School of Nursing Centennial
Thelma Jacobs Pegues
Advocated for the elderly and low-income
Thelma Jacobs Pegues was only the fifth black student at the School of Nursing. After completing her degree, she taught at Seattle Central Community College, where she assisted non-traditional and low-income students, developed curriculum for the school, and initiated programs specifically targeted at increasing racial and ethnic diversity in nursing programs. Pegues also served as the Assistant Washington Director for the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) for a decade. She received accolades from AARP for her advocacy for a universal health plan in the 1980s and is a leader in civil rights advocacy.
Connection:
BSN (1955), Masters (1969)
Affiliations:
Alumni, Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Association, Harborview Medical Center
