Lisa Lopez was the first undergraduate at Ohio State to major in women’s studies. She graduated with a BA in 1976. 

In April 2015, Lopez returned to campus to meet with students and faculty in the Department of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies to share her experiences and perspectives as part of the department’s 40th anniversary.

“Ohio State allowed me to create my own major,” said Lopez. “Whether in history, psychology or comparative literature, these courses had me examining content in the context of my own life as a woman. The opportunities for learning extended far beyond the classroom to what was happening in the world, on campus and even in my own life.”

According to Lopez, the leadership opportunities afforded on a campus of the size and range of Ohio State gave her the confidence to go on to apply to Yale Law School.

Lopez earned her JD from Yale Law School in 1979 and in 1988 joined Haemonetics, a global healthcare company, as general counsel and director of human resources. Her role at Haemonetics expanded to include at various times, Quality, Regulatory, Medical & Clinical Affairs; Investor Relations; Public Affairs; and Environmental Health & Safety.  

“The sense of empowerment that drew me to management was seeded during my years at Ohio State and nourished by my women’s studies courses,” said Lopez.

Lopez retired from Haemonetics in 2011 as vice president of Corporate Affairs.

“For me, the women’s studies courses at Ohio State were an explosion of student centered learning,” said Lopez.

Being on the Ohio State campus in the 1970s—a time of tremendous social and political upheaval and change—Lopez witnessed many, sometimes dramatic changes.

“When I was a freshman, the annual Women’s Week grand finale included a bridal fair,” said Lopez. “By the end of my four years, the bridal fair was banished and we were marching to the Ohio Statehouse in support of passage of the Equal Rights Amendment.”

A lot has changed for young women since Lopez graduated in 1976 but many, new challenges face today’s students.

“We did help pave the way for future generations, but this new generation is doing great work, stretching the concept of women’s studies so far beyond what we imagined 40 years ago and continuing to inspire the work and lives of women and men of this great institution, Ohio State.”