Phenomenal Women

Bennett graduates go on to do amazing things with their lives.

By: IME EKPO

Dorothy Brown was the chief surgeon at the now-defunct Riverside Hospital in Nashville from 1957 to 1983. In 1966, she became the first African-American female to be elected to the Tennessee General Assembly. During her career, Brown also became involved in the passing of the Negro History Act, which required public schools in Tennessee to honor Negro History Week.

Yvonne Johnson is the first African-American to serve as Greensboro’s mayor. Johnson’s focus is on collaborative problem solving and mobilizing people from all areas to address issues that affect Greensboro. Johnson was first elected to the City Council in 1993. She was the mayor of Greensboro, North Carolina from 2007 until 2009.

Barbara Hamm is the first African-American woman news director in the United States. She has served as WHRO’s Chief Community Engagement Officer since January 2008.  She is responsibfor local television productions and programming, and hosts “Another View”, a program that examines issues of interest to the African- American community in Hampton Roads.