Wilhelmina Reuben-Cooke facts for kids

Wilhelmina Reuben-Cooke was a very important person who helped change history at Duke University. In 1963, she was one of the first five African American students ever allowed to study there as an undergraduate. She graduated with high honors.

Early Life and Family

Wilhelmina Reuben-Cooke was born in South Carolina. She was the oldest of six children. Her dad, Odell Reuben, was the President of Morris College, and her mom was also a teacher there.

Breaking Barriers at Duke

Wilhelmina Reuben-Cooke was one of the first five African American students to be accepted into Duke University in the fall of 1963. The other students were Mary Mitchell Harris, Gene Kendall, Cassandra Smith Rush, and Nathaniel B. White, Jr.

When she was a senior in 1967, Wilhelmina was chosen as "May Queen" for the Duke University Woman's College. This showed how much her fellow students respected her. After finishing her studies at Duke, she went on to earn her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1973.

A Career in Law and Education

Wilhelmina Reuben-Cooke had a long and impressive career. She worked as a lawyer at a firm called Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering. There, she handled many different types of law, including rules about communication, fair business practices, and company law.

Later, she became a law professor at Syracuse University College of Law in 1986. She then became an associate dean there in 1992. After that, she taught law at the University of the District of Columbia. She also became the provost and vice president of academic affairs for the university. This meant she helped lead the school's teaching programs.

Before teaching, she worked at Georgetown University Law Center. She helped lead a group that worked on public interest cases. She even worked on cases that went to the highest court in the country, the U.S. Supreme Court.

Wilhelmina Reuben-Cooke was a pioneer, meaning she was one of the first Black women to work in many of these important roles. Her career had its challenges, but she always stood strong. For example, in 2003, some people questioned her appointment as provost. However, the President of the University of the District of Columbia, William L. Pollard, strongly defended her, and it was later confirmed that the challenge was a mistake.

Awards and Recognition

Wilhelmina Reuben-Cooke received many honors and awards for her hard work and achievements:

• She was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, a very respected academic honor society.
• She was a Woodrow Wilson Scholar.
• She was Duke's May Queen.
• She received the Duke University Distinguished Alumni Award.
• She earned the Syracuse University Sojourner Truth Award.
• She was given the C. Eric Lincoln Distinguished Alumni Award from Duke's Black Alumni Council.
• She received the Black Citizens for a Fair Media Annual Award for Public Interest Advocacy.

Personal Life

Wilhelmina Reuben-Cooke was married to Edmund Cooke.

Legacy and Remembrance

Wilhelmina Reuben-Cooke passed away on October 22, 2019, at the age of 72.

In September 2020, Duke University honored her amazing life and contributions. They renamed the Sociology-Psychology Building on West Campus the Wilhelmina Reuben-Cooke Building. This was done to celebrate her role as a pioneer at Duke and her important work as a lawyer, law professor, university leader, and trustee for both Duke University and The Duke Endowment. Her legacy continues to inspire many.