Helen Gray Edmonds was born in Lawrenceville, Virginia. She went on to become a distinguished educator, historian, and civic leader. Edmonds was the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. from Ohio State University (1946) and later became the first African American woman to second the nomination for a U.S. presidential candidate at a major political convention (Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1956).
She also served as the Dean of the Graduate School at North Carolina Central University, breaking racial and gender barriers throughout her career. Edmonds was a lifelong advocate for education and public service, and her legacy continues to inspire scholars and leaders.
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