In 1941, Lyda Radford was likely the first student to enroll at what became Indiana University Southeast. Born in New Albany, she began a 45-year teaching career in the Louisville public schools in 1923 after receiving a two-year diploma from Louisville Colored Normal School. She earned a bachelor's degree by taking classes at Indiana University and the University of Cincinnati (B.S., 1939) due to limited options in Kentucky. Radford undertook post graduate studies at Falls City Area Center in 1941, later taking additional classes at the Jeffersonville Extension Center, forerunners of IU Southeast. Her academic journey became a benchmark for IU Southeast students pursuing higher education while advancing professionally in the region. In 1949, she wrote to Floyd McMurray, director of the extension center (1941-56), with warm appreciation, recalling the educational opportunity he afforded her and marveling at the center's growth.