Oral history interview with Alice Joyner Irby, 2012
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Alice Joyner Irby (1932- ) graduated in 1954 from Woman's College of the University of North Carolina, now The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. After receiving a master's degree from Duke University, she worked in the recruitment and public relations area at Woman's College. In 1959, Irby was appointed the College's first director of admissions. After leaving Woman's College in 1962, she began a career with Educational Testing Service (ETS), followed by work at Rutgers University as vice president of Student Services. Irby returned to ETS as vice president for Field Services and later directed the Center for Occupational and Professional Assessment. She ended her career by establishing the Chauncey Group International, which is an ETS subsidiary. Irby discusses growing up in Weldon, North Carolina; her family; and memories of World War II and the Korean War. She recalls the reasons for choosing to attend Woman's College, marrying while she was a student, and living off campus. Irby talks about her favorite subjects, majoring in economics, as well as administrators and faculty such as Chancellor Edward Kidder Graham, Jr.; Dean Mereb Mossman; Dean Katherine Taylor; Professors Albert Keister, Eleanor Craig, Eugene Paff, and Warren Ashby; and college physician Dr. Ruth Collings. She recalls when Woman's College adopted the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and integrated its student body. Irby briefly mentions campus traditions such as Rat Day, Golden Chain, and Junior Show. She concludes the interview by talking about her career with ETS and Rutgers University and her decision to retire in Pinehurst, North Carolina.