Baldwin Wallace University, despite its small size, holds a significant place in history for the state of Ohio: its history of a diverse and progressive student body. 

 One particularly remarkable student was Hazel Mountain Walker. In 1909, she was an elementary school teacher. A decade later she completed a law degree at Baldwin-Wallace College and passed the Ohio State Bar Exam. At the time, in 1919, she was one of the first African-American women to join the Ohio Bar. 

Although she never intended to practice law, Walker felt that it was important to prove that African American women were capable of becoming attorneys. In doing so, she paved the way for many women after her.  

However, instead of practicing law, Walker served her community in other ways by becoming a committed educator. In 1936, she became the first Black woman to work as a principal within the Cleveland Public Schools. In 1939, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Science followed by a Master’s degree in 1941 from Western Reserve University. 

Walker was also active in Cleveland’s theater scene and is credited for giving Karamu House Theater its name in the 1920s. Karamu House has a history in championing racial equality within the performing arts. 

Outside of her role as a teacher and principal, Walker advocated strongly for racial integration, speaking publicly about racial issues both locally and nationally. In 1961, she was elected to the Ohio Board of Education and resigned from the position two years later. She died in 1980 at the age of 91.