Women scientists have been integral to the history of the American Association of Immunologists since its founding in 1913. In a time when women had few opportunities in laboratories, two of the original charter members of AAI were women.
The field of immunology was overwhelmingly dominated by men for most of its history. Although many women did important research in the early 20th century, few were recognized for their work. Their contributions to science were often hidden behind the names of the men running the labs.
This was reflected in AAI leadership: the first woman president of AAI was Rebecca C. Lancefield (1961–62). Marian E. Koshland was the second—twenty years later (1982–83). Since the year 2000, however, half of the association’s leaders have been women. For Women’s History Month, we celebrate two outstanding women who are leading the charge for AAI’s journals.
Two women Editors-In-Chief at the AAI journals
In 2025, both AAI journals are helmed by women. Gail Bishop is editor-in-chief of The Journal of Immunology, and Bonnie Dittel is editor-in-chief of ImmunoHorizons. Dr. Bishop told us that the two most significant changes for women in science have been “the overall increase in women graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty; and mandated family leave offered by most employers.”
Bishop singled out Jenny Ting, whom she met at UNC when she was a postdoc and Ting was a new assistant professor, as an inspiring mentor. “There were not many women faculty at that time, and I was very encouraged to see her succeed. She has been supportive throughout both our careers, and I very much value our friendship.”
Dr. Dittel told us that all of her primary mentors were men, but she always sought out mentors that would support her regardless of her sex. “I was treated like a trainee, not a female trainee,” she said. “As I look back, this insulated me from what I would encounter as a female once I started my own research laboratory. But their belief in me sustained my belief in myself.”
Dittel says that the biggest change she has seen is that “it has become clear that women are here to stay, and we are to be taken seriously. Women are becoming empowered and taking control of our and our trainees’ destinies.”
The AAI History pages have many stories of women in immunology—spend some time during Women’s History Month learning about their important contributions!
