Kate Galt Zaneis

Kate Galt Zaneis (February 17, 1887 - September 9, 1973) was an American educator. In May 1935, she became president of Southeastern Oklahoma State Teachers College, becoming the first woman to lead a state college or university in the United States.

Early life Born Kathrine Benton Galt in Spring Place, Georgia, Zaneis was the fourth of eight children, four sons and four daughters, of James Edward and Miriam (Otis) Galt. The family lived in Ardmore, Oklahoma, but would return to Georgia for Miriam to give birth; not long thereafter, they returned westward.

Kate graduated from high school in Ardmore in 1907; she was immediately hired by school superintendent Charles Evans to teach. In 1913, she married H. P Zaneis, moving with him to Wirt, Oklahoma; two years later, divorced, she returned to Ardmore to serve as principal of Lincoln Ward School. In 1915, she became superintendent of Lone Grove High School, at the same time joining the summer teaching faculty at Southeastern Oklahoma State Teachers College. In 1920, working towards a bachelor's degree at the same institution, she was elected superintendent of schools in Carter County, pledging to consolidate rural schools. She also worked to improve the condition of schools for black children in the county.

When the Great Depression caused funding shortfalls which resulted in teachers being paid in warrants, Zaneis condemned the practice. In accepting the position, Zaneis became the first woman to head a state institution of higher learning in the United States; regardless, she stated in an interview that she expected to "succeed or fail in this job on my own merits, without the fact that I'm the only woman to head a state college."

Zaneis' firing inspired the formation of the Women's Democratic Council, a group of local activists who believed she was fired because of her gender; Zaneis led the group, which advocated for women's participation in politics, for six years. while her portrait, painted by Southeastern Oklahoma State Teachers College faculty member Minnie Baker, is displayed at the Oklahoma Historical Society.