[36] Mildred Inks Davidson Dalrymple (graduated as Mildred Inks) was an American military aviator during World War II[37] Margaret Virginia (Margo) Jones (B.A. 1932) and (M.A. 1933), pioneer in the American Resident Theater Movement and author of Theater In The Round; directed the world premiere of Inherit the Wind by Lawrence and Lee in Dallas in 1955 Lou Halsell Rodenberger (B.S. 1943), scholar of Texas women authors, particularly Jane Gilmore Rushing Betty Heitman (B.A. 1949), co-chairwoman of the Republican National Committee from 1983 to 1987; distinguished TWU alumnus, 1980[38] Elma González (B.S. 1965), plant cell biologist Joan Wall (M.M. 1969), mezzo-soprano and principal performer at the Metropolitan Opera Company of New York, the Deutsche Oper Berlin, and in Amsterdam, Boston, Philadelphia, Fort Worth and other US cities Mary L. Saunders (B.S. 1970), retired major general in the United States Air Force, first female Director of Transportation in the USAF, and highest ranking African-American woman at the time Millie Hughes-Fulford (Ph.D. 1972), NASA astronaut who studied osteoporosis and flew aboard STS-40 Spacelab Life Sciences (SLS 1) in June 1991, the first Spacelab mission dedicated to biomedical studies; first civilian scientist on a space mission Elizabeth Ann Nalley (Ph.D. 1975), former President of the American Chemical Society Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash (M.S. 1979), a.k.a. Mrs. Anthrax, studied microbiology and went on to become a high-ranking Iraqi scientist; after surrendering herself in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, she was later deemed not a security threat and was released in 2005 Louise Ritter (B.S. 1982), won the 1988 Olympic gold medal in the women's high jump Alia Moses, a.k.a. Alia M. Ludlum, (B.A. 1983), serves as District Judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas Juan L. Maldonado (Ph.D. 1986), president of Laredo Community College since 2007[39] Shirley Cothran Barrett (Ph.D.), served as Miss America in 1975 Donna Campbell (M.S.N), member of the Texas Senate and an emergency room physician from New Braunfels[40] Sylvia Garcia (B.A. 1972), social worker and Texas legislator Alma Dawson (Ph.D. 1996), Russell B. Long Professor of Library and Information Science at Louisiana State University Jill Marie Jones (B.A. 1999), actress, most recognizable role as 'Toni Childs' for six seasons in Girlfriends Carly Patterson (B.S. 2014), won the 2004 Olympic gold medal in the women's gymnastics individual all-around, silver in individual balance beam, and silver in team competition