When Lelia Thompson Flagg, a 1960 graduate in civil engineering, arrived at Missouri S&T for the first time, there were no dorms for her to stay in. Instead, she stayed with a Black family south of campus while earning her degree.

Flagg was the first Black woman to graduate from Missouri S&T and was one of only 11 women during her freshman year in 1956. She excelled at math in high school and was encouraged by her teachers to study engineering.

After graduation, Flagg headed to California to work at the Bureau of Sanitary Engineering. Later, she returned to S&T and became assistant director of admissions until 1998.

Share This Story

Spark a Memory?

Share your story! Fill out the form below to share your fondest memory or anecdote of S&T. If you'd prefer not typing, you can also share by phone at 833-646-3715 (833-Miner150).

Walking on the sky

Walking on the sky

Col. Thomas Akers, Math’73, MS Math’75, has logged more than 800 hours of space flight and 29 hours of space-walking…

Sandy (Junge) and Brian Klein

Sandy (Junge) and Brian Klein

Sandy (Junge) and Brian Klein met in 1990 during lunch in the TJ Hall cafeteria. “Sandy needed a typewriter to…

Stonehenge, ‘tis a magic place…’

Stonehenge, ‘tis a magic place…’

When the band Spinal Tap sang of Stonehenge as a “magic place … where the moon doth rise with a…

Lindsay (McNamee) and Garrett Blanchard

Lindsay (McNamee) and Garrett Blanchard

Lindsay (McNamee) and Garrett Blanchard met on a trip with other Christian Campus Fellowship members to the International Conference on…

Makayla (Appel) and Sebastian Klesing

Makayla (Appel) and Sebastian Klesing

Makayla (Appel) and Sebastian Klesing met through the Air Force ROTC program during the fall 2015 semester. “We were acquaintances…

Brandi (Andersen) and Patrick VerSteeg

Brandi (Andersen) and Patrick VerSteeg

Brandi (Andersen) and Patrick VerSteeg met during Opening Week in 2006. “My roommate and I knew Patrick’s roommate from Jackling…