Jewel Plummer Cobb
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| As a ground breaking researcher, distinguished professor and top university administrator, Jewel Plummer Cobb has forever changed the face of the scientific community. Not only has her research advanced our understanding of the skin cells that produce melanin and how they become cancerous, she has also led the way for equal access to education and professional opportunities for women and ethnic minorities. Her personal struggles convinced her that racism and sexism were challenges that made it tough for her but her determination and success were used to encourage women and minorities to enter science, mathematics and engineering fields. Cobb was born in Chicago to physician Frank and Carriebel (Cole) Plummer, a school teacher. Her grandfather, a freed slave, apprenticed and became a pharmacist, initiating four generations of medical practitioners. After earning her M.S. Degree and Ph.D. in cell physiology from New York University in 1947 and 1950 respectively, Cobb researched the effects of chemotherapy drugs on human cells infected with cancer. Her research included skin pigment cells, focusing on melanin, and melanoma which is a skin cancer and continues to be used to create new and more effective cancer fighting tools. She has published over 36 scientific articles in the area of factors in her cancer cell research. In 1967, Cobb became Dean of Connecticut College and Professor of Zoology at Connecticut College where , along with her research, she began to institute and fund model programs to encourage and retain women and under-represented minorities who entered traditionally white-male dominated fields. In 1975, she became Dean of Douglass College and Professor of Biological Sciences. Douglass College, the women’s division within Rutgers University, had a strong presence of women mathematicians and chemistry professors and 3500 students. Although she could not continue her research, Cobb worked to attract more women to the sciences with new programs. She wrote “Filters for Women in Science”, exposing how educational systems and filters discouraged women from careers in science and math which affected their university tenure and equal pay. In 1981, Cobb was appointed the third president of California State University, Fullerton. She obtained state funding for construction of new science and engineering buildings. She raised private funds to found a gerontology center in the Orange County community. Also, by obtaining funding for building an apartment complex, she ended Fullerton's status as a commuter college. In 1990, Cobb retired from Fullerton as President Emerita and Trustee Professor of the University of California at Los Angeles. In addition to serving on many boards of trustees, receiving over 22 honorary degrees and numerous awards, Cobb’s name graces buildings on the campuses of California State University at Fullerton and Douglass College. In tribute several academic awards bear her name. | |||||||||||
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