Isa Williams (left) and Paula Washington are the first two graduates of Emory's Ph.D. program in women's studies, but they share more than a degree. Born one week apart, both women came to Emory at age 41, and both arrived on campus in 1990 directly from Washington, D.C., where they had worked as corporate vice presidents. They also have children the same age. Washington's son Nick enrolls in Georgia Tech this fall, and Williams' daughter Shan will attend Spelman.

Photo by Ann Borden