Joan Scott Wallace (b. November 8, 1930, Chicago, Illinois - d. March 15, 2018) was the first Black female leader of the United States Department of Agriculture, serving as Assistant Secretary. Wallace also served as a diplomat, and outside of government service was a psychologist and educator.
Joan Edaire Scott Wallace was born in Chicago to painter and muralist William Edouard Scott and social worker Esther Fulks Scott on November 8, 1930. Wallace graduated from Englewood High School as the first Black salutatorian in 1948. She completed a bachelor's degree in sociology at Bradley University in 1952, a master's in social work from Columbia University in 1954, and a doctorate from Northwestern University in experimental social psychology. Wallace also attended the Harvard Institute for Educational Management in Boston, Massachusetts.
In 1954, Wallace married John H. Wallace with whom she had three sons, Eric, Victor, and Marc. They later divorced and Wallace married pastor and activist Maurice Dawkins in 1979. The two remained married until Dawkins' death in 2001 and in 2003, Wallace remarried her first husband.
From 1967 to 1973, Wallace was the associate professor of Psychology and Social Work and Director of Undergraduate School of Social Work and Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois, Chicago. In 1970, while on leave from the University of Illinois, Chicago, Wallace served as Director of Afro-American Studies and associate professor of Sociology and Psychology at Barat College. Then, in 1973, Wallace was named Dean of Howard University's School of Social Work. Between 1975 and 1976, she served at the National Urban League as Deputy Executive Director for Programs. The following year, Wallace was named Vice President of Administration at Morgan State University and then became Director of the Western Michigan University School of Social Work.
In 1977, Wallace was appointed Assistant Secretary for Administration in the Department of Agriculture by President Jimmy Carter, the third woman and the first African American to hold the position. She was in the position until 1981, when she became head of the International Cooperation and Development Agency (ICDA). At ICDA, Wallace sent specialists to provide technical assistance in agriculture to 100 foreign countries and managed over 500 research programs. In 1989, President George H. W. Bush appointed her to the Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture (IICA) Diplomatic Representative in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; she held the position until 1993. Wallace retired from Government service in 1995 and became chairman of Americans for Democracy in Africa, an organization that monitors elections. In 1999, Wallace joined the faculty of Florida International University as Professor and associate director of the School of Social Work. The following year, she served as Commissioner of Volunteer Florida.
Wallace was awarded honorary degrees from the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, Bowie State College and Alabama A&M University.
Joan Scott Wallace passed away on March 15, 2018.
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THE HONORABLE JOAN SCOTT WALLACE
MAKER INTERVIEW DETAILS
INTERVIEW
- August 31, 2004
PROFESSION
- Category: CivicMakers
- Occupation(s): Academic Administrator
Cabinet Appointee
Federal Government Appointee
BIRTHPLACE
- Born: November 8, 1930
- Birth Location: Chicago, Illinois
FAVORITES
- Favorite Food: Ice Cream (Sugar-free)
- Favorite Time of Year: Spring, Fall, Winter
- Favorite Vacation Spot: Chicago, Illinois
FAVORITE QUOTE
"When The Door Of Opportunity Opens, Be Ready To Put Your Foot In, And Leave It Open For Your Brother And Sister."
BIOGRAPHY
Academic administrator and cabinet appointee The Honorable Joan Scott Wallace was born in Chicago, Illinois on November 8, 1930. Her mother, Esther, worked as a social worker, and her father, William Edouard, was a painter during the Harlem Renaissance. Many of his works appeared as covers on the NAACP’s magazine, The Crisis. After graduating from Englewood High School in Chicago in 1948, Wallace attended Bradley University, earning a B.A. in social work. Wallace then went on to attend Columbia University, earning a master’s in social work in 1958, and later earned a Ph.D. from Northwestern University in 1973.
Beginning her career with the government during the Carter administration, Wallace was named Assistant Secretary of Agriculture in 1977. There she managed administration policy in personnel, equal opportunity and administrative law among other duties. She held that post until 1981, when she became the head of the International Cooperation and Development Agency. In that position, Wallace sent specialists to 100 foreign countries to provide technical assistance in agriculture and managed over 500 research programs. With the election of George H. W. Bush as president, Wallace was a diplomat with the rank of ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago and represented the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture.
Wallace retired from the government shortly after the election of President Clinton, and then became the CEO of Americans for Democracy in Africa, a non-profit organization that monitored elections in African countries. Wallace has also served as dean of the Howard University School of Social Work, the director of the Western Michigan School of Social Work and the vice president for administration at Morgan State University. She also was the first female vice president of the National Urban League under Vernon E. Jordan, Jr.
Wallace passed away on March 15, 2018.
Since 2000, Wallace has been the commissioner of Volunteer Florida: the Governor’s Commission on Community Service.
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