Alfreda Johnson Webb

Alfreda Johnson Webb was a professor of biology and a doctor of veterinary medicine.

Born February 21, 1923 in Mobile, Alabama. Died October 14, 1992.

Early life and education

Webb was born February 21, 1923 in Mobile, Alabama. She earned a BS from Tuskegee Institute in 1943 and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) in 1949 from the Tuskegee Institute (now University) School of Veterinary Medicine.[1] Webb was the first of two African American women to graduate from a school of veterinary medicine in the United States in 1949.[2][3] She then took Faculty Study Leave from Tuskegee to earn a master's degree (M.S. in Anatomy) from Michigan State University in 1950.[4]

Professional veterinary positions

She began her career as an instructor in anatomy at Tuskegee in 1950 and remained there until 1959 rising to the rank of associate professor. She then moved to Greensboro, North Carolina and became professor of biology at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University (NC A&T) from 1959-1978 and professor/coordinator of Laboratory Animal Science from 1977 until her retirement. Her research areas included histology, cytology and embryology.

During her time at NC A&T in the late 1970s, Webb served on the planning committee for the school of veterinary medicine for North Carolina which was founded at North Carolina State University in 1981.[5]

Political and government positions

Webb served in several positions in the Democratic Party in North Carolina. Webb was the first African-American woman in the North Carolina General Assembly in 1972 after her appointment in 1971 by Governor Robert W. Scott.[6] In the Who’s Who in American Politics (17th ed, 1999)[7] she is listed as Member at Large, Democratic National Committee, North Carolina. Formerly she served as Chairman of Minority Affairs for the North Carolina State Democratic Executive Committee, delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1976, and president of Democratic Women of North Carolina. She also served on the North Carolina Council on Sickle Cell Syndrome.[8] and the Board of the NC Center for Public Policy Research. She retired from the position of state minority representative in 1978 to run for the state House in Guilford County.[9]

Family Life

Alfreda Webb was married to agronomist Dr. Burleigh Webb and they had three children, two sons and one daughter.[10] She died October 14, 1992. and she was the first black women that earned a veterinary degree in 1949.

Memberships

  • American Association of Veterinary Anatomists
  • Sigma Xi

Honors and Awards

  • Award for Political Excellence, Alpha Kappa Alpha, 1972.
  • Distinguished Alumni Award, Tuskegee University, 1972
  • NC A&T Agriculture Hall of Fame, 1999

References

  1. ↑ American Men & Women of Science: A biographical directory of today's leaders in physical, biological and related sciences. 19th edition. New Providence, NJ: R.R. Bowker, 1994. p. 579.
  2. ↑ Nolen, R. Scott. Tuskegee's diversity legacy continues today. JAVMA News, February 15, 2010. https://www.avma.org/News/JAVMANews/Pages/100215b.aspx
  3. ↑ Adams, E. W. The Legacy: A History of The Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine. Tuskegee, AL: Tuskegee University Media Center Press, 1995. Pg. 29
  4. ↑ Adams, E. W. The Legacy: A History of The Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine. Tuskegee, AL: Tuskegee University Media Center Press, 1995. Pg. 39
  5. ↑ , Curtin, T. The College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University : a personal perspective of its founding. Raleigh, N.C. : North Carolina Veterinary Medical Foundation, 2010. http://d.lib.ncsu.edu/collections/catalog/ua145_001-curtin-cvm-history
  6. ↑ Hairston, Otis L. Greensboro North Carolina. Arcadia Publishing, 2003.
  7. ↑ Who's Who in American Politics. 17th edition, 1999-2000. New Providence, NJ: Marquis Who's Who, 1999. p. 1667.
  8. ↑ Women in Public Office. A biographical directory and statistical analysis. First edition. Compiled by Center for the American Woman and Politics. New York: R.R. Bowker, 1976. p. 259.
  9. ↑ Associated Press. Democrats to recruit minorities. The Dispatch (Lexington, NC), Feb. 22, 1978. V. 96, n. 252, p. 1.
  10. ↑ Adams, E. W. The Legacy: A History of The Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine. Tuskegee, AL: Tuskegee University Media Center Press, 1995. Pg. 237. (see also information on p. 29 and 39)
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