Beverly L. Herbert '75, MCP '76, Principal at The Herbert Group, earned her SB and MCP degrees at MIT in Urban Studies and Planning. 

I was active in building the women's basketball team, ensuring we received more resources, better coaching, uniforms, practice time, and moved it to varsity status.  Our first coach was the women's gymnastics coach. And there are more stories of our struggles and determination. 

I was also active in women's crew--the first African American woman. (Greg Chisholm '73, SM '75, PhD '89 was on the men's crew team before I got involved, and he was very successful.) The women's crew team went from club status to varsity status in 1974.

Sheila Luster '78 was nominated for MIT Athlete of the Year during her freshman year due to her accomplishments in Track and Field and Basketball. Although she wasn't selected, a very serious discussion took place surrounding her successes and accomplishments. A caucasian upperclassman was selected above her. 

I also served on the MIT Student Athlete Advisory Committee. 

MIT's Women's Fencing Team in the '70's included several African American women [including Pamela Jackson '74, '75, SM '75] who led that team for several years and achieved many successes and victories. 

Beverly L. Herbert, email correspondence, 16 March 2023