The Mary Washburn Wilson Lectureship is funded primarily by Wilson’s daughter, Tillie Duncan, a Gardner-Webb graduate with a long-standing connection to the University. “It was named for my mother—and by extension, her family (Washburn),” Duncan explained. “She grew up in an atmosphere in which education was important and in which new ideas were at least examined. The family I grew up in had little money, but Mama was committed to making sure that her children had an opportunity for higher education. In order to provide that, she denied herself much of what she might have wanted, materially speaking, and some of what she needed.

Because of her mother’s efforts, two of her three children have post-graduate degrees. Duncan noted, “As to what my dream is for the lectures. I am passionate about racial and gender equality. I am eager for people to be exposed to new ideas; my hope being that exposure will create a kind of willingness and openness to ideas not previously thought about in an intentional way. Or a willingness to consider ideas that one may have previously rejected outright because of insular cultural customs. I want to motivate folks to dig out of the safe, self-protection of their cocoons and fly free—to reach the highest self they can be.”