Carol Rowell Council, former Women’s History Museum Executive Director, Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from SDSU, Master’s degree in Art History, Rosary College’s Villa Schifanoia campus, Florence, Italy. Carol was a co-founder of the first women’s studies program in the United States, the Women’s Studies Department at San Diego State University in 1969 along with Dr. Joyce Nower. Today there are over 600 women’s studies programs around the world. While still a student Rowell taught the Women’s Studies Field Experience course designed to connect feminist activism to the community.

In 1972 she began organizing in the community and co-founded a nonprofit organization, The Center for Women’s Studies and Services (now the Center for Community Solutions), where she served as Director for over 20 years. There she helped establish their domestic violence shelter, feminist free university, rape crisis center, 24 hour hotline, and special women’s programs including arts festivals, lectures, poetry readings, performances and exhibits. Later she has worked as development director and consultant to numerous San Diego nonprofits, served as an Equal Opportunity Commissioner for the City of San Diego, and chaired the Feminist Action Coalition. Today she continues as a women’s rights activist, (Women’s March on Washington, feminist forums,community coalitions) a public speaker on the founding of tje first women’s studies program and is at work on a book of memoirs.

She lives in San Diego with her husband, Trevor Black. Her son, Tim Council, is a senior at the University of San Diego.