Emilie Watts McVea

Emilie Watts McVea (February 17, 1867 – July 26, 1928) was an American college administrator, dean of women at the University of Cincinnati from 1909 to 1916, and president of Sweet Briar College from 1916 to 1925.

Early life Emilie Watts McVea was born in Clinton, Louisiana, one of the four daughters of Charles McVea and Emilie Rose Watts McVea. Her father, a judge, died in 1876, and she moved with her widowed mother and sisters to Raleigh, North Carolina to be closer to family. Her uncle, John Esten Cooke Smedes, was the second president of St. Augustine's College in Raleigh. She attended St. Mary's School in Raleigh, graduating in 1884.

Career McVea taught at her alma mater, St. Mary's School in Raleigh, and in 1898 became the school's "lady principal". and at the University of Cincinnati; at the latter school she was also dean of women from 1909 to 1916.

McVea was the second president of Sweet Briar College, in office from 1916 to 1925. Her tenure saw the school expand and improve in endowment, campus facilities, and reputation. After she retired from the presidency for health reasons in 1925, succeeded by Meta Glass,

She was a co-founder of the Southern Association of College Women from 1903 to 1904, chaired the Education committee of the Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs in 1916, led the Cincinnati Woman's Club, and was active in the women's suffrage movement and the YWCA. and from the University of North Carolina in 1921. Her grave is in Raleigh's Historic Oakwood Cemetery.