The first woman to lecture at a major university in the U.S. was Mary Whiton Calkins. In 1890, she became the first female president of the American Psychological Association and was well-known for her pioneering work in psychology and her contributions to memory research. Despite facing significant discrimination in her academic career, she established a prominent reputation in psychological science. Calkins' achievements demonstrated women’s capabilities in fields traditionally dominated by men, paving the way for future generations of female scholars.