Wilson served as U.S. president from 1913 to 1921. While known for his vision of a League of Nations in the aftermath of World War I, he also segregated federal agencies after years of integration and supported Jim Crow laws in Washington, D.C. While president of Princeton, he also opposed enrolling Black students.
The renaming process began in earnest in January with a committee of students, faculty and parents drawing up guiding values and soliciting name recommendations from the community. From dozens of names, the committee opted to recognize Baker, a behind-the-scenes civil rights leader. As an advocate for civil rights and economic justice over 50 years, she provided leadership to the NAACP, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.