Carol Rowell Council, at age 21, co-founded the Ad Hoc Committee for Women's Studies at San Diego State University (1969) which then became the first Women's Studies program in the United States. Her interest in feminism grew from her participation in antiwar and student rights movements. In 1972 she helped found the Center for Women's Studies and Services (now the Center for Community Solutions), where she was the director for 20 years. Carol Rowell Council has a B.A. in Public Administration from San Diego State University, and an M.F.A. in Art History from Rosary College VIlla Schifanoia in Florence, Italy.