ADA, Okla. - East Central University (ECU) alumna, Dr. Louise Young, is set to be honored at the annual Alumni Gala, the night before Homecoming, Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. in the ECU Foundation Hall, located inside the Chickasaw Business & Conference Center.
“I’m so honored to be named Distinguished Alumni,” said Young. “I never dreamed I would be recognized with such a high honor.”
A native of Ada, Okla. who lived only blocks away from campus, Young’s parents both attended ECU. These factors played a part in her decision to attend the university after she graduated from Ada High School.
“I dreamed of the day that I would go to ECU, just as my parents had.,” said Young. “That day came and I didn’t even consider any other college or university. None.”
She would attend ECU, graduating in 1969 and earning her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Geography with High Honors before going on to earn her Master of Arts (M.A.) from the University of Colorado in Boulder in 1970. There she met Vivienne Armstrong, with whom she formed a civil union in 2000 in Vermont and legally married in 2008 in California.
“Dr. Louise Young is an inspiration to every ECU Tiger,” said professor and chair for the Department of Politics, Law and Society, Dr. Christine Pappas. “She grew up riding her bike on the sidewalks of campus and loving ECU. She graduated from ECU and became a professor here.”
Young returned to ECU in the fall of 1971 and served as faculty for the Geography Department. In 1974, she co-taught a class on homosexuality, the first class of its kind taught in an Oklahoma college or university.
“As much as she loved ECU, her contract was terminated,” added Pappas.
At the end of the 1974 academic year, Young found out that her contract would not be renewed. She returned to the University of Colorado where she earned her Ph.D. in 1975.
Following her departure from ECU, Young was hired by Texas Instruments, where she worked on the technical staff of TI's Ecological Services, and later became a software engineer in its defense segment.
She also pursued national advocacy of gay rights, joining the national board of what would become the Human Rights Campaign, one of the strongest LGBT groups at the time, and garnering national awards.
In 1997, Texas Instruments' defense segment was sold to Raytheon and Young transitioned to become a senior software engineer with the company. She has more than 30 years' experience with these companies, and was instrumental in urging both of them to support LGBT and sexual expression issues in their equal employment opportunity statements and to cover domestic partner benefits.
In 2001, Raytheon's GLBTA Employee Resource Group created the Louise Young Award, naming Young its first recipient.
“Dr. Young stayed away for decades until she learned that a campus pride group was operating,” said Pappas. “In 2009 she returned to ECU with a splash when she inaugurated the Louise Young Diversity Lecture.”
This lecture series, which remained a staple of ECU for several years, featured a Holocaust survivor, Tuskegee airman, Navajo code talker, and a Palestinian-America writer and photographer among others.
“I put heart and soul and my experience and caring into this lecture series to be able to make a difference in the lives of the students, faculty and townspeople.”
The legacy of the Louise Young Diversity Lecture remains today.
When describing her motivation in partnering with ECU on the lecture series, Young stated, “My mother always said, ‘Above all, make a difference in the world,’ and that has been my compass.”
Young’s wife and partner of 54 years, Armstrong, a Nursing alumna who also graduated from ECU with honors, will be in attendance at the event.
To purchase tickets for the Alumni Gala, visit ecok.edu/alumni/homecoming or contact the office of Alumni Relations at alumni@ecok.edu or call 580-559-5651.
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