Alice Guest Howson

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Alice Guest Howson (1909-1996) was born in East Orange, New Jersey and graduated from Middlebury in 1930. After her graduation, she received a Dutton Fellowship and studied abroad, earning a diploma for work in English language and literature from King’s College, University of London. During the summers of 1932, 1935, and 1936, Mrs. Howson attended the Bread Loaf School of English, receiving a master of arts degree from Bread Loaf. She continued her studies at Columbia University and the University of California and went on to teach in high schools and universities before settling as an instructor of English at Vassar College, teaching from 1946-1976. 

In 1948, Howson was appointed to the Board of Trustees as the first woman trustee alongside Gertrude Cornish Milliken. In 1980, after serving one of the longest terms as trustee, Middlebury awarded Howson an honorary Doctor of Letters for her service to the College.