Lumbee Legend - Dr. Ruth Woods Dial
Dr. Ruth Woods served as the first Tribal Administrator for the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. Dr. Woods was a trailblazer, who not only impacted the lives of Native People around the nation, but especially children. She was instrumental in establishing the Indian Education program for Robeson County Schools and helped to lay the foundation for the program nationwide. Dr. Woods also served as a community development consultant for the United States Department of Labor and as a consultant for the Lumbee Tribal Council for administration of tribal programs.
Dr. Woods, who finished her second doctorate in Fall 2001, has worked as a teacher, administrator, and college professor. She was an educator for 27 years, served as a director of federal programs and became the first woman to be appointed as Assistant Superintendent of Robeson County Schools. Whether in the classroom, boardroom, or in the community fighting for those less fortunate, Dr. Woods fiercely advocated for equality and access for students of color across North Carolina and broke the glass ceiling not just for women, but Natives and people of color as a whole.
Dr. Woods was the first American Indian to attend Meredith College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Spanish. Some of her accolades include being the first woman to receive an at-large appointment to the UNC Board of Governors, President Jimmy Carter appointed Dr. Woods to the Continuing Committee of International Woman's Year, elected as president of the North Carolina Business and Professional Women, first American Indian woman inducted into the N.C. Women’s Hall of Fame and in 1986 she was recognized by the Governor and the state of N.C. as a Distinguished Women Award Recipient. She also received the United Tribes of North Carolina Community Unsung Hero Award for her work as an educator, activist and one of the founders of Sacred Pathways, a faith-based outreach ministry that provides a safe haven for those in need in Robeson County.
When discussing their mother – the family confirmed that Dr. Woods was proud of all her accolades as they served as proof that Indians were capable of being successful but her proudest accomplishment was her work with Sacred Pathways. “Founding Sacred Pathways was her way of thanking the Lord for taking care of her own family when they themselves were in need. Her sincere desire was that between LRDA and the Tribe, one of those organizations, would step up to continue that service - as we all deserve basic support (like meals) when in need. Mom would always say, ‘I can’t help everyone, but a basic need is food when you are hungry.’ She wanted Sacred Pathways open every day so those struggling the most knew they had a place to eat, even if they didn’t have anything else.”
Dr. Woods broke barriers for women and Native people alike. She proved that with faith, education, and hard work, you can help change the world.