Elizabeth Hazelton "Hazel" Haight was a distinguished American classical scholar and academic who dedicated the majority of her professional life to Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. Born in 1872, Haight became a prominent figure in the field of classical studies, specializing in Latin pedagogy and literature. She broke significant barriers for women in academia, serving as the second female president of the American Philological Association and becoming the first woman to chair the Advisory Council of the American School of Classical Studies at Rome.\n\nThroughout her career, Haight was a prolific author, publishing eleven books within the field of Classics, alongside historical accounts of Vassar College and its former president, James Monroe Taylor. Her scholarly publications initially centered on Latin literature and the ancient Greek novel. In her later years, her research shifted toward the study of symbolism in Latin literature, which became the focus of her final works.\n\nBeyond her academic writing, Haight was deeply committed to social and educational causes. She actively participated in Vassar's war relief efforts during World War I and later worked to support foreign scholars displaced during World War II. Throughout her life, she remained a steadfast advocate for women's higher education, viewing it as a vital force for progress and betterment within American society. She passed away in 1964, leaving behind a legacy of pioneering scholarship and advocacy.
