Hilda A. Stein (1895-1985)

Professor Hilda A. Stein was born in Belleville, Illinois, in February 1895. She obtained her Bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois Normal College (now SIUC) and from 1914 to 1925 taught at Belleville, Waterloo, and Carbondale Community High Schools. She received her Master's degree from the University of Illinois. Subsequently, she furthered her education at the Oceanographic School (Washington); the Ohio State University; the University of Chicago; and the University of Washington. By 1929, she had joined the faculty of Southern Illinois Normal College and served Southern as an untiring and devoted educator for 33 years. Following retirement from SIUC, she continued to devote her life to southern Illinois through community and university activities. She was awarded Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, named in Who's Who of American Women, Who's Who in the Midwest, Who's Who in Education and other such publications, named "Outstanding Woman of the Year" by Theta Sigma Epsilon and "Woman of the Year" by Carbondale Panhellenic, and received the "1968 Alumni Achievement Award for Distinguished Service to the University and the Alumni Association" plus the "Arc of Epsilon Pi" from Alpha Gamma Delta, with whom she continued to serve as scholarship advisor for the undergraduate chapter until her death. She died in 1985, shortly after her 90th birthday.

Miss Stein contributed as a member and often as an officer to such professional organizations as the American Association for the Advancement of Science, National Education Association, National Association of Deans of Women, Illinois State Academy of Science, and American Association of University Women (state president twice, local chapter president once).

Closer to home, she served The Nature Conservancy (local charter member, membership chair, treasurer), the SIU Alumni Association (Vice President), the League of Women Voters (Jackson County President), the Carbondale Garden Club, the SIU Employees Credit Union (formerly Jackson County Teacher Credit Union -- Board of Directors, Vice President, Secretary, President), the Carbondale Community Council, and the Altrusa Club.

Among the university-related organizations she served was Delta Sigma Epsilon (establishing the first national sorority on Southern's campus and serving as National Vice President and Editor). Under her influence, the Alpha Delta chapter of Delta Sigma Epsilon was the first national sorority at Southern. In 1960, the group moved into "Hilda A. Stein Hall" (104 Small Group Housing). The local group was later designated as the Beta Eta Chapter of Alpha Gamma Delta.

Through the SIU Foundation, a "Hilda A. Stein Loan Fund" was established for seniors of Alpha Gamma Delta and a "Hilda A. Stein Scholarship" was established to be awarded as warranted to a student in Zoology to study ornithology.

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Last updated: 25-Aug-11 / ghw