Jewel Plummer Cobb

Plummer's paternal grandfather was a freed slave who graduated from Howard University in 1898 making a living as a pharmacist.

Cobb's economically privileged upbringing offered her a childhood of intellectual exploration.

From her father's scientific library to her education at several multiracial institutions, Cobb developed an interest in learning from a young age.

Although she anticipated becoming a physical education teacher, her interest in science solidified during her sophomore year of high school whilst looking through a microscope in biology class.

This interest was encouraged by her biology teacher and she was fascinated by books on microorganisms like Paul DeKruif's The Microbe Hunters.

Jewel Plummer Cobb (January 17, 1924 – January 1, 2017) was an American biologist, cancer researcher, professor, dean, and academic administrator.

She contributed to the field of cancer research by studying the cure for melanoma.

Cobb was an advocate for increasing the representation of women and students of color in universities, and she created programs to support students interested in pursuing graduate school.

Jewel Isadora Plummer was the only child of Frank V. Plummer, and Carriebel (Cole) Plummer.

Both of her parents used to live in Washington D.C. Her mother, Carriebel, found employment as a physical education and dance teacher who graduated from college with a BA in interpretive dancing.

She had re-entered college the same time Jewel enrolled resulting in both mother and daughter earning degrees in the same year.

Jewel's father, Frank, was the first Black person to graduate with a Doctor of Medicine from Cornell University, becoming a physician specializing in dermatology.

Cobb matriculated at the University of Michigan in 1942, but, dissatisfied with segregated housing for African-American students at Michigan, she transferred to Talladega College in Alabama.

Talladega College did not accept transfer credits, forcing Cobb to start anew.

In spite of this, she completed her course work in three years instead of the standard four.

She graduated with a BA in biology in 1944 and became a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

Cobb initially was denied a fellowship for graduate study in biology at New York University, allegedly due to her race, but was granted the fellowship after an interview.

She earned her MS from New York University in 1947, and her PhD with a focus on cell physiology in 1950

Her dissertation, Mechanisms of Pigment Formation, examined melanin pigment granules formations in vitro using the enzyme tyrosinase.

In 1949, she was appointed an independent investigator at Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory.

In 2021, the town renamed a road near the Marine Biological Laboratory "Jewel Cobb Road" in honor of Cobb.

After receiving her Ph.D, Cobb became a biology teaching fellow at New York University while also working for the National Cancer Institute at Harlem Hospital (1950-1952).

From 1952-1954 Cobb was an instructor in anatomy in Chicago at the University of Illinois College of Medicine where she taught histology.

Shortly thereafter, Cobb returned to New York, serving as an assistant professor for NYU's post graduate medical school (1955–60), while also working as a visiting lecturer at Hunter College (1956–57).

From 1960-69, Cobb was employed as head of the biology laboratory at Sarah Lawrence College.

While there, she conducted research for participants in the National Science Foundation.

Cobb served as a professor of Zoology and as Dean of Arts and Sciences at Connecticut College from July 1969 until July 1976.

Cobb was the first black Dean in the College's history.

Upon accepting the position at Connecticut College, she expressed: "This is a college in transition, moving forward at an exciting pace. We need more black students and teachers to help us formulate and carry out our bold new plans."

During her time at Connecticut College, she implemented a Black Scholarship program that provided financial assistance to at least 37 Black undergraduates at the college.

The scholarship intended to increase financial assistance needs for students of color.

This work inspired similar programs at other universities.

Cobb also established a Fifth Year Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Program, which provided financial assistance and educational opportunities for minority students at the College who wanted to pursue careers in medicine or dentistry.

Students were provided with resources for tutoring and counseling.

Just five years after this program was established, these students were accepted into graduate programs, which included, Yale, Georgetown, and the University of Connecticut.

While in Connecticut, Dr. Cobb also served as a member of the Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in New London, in addition to being elected Director of the American Council on Education, (1973-1976).

Dr Cobb, as member of the National Science Board and advisor to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, chaired a conference of 30 minority women scientists to provide recommendations to schools, policy-makers and the US government on how to recruit more women of color into the sciences.

The highly influential report was published as The Double Bind: The Price of Being a Minority Woman in Science.

Due to the many roles, Cobb worked long hours.

She did laboratory work in the early morning followed by administrative work before teaching in the afternoons.