Ellen Fitz Pendleton

Ellen Fitz Pendleton (August 7, 1864 – July 26, 1936) was an American educator. She was president of Wellesley College for 25 years and notably expanded it financially and physically. Early life Pendleton was born in Westerly, Rhode Island on August 7, 1864. She was the youngest of nine children of Enoch Burrows Pendleton and Mary Ette (Chapman) Pendleton, and a descendant of Brian Pendleton who was the first in her family line to immigrate to America from England in 1632 and settled in Watertown, Massachusetts. Career Pendleton attended Wellesley College and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1886. She then became a tutor at the college in 1886. She became a full-time instructor in mathematics at the college in 1888. Pendleton took post-graduate courses at Newham College in England in 1889–1890 and received a degree of Master of Arts from Wellesley College in 1891. In 1897, Pendleton became secretary at Wellesley College, holding that position until 1901 at which time she became associate professor of mathematics and put in charge of College Hall. In 1902, she became dean of the college. She served as acting president in 1910 before assuming the presidency as the sixth president of Wellesley College. She was inaugurated October 19, 1911, being the first woman graduate to be elected president.