• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

SDSU School of Exercise & Nutritional Sciences

San Diego, California

Tour the Campus  |   Give   |   Careers

  • << CHHS Home
  • About ENS
    • Overview
    • The ENS Mission…
    • ENS Career Information
      • Career Options for ENS Majors
      • ENS Career Overview
      • ENS Occupational Sector
      • Job Outlook
    • ENS’ History
    • Inclusive Excellence in ENS
  • Programs
    • Bachelor of Science
      • BS – Kinesiology
      • BS – Foods & Nutrition
    • Master of Science
      • MS – Athletic Training
      • MS – Exercise Physiology
      • MS – Nutritional Sciences
      • Concurrent MS – Exercise Physiol., Nutritional Sci.
      • Prospective Master’s Degree Students FAQ
    • Doctor of Physical Therapy
    • Didactic Program in Dietetics
  • Student Resources
    • Student Success
      • Canvas
      • my.SDSU
      • Aztec Mentor Program
      • Registrar
      • Testing Office
      • Undergrad Catalog
      • Class Schedule
      • Student Life and Leadership
      • Career Services
    • First-Generation Student Success
    • Transfer Students
    • Advising
      • Meet Your Advisor!
      • Graduation Requirements
      • SDSU MyMap!
      • Advising FAQ
    • Scholarships
    • Student Organizations
    • Syllabi
    • ENS/NUTR 499/798 Special Studies Application
    • Graduate Teaching Associateships and Graduate/Instructional Support Assistantships
    • ENS Abroad
  • People
    • Faculty
    • Staff
    • Emeritus
    • Emeritus – In Memoriam
    • Distinguished Alumni
  • Photo Gallery
  • ENS Alumni
You are here: Home / People / Emeritus / Jean Landis

Jean Landis

Jean Landis
Jean Landis

Emeritus, In Memoriam

Jean Landis was born in 1918 and raised in the farm community of El Cajon, California, near the City of San Diego.

Jean attended San Diego State College and graduated with an A.B. degree in Physical Education in 1940. She was Homecoming Queen and active in campus activities. Her campus accomplishments were featured in student yearbooks. Upon graduation, she taught physical education at Grossmont High School near San Diego.

As a teenager, Jean had shown a keen interest in flying planes. In 1940 she joined the Civilian Pilot Training program (CPT) soon after graduation. When the country entered WW II, Jean volunteered and was chosen for the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WW II, a paramilitary organization, where women pilots flew military aircraft on non-combat missions to allow more male pilots for combat missions. She served until WASP was deactivated in 1944. Records of WASP were classified for many years, and the women who served went unrecognized as American patriots. That ended when the US Congress passed a bill (signed by President Barack Obama in July 2009) to award the Congressional Gold Medal (the highest Congressional honor for civilians) to Jean Landis and all other female WASP pilots. She now has full veteran status. In 2010, Jean’s great nephew Devin Scott produced an award-winning documentary film “She Wore Silver Wings” dedicated to Jean Landis and the heroics of all WASP pilots.

Jean Landis went back to the profession of teaching physical education in the mid-1940s. She attended graduate school and obtained her M.S. degree from Wellesley College. Over her academic career, she held faculty positions at several colleges, including Park College, West Chester State Teachers College, and Ball State Teachers College. Her last faculty post was at her Alma Mater, San Diego State. She held the position of Assistant Professor of Physical Education from 1968 to 1979. She was awarded the status of Emeritus Assistant Professor of Physical Education upon her retirement in 1979.

In 2015, Jean was awarded the SDSU Alumni Association “Monty” award for the College of Health & Human Services in recognition of her contributions to SDSU and the country. In retirement, Jean Landis has lived in her native El Cajon and at her vacation home in northern Idaho. At age 98, Jean remained independent and active. She shared her experiences as a WASP pilot at the El Cajon Historical Society, Lakeside Historical Society, and the Borrego Springs Film Festival. Jean peacefully passed away on December 13, 2022, at the age of 104.

 

 

San Diego State University

SDSU School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences

ENS Building room 351
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-7251
(see map)

CONTACT US
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

© 2023 · SDSU College of Health and Human Services

SDSU Digital Privacy Statement   |   Document Readers