In 1837, Mary Lyon did the unthinkable. She founded the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, which later became Mount Holyoke College—the first of the Seven Sisters. Radical moves for a woman wearing a bonnet.

In doing so, she forever changed the landscape of higher education—not just for women in South Hadley, Massachusetts, but for women around the world. She built a place where women could develop their intellects, hone the power of their voices, and cultivate courage.

These days, change is all around us, happening at a pace too fast to measure. And while Mary Lyon couldn’t have foreseen a digitally connected world, she did understand that a woman would need to be agile, creative, and brave to live the life she wanted. Her vision still drives Mount Holyoke.

Mary Lyon once issued a challenge to the women who would follow her: “Go forward, attempt great things, accomplish great things.” She did. You will.