Dr. Gertrude Witherspoon Cavins, also having gone under the names Gertrude Witherspoon and Gertrude Moore, born around 1910, was deeply involved in academics at SJSU and beyond, having taught chemistry for over 3 decades and holding membership and leadership positions in multiple societies, clubs, and other various educational programs. Cavins, an SJSU alumnus, was the 1928 editor of SJSU's La Torre, and a member of both Kappa Kappa Sigma and Kappa Delta Pi. Cavins graduated from SJSU in 1928. She graduated from Stanford University with a master's degree, in 1931; her thesis "Achievement tests in chemistry" was published in 1934. In 1932, Cavins was teaching chemistry at SJSU, and married one of her students Rodger L. Moore, changing her name to Gertrude Witherspoon Moore. She eventually remarried again, changing her name to Gertrude Witherspoon Cavins. Cavins was the head of the Advisory Board of the West Coast Nature School, the Registrar and Financial Secretary of the West Coast School of Nature Study, Assistant Dean of Instruction, head of the Science Education Department, Director of West Coast Nature School Outdoor Field Program, Director of the Elementary Science Workshop, President of the national Science Teachers Association, and a was member of the Gamma Eta chapter of Delta Gamma. Cavins taught many different chemistry courses over the years at SJSU, and eventually left San Jose to teach at the Alameda State College.