How do you tell who's on your side, and who isn't, when you're one of the first women in the room? In this episode of 50 Years of HerStory, Nicolle Bogden '12 sits down with Linda McTeigue '80, a member of the first class of women to attend the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Linda's path to New London began with her mother, a single mom and lifelong advocate for women's rights, who lobbied Congress and President Nixon to open the service academies to women in the first place and also talked Linda into “just trying it” with the promise of a car. Linda reflects on arriving at the Academy never intending to stay, and on the classmates, coaches, and quiet acts of courage that kept her there. Linda shares what it meant to finish first in her class academically, and the harassment that followed for daring to do it; the pivotal conversation with the dean that redirected her toward MIT and a pioneering career in the early computer industry; and the ways she later carried the Academy's lessons in resilience and risk-taking into a corporate world with its own glass ceiling. She also reflects on becoming a mentor to the women who came after her, and on the friendships, like the one with classmate CAPT Joanne McCaffrey '80, that helped an entire class stay the course together. Throughout the conversation, Linda offers reflections on legacy, unity, and what it takes to keep progress from sliding backward. Her story is a reminder that lasting change rarely comes from one dramatic stand, but from small, shared risks taken together, and from mothers, coaches, classmates, and even anonymous allies who choose to proceed forward. Closing out the episode, Tami (Bellville) Toscano '84 shares a special “Moment of Gratitude,” a heartfelt shout-out to someone who made a lasting impact on her journey. It's a moving reminder that behind every success story are the people who believed in us first. Moment of Gratitude is a recurring segment featured at the end of every episode this season. Have someone you'd like to thank? We'd love to feature your shout-out too. Submit yours here. As we celebrate 50 years of women at the Coast Guard Academy, we invite you to stay connected, honor this legacy, and support future generations. Support this Podcast Stay connected by becoming a member of the USCGA Alumni Association at www.cgaalumni.org/1887Support the USCGA Alumni Association's 50th Anniversary initiatives: www.cgaalumni.org/herstory-gift Keywords Women in Leadership, Coast Guard Academy, USCGA Alumni, 50 Years of Women at USCGA, Trailblazers, MIT, Computer Science, Corporate Leadership, Resilience, Belonging, Legacy, Mentorship, Breaking Barriers, Female Pioneers, Service Before Self, Leadership Through Service
