Carolyn Savage, OSU class of 1953, became the university's first female regent. She served on the board until 1993 and was known for her outspoken support of the Edmon Low Library.

In 2000, Savage received the seventh annual Edna May Phelps Award, which recognizes individuals who have substantially and unselfishly gone above and beyond to increase the effectiveness of the OSU Library.

In 1987, she chaired the Regents' Special Task Force on the Library that successfully urged the university administration to allocate six percent of its educational and general budget allocations to the support of the library. As chair, she also encouraged the formation of the Friends of the OSU Library organization.