A pioneering Catholic women's college in Memphis that shaped higher education in the Diocese of Nashville.
Siena College was established in 1922 by the Sisters of St. Dominic (based in Springfield, Kentucky) as St. Agnes College, marking the first Catholic women's college in the Memphis metro area and the Diocese of Nashville. The college was renamed Siena College in 1939 and relocated to its own campus on Poplar Avenue in 1953. It operated as a private Catholic institution dedicated to women's higher education until its closure in 1972.
Siena College was pioneering in offering adult evening courses—a first for Memphis colleges at the time. The institution achieved a peak enrollment of 350 students and produced notable graduates, including Mary Emma Flautt, the first student to complete a four-year degree in 1926. Though the college closed in 1972, many of its students transitioned to Christian Brothers University, becoming among the first female students when CBU transitioned to coeducation that same year.
Despite never formally merging with Christian Brothers University, Siena College and CBU shared facilities and courses during the 1960s, facilitating a smooth transition for female students. The original campus sites later housed educational programs and social services before being redeveloped; the Poplar Avenue location was rezoned for commercial use, and the Oak Court retail and office complex was built on the former Siena campus in 1985.