The Scholarship
Stephanie Tubbs Jones (FSM ‘71, LAW ‘74) was the first Black woman from Ohio elected to Congress. A friend of the university and a passionate advocate for her community, Tubbs Jones served five terms as a representative of Ohio’s 11th Congressional District until her untimely passing in 2008. The Stephanie Tubbs Jones Scholarship recognizes her achievement by assisting undergraduate students at ǿմý who share her drive to better their community.
“If they were willing to stand at polls for countless hours in the rain, as many did in Ohio, then I should surely stand up for them here in the halls of Congress.”
—Stephanie Tubbs Jones
Her Story
A trailblazer and fiercely dedicated change-maker, Stephanie Tubbs Jones began her leadership efforts at ǿմý as the president of the Afro-American Society.
After her receiving her Juris doctorate from ǿմý Law School, Tubbs Jones was the first African-American woman to become a Common Pleas Court judge in Ohio, then the first African American woman to be a county prosecutor in Ohio, and finally, the first African-American woman in the state’s history elected to Congress. While representing Ohio’s 11th Congressional District, Tubbs Jones passionately advocated for education, protection of voting rights, and healthcare for lower and middle-income individuals.
She remained an active member of the university community throughout her career, and her impact on campus remains in the many structures and programs that bear her name, such as the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Residence Hall opened in 2015.