During this year’s Homecoming Weekend, Case Western Reserve University will honor double alumna Stephanie Tubbs Jones (FSM ’71, LAW ’74) when it dedicates its newest undergraduate residence hall, located at 1576 E. 115th St.
The formal naming celebration of Stephanie Tubbs Jones Hall will take place Saturday, Oct. 15, at 11:30 a.m., immediately following the Homecoming parade.
The idea to name the hall in honor of Stephanie Tubbs Jones came from the student group #webelonghere, as a way to advance diversity on campus, and was unanimously approved by the university’s Board of Trustees.
In addition to earning her undergraduate and law degrees from Case Western Reserve, Tubbs Jones was a founder of the university’s Afro-American Society (now the African American Society) and an active member of the Black Students Law Association. She also served as one of the first resident assistants on campus.
Tubbs Jones’ professional career also was full of firsts: She was the first African-American woman to become a Common Pleas court judge in Ohio, the first African-American woman in Ohio to become a county prosecutor, and the first African-American woman elected to represent Ohio in Congress.
On the national level, Tubbs Jones co-chaired her party’s platform committee in 2004, co-chaired the Democratic National Committee and co-chaired Hillary Clinton’s first campaign for U.S. President. Despite her growing role on the national stage, she always maintained a close connection to and active involvement in the university and the Cleveland community.
Tubbs Jones died in August 2008, after suffering a brain aneurysm. However, her legacy lives on through annual university events, a Division of Student Affairs scholarship award in her name, the School of Law’s Stephanie Tubbs Jones Summer Legal Academy for area high school students and now with the designation of Stephanie Tubbs Jones Hall.