Isabel Ebel

Isabel Caroline Ebel, also known as Isabel Caroline Hines (October 4, 1908 – November 3, 1992), was an American who was the first woman student at MIT and NYU studying aeronautical engineering.

Early life and education Ebel was born in Kings County, New York on October 4, 1908, daughter of Arthur R. Ebel, Assistant Commissioner of Public Works in Brooklyn. Elsie MacGill gained a masters in aeronautical engineering in 1929.

Ebel gained her degree in aeronautical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1932. Ebel wanted to use her degree but she had difficulty in finding employment in the field. She assisted pilot Amelia Earhart when she was planning one of her record-breaking flights. Ebel decided to undertake further study and applied to the Guggenheim School of Engineering at New York University. It was said that she was only accepted because Earhart interceded with the admission staff on her behalf. Her reply was difficulty again in finding a relevant job. In 1937, she was included in an article by M. Elsa Gardner on Women Engineers in the journal of the Women's Engineering Society, alongside Kate Gleeson, Elsie MacGill, Frances Hurd Clark, Mary Olga Soroka, Marie Luhring, Marie Reith, Olive Dennis, Margaret Ingels, Hilda Lyon and Amy Johnson.

Ebel went on to work at smaller companies before she became a research engineer for United Airlines in 1942. In the following year she was highlighted by the Christian Science Monitor as the only woman aeronautical engineer employed by United.

She was discriminated against when finding employment, but she noted that once she had the job then being a woman was no hindrance (or help) in doing the work.