Dr. Mary Louise Gehring
Dean, Westhampton College 1965-1976
Dr. Mary Louise Gehring was appointed to be the new Dean of Westhampton College on April 30, 1965. Prior to coming to the University of Richmond, she served for eight years as chair of the Department of Speech and Drama at Stetson University. She also taught at Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Louisiana State University, Mississippi Southern College, the University of Iowa and the University of Wisconsin.
She received her bachelor of arts degree from Baylor University. Her doctorate was from Louisiana State University. Dr. Gehring was the co-author of “Speech Practices” and was active in the Speech Association of America. She served as secretary of the Southern Speech Association and was a member of the American Association of University Women.
In WWII, she worked in Japan as a civilian employee with the War Department for a one-year period. She also served as an ensign in the U.S. Coast Guard.
President George M. Modlin announced her appointment and said that she had "the academic background, the leadership qualities and the traits of character and personality to make her successful in this position.”
During her tenure, the Fine Arts Building was completed, which she said “greatly helped the programs and morale of Westhampton students.” According to Claire Rosenbaum in A Gem of a College, this enabled Keller Hall to “revert to its original purpose of housing the Department of Health and Physical Education, student activities, and alumnae services. In addition, College Government once again had an office and a conference room, more rooms were available for students to use for dating and club activities, and the Director of Religious Activities was provided with enlarged quarters there.”
Dean Gehring worked to improve the residence hall facilities for Westhampton College students. In 1969 she reported that a new residence was needed to increase the number of rooms available and that the furnishings in North Court were long overdue for replacement. In August, 1974, Gray Court opened as the third Westhampton College residence hall.
In 1975, a new Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences was appointed to focus on faculty affairs, instructional matters and academics. This allowed the Deans of Westhampton and Richmond Colleges to focus on students and their needs, helping to better integrate the academic and extracurricular experience.
In 1976, Dean Gehring left Westhampton College to accept a position at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Claire Rosenbaum tells us: “While at Westhampton she… led the faculty and students with dedication, intelligence and strength through the changes which occurred after the Robins gift.”