Trinity Washington University

Trinity Washington University stands as a historic beacon of women's education, founded in 1897 as the nation's first Catholic liberal arts college for women. For over seven decades, it championed the education of middle-class Catholic women, a group often underrepresented in higher education, laying a foundational legacy in empowering women through a rigorous liberal arts curriculum.

Faced with evolving educational landscapes in the late 20th century, Trinity boldly adapted its mission to serve a broader, more diverse community. In the early 1980s, it pioneered the first weekend college program in Washington D.C. for working women, a groundbreaking initiative that quickly garnered immense popularity and significantly expanded its reach. This innovative spirit continued under the leadership of alumna Patricia McGuire, who became president in 1989, strategically restructuring the university and actively reaching out to Black and Hispanic women within the D.C. area.

Today, Trinity Washington University is organized into three distinct schools: the foundational College of Arts and Sciences, the robust School of Education, and the dynamic School of Professional Studies, which saw significant growth in enrollment during the 1990s. This structure reflects its ongoing commitment to providing accessible, high-quality education to a diverse student body, preparing them for leadership and professional success while upholding its rich heritage of empowerment.