850-1935) was born in Lisbon, Illinois. After completing high school, Rippon unsuccessfully sought higher education, which was unavailable to women during this time in the United States. Instead she spent five years studying in Germany, France, and Switzerland. Upon returning to America, Rippon began her career teaching high school in Detroit. After the continual persuasion of Dr. Joseph A. Sewall, Rippon’s former high school chemistry teacher in Illinois and the first president of the University of Colorado, Rippon joined the two-member faculty of the University of Colorado. She was the first female to teach men in a university classroom, in 1878.

Rippon’s career at the University of Colorado began with teaching French and German, some mathematics and English grammar. In 1881 Rippon was promoted to become a professor of German and French. That same year Rippon was also named the head of the Germanic Languages and Literature department, a position she would hold for the rest of her career at CU. Rippon also took on the role of Dean of Women, although it was unofficial until 1901.

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