Mary Griffin papers

Biographical note

Agnes Marie Griffin, English professor, feminist, and innovative educator, was the sixth child of Michael and Margaret Griffin, born on December 25, 1916 in Chicago, Illinois. She studied music education at Mundelein College, where she received a Bachelors of Music Education degree in 1939. In 1961,after completing her doctorate, Griffin returned to Mundelein College, serving as Academic Dean. During her tenure as Academic Dean, Griffin greatly improved Mundelein’s curriculum. Introducing a three-term calendar, new majors, interdisciplinary seminars, Basic Study, Early Bird, Inner City, Foreign Study, and Honors Programs, and a freshman- sophomore advising system. Further, Griffin enhanced the national reputation of Mundelein College by increasing the size of the faculty, establishing an affiliation with the Central States College Association, and allowing Mundelein students to cross register in classes at Loyola University Chicago. In 1968, after seven years as Academic Dean, Griffin returned to teaching as a Professor of English. Griffin was a nationally recognized pioneer for her creative ideas in education. She organized the Weekend College (1974) and Master of Liberal Studies Programs (1983). The Weekend College Program allowed working adults to complete a degree without having to attend night school. The Master of Liberal Studies Program provided a student with a traditional liberal arts education. Both these programs were emulated at colleges and universities across the country.