WAUKESHA, Wis.— Carroll University made a historic decision four years ago: Cindy Gnadinger became the first woman to lead the Wisconsin college.  

“Sometimes, it’s hard to believe it’s been four years,” Cindy said. “It’s gone by very quickly.”

Another trailblazing woman comes to Cindy’s mind, as she reflects on how far women have come over the past century.

“No woman arrives where she is today, myself included, without the work of the women in generations before us,” Cindy said.

She’s referring to Theodora Youmans, a pioneer during the women’s suffrage movement, a Wisconsinites and a Carroll University graduate.

“Theodora Youmans is certainly a precursor to the kinds of female leaders we have today leading universities, media conglomerations, the vice presidency,” said Carroll University history professor, Dr. Abigail Markwyn. “If Theodora were alive today, I think she’d be thrilled to see the first female president here.”

Theodora became a journalist after school in the 1880s, getting the first and only byline for the Waukesha Freeman at that time. She eventually married the editor and became an assistant editor of the paper. 

“She became the first woman in Wisconsin to run for State Senate,” Markwyn said.  “She was appointed by the Governor as President of the State Board of Regents for normal schools.”

Cindy thinks of her own path, a former educator from the south, who has a family of her own.

“I took time off to be with my children and there were people who were very supportive,” Cindy said. “Others would say “you’re going to lose your tenure, I can’t believe you’re giving that up.”

A scenario, yet again, setting her apart from the men.  

“There will always be obstacles for women,” she said.  “You have to chose to go around them, or through them.”

Cindy tells female students on campus Theodora’s story, in hopes it will inspire their generation as it inspired her.

“Our young women here today know they too can be the next Theodora,” Cindy said.

In 2020, Cindy received a Women of Influence award from the Milwaukee Business Journal.