Grandmother Graduates
In a moving ceremony filled with applause, cheers, and a few tears, Joan Alexander proudly walked across the stage at the University of Maine to receive her teaching degree — a moment she once believed would never come. In 1961, Alexander was just a few credits shy of completing her degree in education when she was abruptly barred from finishing the program due to a rule that many now see as a relic of a discriminatory era: she was pregnant.
“I was told I could not student teach because I was expecting,” Alexander told NBC News’ Tom Llamas, who interviewed the new graduate following her triumphant return to campus. “That was it — no discussion, no appeal. Just a closed door.”
At the time, student teaching was a required component of the program, and administrators enforced a policy that prevented visibly pregnant women from entering classrooms, citing “professional appearance” and “community standards.” The decision forced Alexander to abandon her plans of becoming a schoolteacher, despite excelling academically and completing nearly all the necessary coursework.
“I was devastated,” she said. “I had worked so hard, and suddenly I was told that becoming a mother made me unfit to finish what I started. It felt like being punished for something that should be celebrated.”
A Lifetime of Waiting — and Perseverance
Though her dream of becoming a teacher was halted, Alexander never let go of her love for education. She raised four children, volunteered in schools, tutored local students, and remained an active member of her community in Bangor, Maine. Her children say she was always reading, always teaching — even if not in a traditional classroom.
“She never stopped being a teacher,” said her son, Michael Alexander. “She taught us how to learn, how to be kind, how to be curious. She just didn’t get the diploma to prove it — until now.”
That changed after her granddaughter, who was researching family history, stumbled upon her grandmother’s old college records and uncovered the story. Determined to correct what she saw as an injustice, the family reached out to the University of Maine. The university’s president, Dr. Joan Ferrini-Mundy, responded with compassion — and action.
“We looked at her academic record, her life experiences, and the circumstances under which she was denied,” Dr. Ferrini-Mundy said. “It became clear that this was an opportunity to make something right.”
A Degree, and a Statement
In a special review, the university’s board of trustees approved the awarding of a bachelor’s degree in education to Joan Alexander, honoring both her completed coursework and the unjust barrier she faced. At the spring 2025 commencement ceremony, Alexander was given a standing ovation as she crossed the stage in cap and gown.
Her diploma reads “Bachelor of Science in Education,” but to her and her family, it means far more than a piece of paper.
“This isn’t just my degree,” she said in her speech to fellow graduates and their families. “This is for every woman who was told she had to choose — between her dreams and her family, between motherhood and a career. I hope we’ve moved past that.”
Tom Llamas, who covered the story for NBC Nightly News, noted the emotional resonance the moment had for many of the audience members. “There wasn’t a dry eye in the room,” he said. “You could feel the weight of history being lifted in that moment.”
A Legacy of Resilience
Joan Alexander’s story has since gone viral on social media, with thousands praising her perseverance and the university’s decision to right a wrong that had lingered for more than 60 years. Messages of support have poured in from educators, students, and women who say her experience mirrors their own struggles.
“I never thought this day would come,” Alexander said. “But I always hoped. And I always believed that learning, no matter how late in life, was worth it.”
As for what’s next? The 88-year-old graduate laughs and says she’s considering a few online classes just for fun. “There’s always more to learn,” she says with a smile. “Always.”
