Our March Faces of UCL are now live! This Women’s History Month, we’re spotlighting some of the visionary women who have shaped UCL’s past and present, and changed lives locally and globally.
UCL was the first university to welcome women into higher education alongside men. Women were first admitted to the UCL Slade School of Fine Art when it opened in the early 1870s and, in 1878, UCL was the first university to award women degrees.
Since then, many innovative and inspiring women have passed through UCL’s doors, both as students and staff. They have become the first in their field, shaped the future of conservation, uncovered the mysteries of space, paved the way for major health breakthroughs including IVF and cancer treatments, and campaigned tirelessly for social justice, gender equity and inclusive education.
Meet the female Faces of UCL
This is just a snapshot of some of the visionary women at UCL who have shaped 200 years of research, education, invention and impact:
Elsa Goveia , an historian who transformed how we understand slavery and colonial history in the Caribbean
Anne McLaren , a leading figure in reproductive biology whose early discoveries paved the way for the development of IVF,
Freya Proudman , a PhD candidate at UCL’s School of Slavonic and East European Studies and dedicated human rights advocate
Rukhmabai , campaigner against child marriage and one of the first Indian women to receive medical training
Alexandra LeFlore , Shakespeare scholar and founder of the UCL Chicago alumni network, the first in the American Midwest
Georgina Mace , founding Director of the UCL Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research (CBER), who convinced the world to better protect all life on this planet.
Vijdan Zorba , UCL physics graduate and Data and Impact Manager, strengthening UCL’s work to widen access to higher education.
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson , Britain’s first female doctor and co-founder of the London School of Medicine for Women, the first UK institution where women could train to be doctors.
B H Oon , the first Chinese woman to achieve a law degree in the UK and a leading advocate for women’s rights and their entry into the Laws profession.
Kavya Mukhija , disability rights campaigner and innovator, advocating for the global rights of people with disabilities through research, activism and policy reform.
All of these women, and more, are celebrated in our Faces of UCL campaign , which will be running throughout 2026. More Faces will be revealed each month so watch this space!
Recognising the achievements of our diverse, global community of staff, students and partners - past and present - Faces of UCL explores the stories of people who have improved lives, built communities and continue to shape a better future.
Meet the Faces of UCL!
The Faces of UCL campaign includes a new, purpose-built search page. You can use the free-text search or browse Faces by category, faculty and department, and theme. You can also see some of our Faces at the UCL200 exhibition, Two Centuries Here.
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