The motto that Carol Wise has lived by throughout her life is a telling one: If it is to be, it is up to me. That blend of can-do drive and optimism, along with her serious-minded work ethic, has brought Wise great success throughout her life. She worked in early childhood education upon college graduation, but later began a successful career as one of the first New Orleans women to work at Gertrude Gardner selling real estate. Her time at Newcomb College helped her see how powerful women’s leadership is, and that is why she believes in the Newcomb Scholars program, an undergraduate cohort that participates in an academically rigorous learning experience about feminist leadership.

I grew up in Chicago, and I chose Tulane partly because it was on the Illinois-Central railroad line. It was just after World War II, and when you were deciding on college, you had to take transportation into account; there weren’t as many airplanes or cars.

I came into a new environment, and Newcomb gave me a chance to see what women could accomplish and how important a woman’s voice was to the whole picture. Newcomb made me realize that women must have a voice in the community to make a difference. Newcomb gave women the confidence to be – across the board – very successful, whether they became a president, a vice president, or a homemaker.

I give to Tulane because of my beliefs in women’s rights. I give to Tulane because of my children and grandchildren’s love of New Orleans. I give to Tulane because it is making New Orleans a better place. By building a stronger university, we build a better community, city, state and country.