28th Annual CWHF Women in Sports program

Induction

and Celebration

WELCOME

Welcome to the 29th Annual Induction Ceremony, Women in Sports!

We thank you for joining us to celebrate four outstanding Inductees and seventeen Spotlight Recipients. We are excited to expand our virtual Hall with more athletes. They are by far our smallest group, but a mighty group none-the-less.

We have made many strides since Title IX was enacted 50 years ago, but we still have a long way to go. We need to see women’s sports being treated equally to men. Let’s think about how often we see a women’s sports game up on a large screen in an airport or in a bar. How much time gets allotted to women’s sports in advertising and on social media? Certainly not as much as men and there are stats to back it up. Why do our female athlete’s need to travel all over the world to make a living at what they love to do most? Why can’t they be paid a fair and equitable salary to stay here in the US? Sports is a microcosm of what happens to women in all aspects of their lives; they are just not seen as equal to men. This is so ingrained in our society that most of us don’t even think about it.

The Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame is here to help narrow the gap and to inspire all women to achieve their full potential, no matter what they want to accomplish in their career or personal lives. The Hall shows them women who have come before them, and what they did to accomplish their goals. The four women we are inducting tonight are the perfect role models for those who are looking for a way forward.

We simply could not do what we are doing without you. THANK YOU! Your continued support is needed so we can expand our reach. Our goal is to have more men and women recognize the achievements and contributions that women have made and will continue to make, even though the odds may be stacked against them.

Let’s work on this together and uncover all the glorious stories our sisters have to offer and bring them into the light for all to see. Gratefully,

Sarah Smith Lubarsky, Executive Director

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

WELCOME

Desiree Wolf, Board Chair, Sr. Director, Banking Industry Advisor, Salesforce

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS REMARKS

Sarah Smith Lubarsky, CWHF Executive Director

EILEEN KRAUS SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Janet Kraus, Daughter of Eileen Kraus

SPOTLIGHT RECIPIENT EMCEE

Gabrielle Lucivero, Lead Sports Anchor, NBC Connecticut

FOUNDING PRESIDENTS AWARD

Geena Clonan, CWHF Founding President

ACCEPTING FOR CT SPECIAL OLYMPICS

Kit Geis, Executive Vice President and Chief Client Officer at Genesco Sports, Board member, CT Special Olympics

INDUCTION CEREMONY

Lhakpa Sherpa

Tribute Film

Accepting: Lhakpa Sherpa

Jennifer Rizzotti

Tribute Film

Accepting: Jennifer Rizzotti

Cora Lee Bentley Radcliffe Tribute Film

Accepting: 2018 CWHF Inductee Anika Noni Rose (Granddaughter) & Claudia Radcliffe Rose (Daughter)

Suzy Whaley

Tribute Film

Accepting: Suzy Whaley

COMMITTEES

INDUCTION COMMITTEE

The Induction Committee is a committee of our Board which includes both Trustees and outside members whose expertise aids in the selection of each year’s induction theme and slate of Inductees.

CO-CHAIR

Rosalyn Amenta, M.A.R., Ph.D. Director of Women's Programs

Southern Connecticut State University

CO-CHAIR

Ndidi Moses

Assistant United States Attorney U.S. Attorney’s Office

Siobhan Carter-David, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of History Southern Connecticut State University

Kim A. Healey Executive Director NewAlliance Foundation

Sarah Smith Lubarsky

Executive Director Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame

Brittney Yancy, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of History Illinois College

CONSULTING SCHOLARS COMMITTEE

The academic arm of the CWHF, the Consulting Scholars Committee, researches and evaluates potential historic Inductees and works with our Board of Trustees to develop an annual slate of nominees.

Rosalyn Amenta, M.A.R., Ph.D. Chair

Director of Women’s Programs

Southern Connecticut State University

Siobhan Carter-David, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of History Southern Connecticut State University

Gwyneth H. Crowley, M.A., M.L.S. Social Science Research Support Librarian Yale University

Elizabeth Hohl, Ph.D. Professor of Women’s Studies and History Fairfield University

Lois Murray, M.A. Teacher

Ezra Academy

Heather Munro Prescott, Ph.D. Professor of History and Coordinator of Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies Central Connecticut State University

Margaret Alice Warren, M.A. Teacher Fairfield Woods Middle School

2022 INDUCTEES

Lhakpa Sherpa

• Woman’s World Record for 10 summits of Mt. Everest

• First Nepali woman to summit Mt. Everest and descend safely

• Founder of Cloudscape Climbing, a company that offers Sherpaguided climbing expeditions on any mountain in Nepal

• Successful ascents of numerous peaks throughout the Himalayas and around the world

Lhakpa Sherpa, the middle child of 11 children, is not only the first Nepali woman to successfully summit Mt. Everest, but the first woman to successfully summit the world’s highest mountain ten times, beating her own world record again this year for most Everest summits a woman has ever made. In 2016, she was listed as one of the BBC’s 100 Women. Her interest in climbing began at a very young age, where she would often join her father on his expeditions as a porter in the Makalu region in the Nepalese Himalayas. Her mother discouraged this behavior, calling her a “tomboy” and claiming that she would never get married. Lhakpa’s passion for the mountain proved to be stronger than the social norms of the town she grew up in. Eventually, she summited Mt. Everest on May 18, 2000 - the first woman to do so successfully.

Once, however, was not enough. Lhakpa’s love and respect for nature and the mountain encouraged her to keep climbing each year, where she then met her then-husband, and relocated to Connecticut in 2002 where his business was located. For the past 18 years, the Nepali native has lived in West Hartford, where she spends her time working and training for her next summit. Lhakpa has climbed numerous other peaks throughout the Himalayas and she shares her knowledge and strength by serving as a guide for other climbers.

Recently, Lhakpa started her own guiding service, Cloudscape Climbing, which she operates in New England and the Himalayas. Lhakpa’s achievements have not only started a shift in Sherpa culture and inspired more women in Nepal and New England to climb, but have also marked her as a symbol of strength for women all over the world. Lhakpa’s courage and motivation are evident in her children: her son, Nima, and two daughters, Sunny and Shiny. Shiny, while only 15 years old, has already conquered some difficult climbs. Speaking of her experience, Lhakpa says: “I felt like I’d changed Sherpa culture, the status of Sherpa women and Nepali women. I enjoyed being outside of my home and I wanted to share that feeling with all women.” “I’ve had a challenging life, she added. Mountains made me happy and relaxed. I will never give up. I want young women not to give up.”

Jennifer Rizzotti

• President of WNBA’s Connecticut Sun

• Basketball Hall of Famer

• Starting point guard for UCONN’s first National Championship team

• Two-time Championship winner with WNBA’s Houston Comets

• Named Coach of Year 3 times when at the University of Hartford

• National Coach of Year in 2011

• Won multiple gold medals as Assistant Coach for both USA Olympic and AmeriCup Teams

Jennifer Rizzotti is a Connecticut native and the current President of the Connecticut Sun in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). She joined the Sun after five seasons as the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at George Washington University and 11 seasons as Head Coach of the University of Hartford Women’s Basketball program, where she compiled a 316-216 (.594) record and was named America East Coach of the Year three times. Inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013, Rizzotti is well-known in basketball circles around the world, most notably as an assistant coach to the USA Basketball Women’s National Team, with whom she won a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

As a student of the University of Connecticut, Rizzotti first vaulted into the national spotlight as the starting point guard for the Huskies’ first national championship team in 1995 with an undefeated 35-0 record. A former All-American and the NCAA Regional Most Outstanding Player after her junior and senior seasons, in 1996 Rizzotti virtually swept the postseason awards as Big East Player of the Year, Big East Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the Associated Press Player of the Year, the Honda-Broderick Cup for Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year, the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award recipient, and the Wade Trophy winner. Rizzotti graduated as UConn’s career leader in assists (637) and steals (349) and still ranks third all-time in those categories. Rizzotti played eight seasons of professional basketball following her graduation from UConn in 1996. Rizzotti and her husband, Bill Sullivan, have two sons, Holden and Conor.

2022 INDUCTEES

Cora Lee Bentley Radcliffe

• Founded the Tigerettes, the first black female basketball and softball team and winners of the Eastern Regional Championship in their inaugural season in 1946

• Excelled in Track and Field at Florida A&M University

• Championed Special Education programs in Hartford, CT

• Steered the Women’s League towards Early Childhood Education

• Died on August 3, 2010

Born on January 1, 1922 in Tallahassee, FL, Cora Lee Bentley

Radcliffe had a profound impact on Connecticut ever since moving to Hartford to earn her master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Hartford. Cora Lee grew up in a large family of fifteen brothers and sisters and excelled in track and field. During her time in college, she used her athletic abilities, collaboration skills, and passion to start the first black female basketball and softball team in Connecticut; the Tigerettes! She led the team to a victory on their very first season and inspired hundreds of girls and women, especially black girls and women, to realize their athletic potential during the 1940s and 1950s. Alongside this, she demonstrated her passion to help others in being a mentor to mentally challenged children in schools throughout Hartford for over 30 years. Although Cora Lee passed away on August 3, 2010, her mark on the involvement of black females in sports has been profound. Her legacy can also be seen through her children and grandchildren, like her granddaughter, Anika Noni Rose, famed actress and 2018 Inductee of the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame.

Suzy Whaley

• First woman elected to serve as Officer of the PGA of America, PGA Honorary President, and PGA Master Professional and became first woman President of the PGA in 2018

• Dual member of the PGA of America and LPGA Teaching and Club Professional division

• Three-time Connecticut Women’s Open Champion, National LPGA Teaching and Professional winner, and many-time CT and NE Section Champion winner

• Numerous teaching awards, including Golf Digest Top 50 Instructor and GOLF Top 100 Teachers in America

Suzy Whaley is the first woman elected to serve as an officer of the PGA of America, PGA Honorary President and PGA Master Professional, Suzy Whaley is the PGA Director of Instruction for the Country Club at Mirasol in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. After serving two years as PGA Secretary, and two years as Vice President, Whaley was elected as the PGA of America’s first female President at the 2018 PGA Annual Meeting. She steered the Association through the onset of the global pandemic, leading to the establishment of the nearly $8 million Golf Emergency Relief Fund for golf industry personnel in need, and unprecedented growth in rounds played using social distancing protocols established in conjunction with the CDC and Bank2Golf.

Recognized as one of GOLF’s “Top 100 Teachers in America” and with the Metropolitan Golf Association’s Distinguished Service Award in 2019, Whaley’s resume includes numerous other teaching awards: Golf Digest Top 50 Instructor, LPGA Top 50 Instructor, two-time Connecticut PGA Teacher of the Year, 10-time Golf Digest State Teacher of the Year and U.S. Kids Golf Master Kids Teacher. She is a five-time PGA Jr. League Championship finals Coach and has instructed more that 300 children to collegiate golf. Previously, she enjoyed a five-year tenure at Jim Flick Golf Schools, before becoming the Head Golf Professional at Blue Fox Run in Avon, CT, in 2002. She works for ESPN and ESPN+ as an analyst and commentator. She will also work for Sirius XM radio for the Augusta Women’s Amateur Championship and the Masters. From 2004-2006, she also served as an LPGA golf commentator for ESPN. Afterward, Whaley began her own instruction and coaching business, Suzy Whaley Golf.

In 2021 Connecticut Golf Sports Hall of Fame inductee and Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame member, Whaley also serves on both the ANNIKA Foundation Board and as an advisor for the Sportsbox AI. In addition, she is an Honorary Director for the First Tee of Connecticut.

MESSAGE CWHF CHAIR

“The Tigerettes were a very special group of girls,” Radcliffe said. “Winning was important and we were good at it, but the main message I was hoping to pass along through sports was to be respectful and positive and have confidence in yourself.

“I think I may have helped one or two along the way with that.”

—Cora Lee Bentley Radcliff - 2022 CWHF Inductee

We have come a long way in women’s sports since Cora Lee Bentley Radcliffe was forming the first all-Black women’s softball team, the Tigerettes. As we all know we have much further to go.

Let’s enjoy tonight by shining a light on the four accomplished women we are inducting and the seventeen Spotlight Recipients that you will be hearing about this evening. Their stories will be used in our curriculum, not only in the classroom, but for adult audiences as well. Let’s show the next generation of women how they too can accomplish!

We have work to do! And with your generosity and partnership I feel great hope for the future as we continue to inspire future generations to believe in their own unlimited potential. Let us, together, continue to HONOR, EDUCATE, and INSPIRE.

Sincerely, Desiree Wolfe

“There are not golden geese. There are only fat geese eating the food that could nourish more athletic opportunities for women”

—Donna Lopiano, 1995 CWHF Inductee

CWHF Chair, Senior Director, Banking Industry Advisor, Salesforce

TO THE 2022

WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME

Thank you for strengthening our community and inspiring the next generation of leaders.

OUR SPONSORS

We are grateful for the generosity of all of our corporate sponsors! Your ongoing support makes our year-round work possible and helps us continue to share our remarkable Inductees’ stories with women and girls across Connecticut. Thank You!

SPOTLIGHT SPONSOR

GOLD

SILVER BRONZE

Accenture, LLP Barnes

ConnectiCare and WellSpark Health

Connecticut Green Bank

Conning

Medtronic

M&T Bank

NBC Sports

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

PGA of America Pullman & Comley

PwC

Southern Connecticut State University

The Ethel Walker School

The Malcolm Baldrige School of Business at Post University

University of Saint Joseph

TRIBUTE FILMS

TRIBUTE FILM PRODUCER

Karyl Evans

Karyl Evans is a six-time Emmy Award-winning director, writer, producer, and editor. She is the owner of Karyl Evans Productions LLC in North Haven, CT. Karyl creates long form documentaries and short videos for clients across CT including non-profits like the CT Audubon Society and the CT Bar Foundation, as well as educational institutions like Yale University. Ms. Evans was a full-time Associate Professor at SCSU and is currently an Associate Fellow at Yale University. She mentors students and conducts master classes in documentary filmmaking. Karyl also screens her documentary films and lectures across the country. Karyl Evans recently received a Historical Preservation Award for her body of work from the Garden Club of America.

For more information about Karyl Evans Productions LLC visit: www.karylevansproductions.com

and get inspired

SPOTLIGHT EMCEE

Gabrielle Lucivero

Gabrielle Lucivero is the lead sports anchor at NBC Connecticut. She’s what they call in the industry a “onewoman-band”, meaning she does it all: shoot, write, edit and report! She and her camera have traveled across the country following UConn Women’s basketball and across the globe to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. A retired athlete herself -- figure skating -- Gabrielle is a

Proud to celebrate the women who are out ahead.

Leading the charge to a better world deserves to be applauded. Congratulations to this year’s inductees.

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SPOTLIGHT RECIPIENTS

Lauren Anderson

Lauren Anderson was a five-sport stand-out at Southern Connecticut, competing on the field hockey, women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, softball and track & field teams during her four years at Southern Connecticut.

Anderson graduated from SCSU in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation and was awarded with the “Outstanding Senior Physical Education Major” honor upon her graduation. She earned her Master of Science degree from Southern in 1971.

Anderson went on to become the first female scholastic athletic director in the State of Connecticut at North Haven High School where she founded the girl’s track and field program that won four-straight state championships from 1972-1975. She also served as North Haven’s girl’s basketball and field hockey coach. In that time, she was honored as the 1972 Connecticut Interscholastic Track Coaches Association Coach of the Year, the 1975 Connecticut High School Coaches Association Coach of the Year and the 1976 National High School Athletic Coaches Association Coach of the Year.

Anderson also launched the women’s cross country program at the University of Rhode Island in 1977 and the women’s track & field program in 1978. In 1987, she was named the New England Division I Cross Country Coach of the Year and in 1990 was named the New England Division I Track & Field Coach of the Year. She went on to serve as the Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator from 1992 to 2003 before being elevated to Senior Associate Director of Athletics in 2003. She held that position until her retirement in 2008.

Anderson has been honored with the Award for Outstanding Leadership in Women’s Athletics by the Southern Connecticut Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Professional Service Award from the Connecticut Association of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, the Woman of the Yea r by the URI Association for Professional and Academic Women, the A. Lenore Cranston Award by the Rhode Island Association for Girls & Women in Sports, the Division I-AA Administrator of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhode Island Association for Girls & Women in Sports, the Katherine Ley Life Achievement Award by the ECAC, the Bill Cawley Lifetime Achievement Award by the Rhode Island Association of Sportswriters, Sportscasters and Sports Publicists and the James Lynah Distinguished Achievement Award by the ECAC.

She was previously inducted into the New Agenda-Northeast Women’s Hall of Fame, North Haven High School Sports Hall of Fame, Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Fame, Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, Eastford Elementary School Athletic Hall of Fame, Inaugural Woodstock Academy Athletic Hall of Fame, ECAC Hall of Fame and the University of Rhode Island Athletics Hall of Fame.

Heather Buck

Heather Buck grew up in the town of Stonington. She discovered her love of basketball playing in recreational leagues, learning from volunteer coaches and by regularly watching UConn women’s games. She went on to play at Stonington High School, graduating in 2008 with a program record 2,205 points and 1,406 rebounds.

During her freshman year, the team was Class M runner’s up. Fueled by that loss the team returned to the championship game in her sophomore year, winning the 2006 Class M

State Championship. During her high school career, Heather was a four-time All-State selection and twice chosen as the CHSCA State Player of the Year, first in 2006 and again in 2008. She was also the Gatorade Connecticut Girls’ Basketball Player of the year in 2007 and 2008.

Heather continued her playing career at UConn. After an early season illness required her to sit out the first month of games, she took a medical redshirt, competing with the team only in practice for the remainder of her freshman season. She was part of the program’s 90-game win streak from 20082010 which, at the time, established an NCAA record for both men’s and women’s basketball. In the midst of that streak, Heather memorably took the floor during her junior season as the team trailed Baylor and their 6’8” star Brittney Griner. She defended Griner mightily in the final eight minutes as the Huskies came back and won 65-64.

During the course of her five years at UConn, the team competed in five straight Final Fours and won the National Championship in each of their appearances in 2009, 2010 and 2013. Heather was named the Outstanding Senior Scholar Athlete in 2013 prior to graduating with her Nursing degree with Honors. After graduation, she began working as a bedside nurse in the Emergency Department at Connecticut Children’s in Hartford and is now in nursing leadership in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. She has also enjoyed her time working and volunteering at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. Whenever possible, she can be found passing on her basketball knowledge as a volunteer assistant with the Conard girls’ basketball team in her hometown of West Hartford.

Barbara Chesler

Barbara Chesler served as Senior Associate Athletics Director at Yale University from 1985 – 2015. She was responsible for many aspects of Yale’s thirty-five sport intercollegiate athletic program, including supervision of varsity teams, oversight of operating budgets, capital projects and facilities and alumni relations and development. Chesler firmly believes in broad based athletic programs that offer students the opportunity to compete at the highest level in a highly challenging academic environment. She often observed that the combination of teamwork, discipline, selflessness and organizational skills required of student-athletes leads them to highly successful careers.

Chesler, an avid supporter of Title IX since 1974, cultivated the first Yale endowment exclusively benefitting women’s athletics. She also served on various university, Ivy League, and NCAA committees, serving as the Chair of the first NCAA Rowing Championship Committee.

A longtime advocate of expanding Yale’s relationship with the greater New Haven community, she was the driving force in the development of Yale Athletics’ Community Rowing Program.

Following her retirement from Yale she worked on the Hillary Clinton campaign and also regularly volunteered and served on numerous committees for civic organizations including the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven Donor Advised Women and Girl’s Fund, The United Way of New Haven, and New Haven’s Clifford Beers Community Care Center. Most recently, she served for 30 months as the Interim Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of New Haven. She is recognized for her capacity to bring individuals of diverse backgrounds together for the greater good. She is passionate about education and improving the opportunities for youth and families in the greater New Haven community.

Chesler, an Indiana University graduate and varsity field hockey player, received a master’s degree in athletic administration from the University of Iowa. Before coming to Yale, the Cleveland native served as the Associate Athletics Director and Head Field Hockey Coach at Manhattanville College in New York.

SPOTLIGHT RECIPIENTS

Maria Conlon

Maria Conlon was a member of the UCONN Huskies Women’s Basketball team from 2001-2004 and won 3 NCAA Championships. Maria has coached women’s basketball at Southern University, Notre Dame High School, and is currently the head coach at Greens Farms Academy girls basketball in Westport. Coach Conlon is the owner and founder of BattleCon AAU program for youth basketball. Treasurer of the city of Derby. Owner of Steady Habits Tasting Lounge and will be launching a new podcast soon called “Work Hearter”. Focusing on discussing all things behind helping young athletes and professionals overcome obstacles set by themselves and the world that are preventing them from being their best. Maria is an Investment Advisor Representative and managing partner for Maffe Financial Group.

Ernestine Faienza

Ernestine Faienza is a talented woman in basketball, and in all life roles. Yet basketball is her defining passion. She excelled as a player throughout college. She moved into AAU coaching, but her most rewarding accomplishment was to create a program for young girls. Until this league, young female players had no choice but co-ed play.

Ernestine is a former Division One player. She started at Syracuse University in 1997 and finished in 2002 at University of Hartford under Jennifer Rizzoti. In her last home game she helped the team win the America East Championship which led to the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history.

Born in 1979, Ernestine was introduced to basketball at an early age by her mother. As a child Ernestine sat on the sideline hoping to play, yet all she heard was ‘when you get older’. At twelve she got her chance and just like her mother, loved it. Faienza was well known at the state and national level. She received All-State honors, became a 1,200 point scorer, and earned Street & Smith’s All-American honorable mention in 1996. In 1997, USA Today listed her on the All-American honorable mention list. Following college she became an AAU coach. The mother of four, three of whom are girls, created an all girls basketball program in New Britain. Prior to the Midstate Lady Raiders, girls only had co-ed programs. She grew up playing among boys, yet understood the need for girls to play together. As many as 100 girls, from 1st to 8th grades, were enrolled in what is a premier AAU program in Connecticut.

As a coach she won hundreds of games, but creating the program for young people with limited funds, or with no strong female role models has been far more rewarding. Two young women from her program are off to college this fall. One will continue to play basketball and the other will major in actuary science. Being someone they look up to while teaching a game she loves is better than any accolades she ever achieved.

Patricia Kelly

Patricia Elaine Kelly was born, raised and attended elementary and High School in Hartford, Connecticut. Mrs. Kelly has a BS in Human Services from Southern New Hampshire College and a Masters in Nonprofit Management from St. Thomas University.

Patricia is a United States Marine Corps veteran serving during the Vietnam War and received training in Military Intelligence and received military

clearance for Secret and Top Secret messages. Patricia, is also certified as an Urban Riding Specialist Instructor, Master Urban Riding Instructor, Certified Equine Husbandry Instructor, and is a certified Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Horse Specialist.

In 1984, Patricia E. Kelly founded Ebony Horsewomen, Inc. (EHI), Ebony Horsewomen, is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit community-service organization, developed and directed by African American female equestrians whose mission is to encourage and empower inner city youth toward positive and successful lives through the use of horses and Equine Assisted Therapy. Patricia was the first Chairwoman and has been the Chief Executive Officer for 38 years. Under Patricia’s leadership the Ebony Horsewomen Inc. has grown from a local to a national organization with members across the United States and the Ebony Horsewomen programs and services have been recognized for its excellence across the United States.

Ebony Horsewomen Equestrian and Therapeutic Center is a leader in the region providing Equine Assisted Therapy and Psychotherapy. Patricia has received numerous awards which includes: CNN Top Ten Hero, induction into the National Cowboys of Color Hall of Fame, Fort Worth Texas, National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, The Community Economic Development Fund’s Community Development Award, induction into the Cricket Hall of Fame, The National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials Community Service Award, State of Connecticut African American Affairs Woman of the Year, Boy Scouts of America, Spirit of Scouting Award, Greater Hartford Alliance of Black Social Workers - Dr. Ivor Echols Community Service Award, Urban League of Greater Hartford William Brown Community Leadership Award, Leadership Greater Hartford Polaris Award, Aetna’s Champions For Change, and a host of other awards and recognitions from Governors of the State of Connecticut and Mayors of Bloomfield and Hartford. Patricia is also a great Grandmother!

Rebecca Kowalski

Rebecca Kowalski is the Co-founder and President of the CMAK (Chase MichaelAnthony Kowalski) Sandy Hook Memorial foundation, founded after the passing of her son, Chase, in the Sandy Hook school tragedy on 12/14/12. The foundation offers grants to support the Race4Chase children’s triathlon training program, which also hosts three USATriathlon sanctioned events at the end of the 6-week training program. This started in 2014 with three programs and has grown to 29 in 3 states.

In 2014, while honoring the spirit of Chase who was a six-year-old winning triathlete, Rebecca was called out for not being a triathlete and asking children 6-12 to become triathletes; it was then that Rebecca’s journey in sports began. She has since completed many 5k runs and sprint triathlons. She was a coach for an adult beginner triathlon support group and has had an amazing journey going from absolute beginner, to sharing acquired skills and knowledge as a coach.

The 2020 Pandemic put a temporary end to completing her ironman dream for Chase’s 15th birthday and her 5-year anniversary of her first sprint triathlon. In September of 2020 she set out to complete the 70.3 distance while a friend completed 140.6 full distance triathlon. She finished what she started and kept training and unfortunately had a cycling accident and broke both wrists. Through the dedication of a personal trainer and physical therapist, she was able to regain mobility and strength and got back to her daily workout routines. As of October 16, 2022, she hopes to complete her first Ironman 70.3.

SPOTLIGHT RECIPIENTS

Meghan McMahon

Meghan grew up in Michigan and was a top-20 national junior tennis player. She played number one singles for four years at Yale, where she was an English major, a First Team All-Ivy pick, and achieved an Intercollegiate Tennis Association singles ranking of #23.

She served as a Director of Player Development for the US Tennis Association for two years. Meghan went on to earn her Master’s in Social Work in 1992 from the University of Illinois in Chicago, where she coached the Division I UIC Women’s Tennis Team. She was named Head Coach of the Columbia-Barnard Women’s Tennis Team in 1992 and returned to Yale as Head Women’s Tennis Coach from 1994-2001, where she led the squad to a record of 82-52.

With her late husband, David Swensen, Meghan served as Co-Chair of the $7 million Feed the Tennis Bulldog Campaign, which achieved its goal of endowing the Yale Tennis Program. She is a Board Member and Past President of New Haven Youth Tennis and Education, a Board Member of The Mory’s Association, and a fellow of Berkeley College at Yale. Meghan has served as a panelist for the Positive Coaching Alliance’s “Play On: Girls in the Game,” and for The New Haven Open’s Title IX symposium. Above all, Meghan has been privileged to serve as family caregiver for her beloved husband and parents, and for her two children, Eamonn and Galen McMahon Smith.

Patricia Melton

As an outstanding athlete in college, Melton has applied many competitive and leadership lessons to overcome major challenges in her athletic and professional careers. Resilience and the ability to pivot is baked into her DNA. The first in her family to attend college, she earned a bachelor’s degree at Yale University and a master’s degree at Arizona State University. She also served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve while at Yale.

A Field Hockey and Lacrosse recruit, after a disappointing season and conflict with her college coach, Melton became a track walk-on. A seven-time Ivy League champion, captain of her team and Track All-American, as a sprinter, she moved to the 400-meter hurdles late in her college career. She was bestowed the highest athletic honor in her Yale class, the Nellie Elliott award. Melton finished her athletic career at the1988 U.S. Olympic trials where she was a finalist in the 800 meters.

In 2007, she received the NCAA’s Silver Anniversary Award, which recognizes former studentathletes who have distinguished themselves in their chosen field. In 2013, she became the first African-American woman to be awarded Yale University’s George H. W. Bush Award. For her innovative work in education, in 2022, Melton was selected by CoSIDA as the 2022 Dick Enberg Award recipient.

Patricia Melton, New Haven Promise President, has overseen the disbursement of more than $25 million in scholarships to more than 2,300 New Haven students. Those students have largely been first-generation, low-income students of color, just as she had been in her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. Knowing that college completion alone is not enough to secure the Promise mission, Melton established career and civic launch programs to assist students in securing nearly 1,000 paid internships and full-time positions. The program has grown enrollment in the New Haven public schools and increased four-year college degree completion. The Obama White House cited Promise and its peer mentoring efforts as a “promising practice.”

Pat Panichas

Pat Panichas is an accomplished professor, gymnastics coach, athlete, administrator and judge. Pat taught for 45 years in the Exercise Science and Health and Movement Sciences Department at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) having recently earned the status of Professor Emeritus. She was the Women’s Gymnastics head coach for 28 years, leading the Owls to regional and national prominence. During her career as the Owls’ head coach, her teams won 10 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division II Championships, was ECAC Coach of the Year multiple times and the 1998 USA Gymnastics National Collegiate Coach of the Year. Athletes under her tutelage earned many honors including AIAW – All-around Champion, NCAA - Vault Champion, numerous athletes received All-American Honors for athletics and over 25 Southern women earned Academic All-American honors. Pat herself competed both nationally and internationally, representing the USA at the World University Games in Turin, Italy.

Pat served on the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Committee and also served as chair of the committee. She has volunteered her time at the state, regional and national levels and served on the National Association of Women’s Gymnastics Judges (NAWGJ) National Governing Board. Pat continues to serve on multiple USA Gymnastics committees including her role on the Women’s Technical Committee, developing rules, educational materials, presenting at regional and national conventions and assisting with the training and certification of women’s gymnastics officials.

Pat is a 2007 inductee into the SCSU Athletic Hall of Fame, a 2008 recipient of the National Association of Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS) Pathfinder Award, a 2010 inductee into the NAWGJ Hall of Fame, and a 2016 Connecticut Gymnastics Hall of Fame inductee.

As a Brevet-rated official, Pat has judged the USA Gymnastics National Championships and Olympic Trials since 1996. She has judged World Cup Competitions, World Championships, Pan American Games and had the honor of being selected to judge the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Demonstrating continued dedication to the students, Pat was recently involved in helping establish the “Believe Fund” at SCSU which is designed to help College of Health and Human Services students who find themselves in emergency financial need.

Pat earned her BS in elementary education, MS in physical education and 6th year in Administration from SCSU and has done additional graduate study at the University of Connecticut.

Anne Parmeter

Anne Parmenter begins her 22nd season as the head field hockey coach at Trinity College in 2022. She guided the Bantams to the NCAA Division III Final Four with a 15-6 record, and also earned a 15th-consecutive NESCAC Championship Tournament appearance in 2021. Parmenter mentored First Team All-American Caelin Flaherty who also joined two other Bantams on AllNESCAC teams in 2021. In 2018, the Bantams posted a 12-6 record and made runs in both the NESCAC Finals and the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals. Trinity finished 2017 as the No. 11-ranked field hockey team in the nation. Parmenter mentored 2018 NESCAC Offensive Player of the Year Chandler Solimine, after helping Trinity’s all-time leading scorer Kelcie Finn earn National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division III National Player of the Year honors in both 2016 and 2017. Parmenter was inducted into the NFHCA Hall of Fame in 2019, joining Robin Sheppard to make Trinity College the only school with two coaches in the NFHCA Hall of Fame. The NESCAC and NFHCA

SPOTLIGHT RECIPIENTS

Regional Coach of the Year in 2014, Parmenter is 192-130 in 20 seasons at Trinity and 291-210-7 in 35 years of coaching field hockey at Connecticut College and with the Bantams.

Parmenter ranked 49th among all NCAA field hockey coaches, 25th among active NCAA field hockey coaches, and 12th among active Division III field hockey coaches in wins in the most recent record book, and has taken Trinity to 14 NESCAC Tournaments and four NCAA Tourneys since 2000. In 2009, Parmenter guided the Bantams to a 13-1 regular season, and an appearance in the NESCAC Finals which Trinity hosted on Robin L. Sheppard Field as the top seed in the conference tournament. Trinity won NCAA contests in 2008, 2009 and 2016 and made the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2009 and 2017. Parmenter also served as an assistant women’s lacrosse coach at Trinity for 13 seasons and was promoted to full professor of physical education in the summer of 2017. She was the College’s interim SWA for the fall semester of 2017 and has been its director of physical education since the fall of 2017.

Prior to her arrival at Trinity, Parmenter was the head field hockey coach at Connecticut College for 14 seasons, compiling six ECAC Division III New England Championship appearances. She was also the head women’s lacrosse coach at Connecticut College from 1991-2001 with a career record of 10747, nine ECAC Division III New England Championship appearances, ECAC titles in 1994 and 2000, and an NCAA Division III Championship Tournament appearance in 1996. In addition, Parmenter was assistant athletic director at Connecticut College. Parmenter has also been an assistant field hockey, lacrosse, and squash coach at Amherst College and an assistant field hockey coach at the University of Massachusetts and Holy Cross. She is the current president of the NFHCA.

A native of England, Parmenter graduated from Chelsea College in 1981 with a degree in education. She earned her master’s degree from achusetts in 1987. She is the current NFHCA President and Trinity hosted the 2021 NCAA Division IIII Final Four. Parmenter took a year off from assisting the Bantam lacrosse team in 2006 to fulfill a lifelong dream of climbing Mount Everest.

Betty Remigino Knapp

After Betty Remigino-Knapp graduated Central Connecticut State University she began her athletics leadership in 1977 coaching at Conard in West Hartford, CT and then served as the head cross country and track and field coach from 19781980. During her tenure, the cross-country team won the 1978 Class-L title, and her outdoor track and field team won the 1979 State Open Championship. From 1980-1996, Remigino-Knapp was head women’s cross-country and track and field coach at UConn. She led her teams to two Big East championships and 12 New England championships, and coached five All-Americans, three Academic All-American ScholarAthletes, and two Olympic qualifiers. While at UConn she served as president of the Big East Coaches Association from 1994-96 and served on the National Collegiate Athletic Association Track and Field Rules Committee for six years.

After retiring as head coach at UConn in 1996, Betty assumed Athletic Director responsibilities for both Conard and Hall High Schools in West Hartford. She directed the athletic program of nearly 30 athletic teams and roughly 60 coaches and 900 student athletes between the two schools.

During her 20-year tenure as AD, Betty oversaw several key initiatives affecting the student-athletes at both high schools. She facilitated implementing one of the first heat protocols for high school athletes to help maximize health and safety during exercise in intense heat, while working closely with Doug Casa, the CEO of the Korey Stringer Institute at UConn. Working closely with town officials she also upgraded the stadium facilities at both high schools. Betty continued her championing of equality for women in sport with the addition of the girls’ ice hockey team.

Remigino-Knapp was honored in 2015 with the Distinguished Service Award from the Connecticut

Association of Athletic Directors. In 2016, the Connecticut High School Coaches Association awarded Betty the distinction of “Athletic Director of the Year” prior to her retirement at the end of the school year. Betty returned to coaching girls cross country and track and field in 2017 at Hall where her team won the 2019 Cross Country State Class L, Open and New England Championships.

Lori Riley

Lori Riley has been a sportswriter and columnist at the Hartford Courant since 1989, covering college, professional and high school sports. She focuses primarily on girls and women’s sports and outdoor sports. Lori has covered the UConn women’s basketball team on and off since their first Final Four team in 1991. Her main focus of coverage from 1997-2008 was the UConn women and national women’s college basketball team, and the WNBA since its inception in 1997 through the mid-2000s, including the Connecticut Sun. Currently, Lori covers high school sports. Lori also reported for Trenton (N.J.) Times and the Asbury Park (N.J.) Press.

Lori Riley has been inducted into the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame and will be inducted into the Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Fame in September 2022.

Lori has won numerous CT Society of Professional Journalists awards, as well as national Associated Press Sports Editor (APSE) awards. Lori is a 1986 Rutgers University graduate and is married with two children, ages 27 and 22. Lori likes to run, bike and kayak.

Carol Stiff

Carol Stiff spent 31 years at ESPN retiring in July 2021. She is now the President of Stiff Sports Media Consulting, LLC. She is a nationally recognized television sports executive credited with advancing the growth of women’s sports at the collegiate and professional level through innovative linear/digital/streaming programming, collaborative partnerships, and relentless advocacy. In 2021 she was honored as a Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, Naismith Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, and an Edward R. Murrow award winner. Carol is a frequent speaker and industry panelist with relationships that run deep throughout the sports universe.

Prior to her retirement from ESPN, she had become one of the most influential people in women’s college sports, particularly in basketball where ESPN has held the exclusive NCAA tournament rights since 1996. Over her tenure at ESPN Stiff was responsible for the acquisition and programming of a variety of sports including NCAA women’s basketball, various NCAA Men’s & Women’s championships (NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship, FCS Football Championship, College World Series, Women’s College World Series, lacrosse, volleyball, soccer), WNBA, and professional softball across multiple platforms including ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, ESPN+.

From 2013-2016 she served as Vice President of content integration for the ESPNW business. In that role she led the company’s efforts with integrating ESPNW content across ESPN platforms. As a member of ESPN’s employee committee in support of The V Foundation for Cancer Research, Stiff has been a leader on behalf of the company’s efforts to benefit The Foundation. She was responsible for the launch of the Jimmy V Week and in raising awareness for The V Foundation for cancer research. She presently serves on the Women’s Sports Foundation Board of Governors, President of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Board of Trustees, Kay Yow Cancer Fund Board of Directors, Collegiate Women’s Sports Awards Board of Directors and the Pat Summitt’s Foundation Fund Advisory Board.

Before joining ESPN, Stiff worked in college athletics, coaching at Brown University, Rensselaer

SPOTLIGHT RECIPIENTS

Polytechnic Institute and Western Connecticut State University. Adding to her list of credentials, Stiff was inducted into the Connecticut Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005, was named the “Top Advocate for Women’s Basketball” by the Tampa Tribune in 2008, and in 2009 Sports Business Journal recognized her as one of the most influential executives leading the way in women’s sports. She was awarded the 2011 WBCA Mel Greenberg Media Award for her commitment to women’s basketball and advancing the role of the media in the game. In 2013, Stiff received the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health Leadership Award and Stiff was recognized by the Alliance of Women Coaches as a “Bigger Picture of Being a Champion” as well as a WISE Woman of the Year. Stiff was honored as one of Business Insider’s 50 Most Influential People Behind the Scenes in Sports in 2014. Sports Business Journal named Stiff one of 35 “Game Changers of 2016” for her role at ESPN, in addition to serving as a mentor to young executives.

Stiff is a native of Bernardsville, N.J., she graduated from Southern Connecticut State University where she competed in both basketball and field hockey and earned a BS degree in 1983 and a MS degree in 1989.

Constance Darnowski Stoll

Constance was born in 1934 in Brooklyn, New York. At the age of 12 she entered a 50 yard dash race sponsored by the Police Athletic League. This event led her to a long career in track and field. She was the AAU Champion, which served as the Olympic trials, in the 80 meters hurdles in 1952. She competed for the 1952 and 1956 U.S. Olympic teams in the 80 meters hurdles.

She graduated from St. John’s University with a degree in mathematics and then focused her career on high school teaching. Connie married Charles Stoll in 1958. They had 5 children, 8 grandchildren, and 1 great granddaughter. Connie currently resides in Uncasville, CT.

Tiffany Weimer

Tiffany Weimer is a former professional soccer player, current Yale Women’s Soccer Assistant Coach, Sporting CT Youth/Women’s Team Coach and the Co-Founder and owner of Duktig Brand, an innovative soccer brand creating soccer-specific products for the soccer community. She is also one of the Founders of the Girls Academy Advisory Panel, the first-ever player-led board for youth soccer in the world.

Tiffany’s professional playing career spanned over 12 years (it might be over it might not be, depends on the day), including living in 6 different countries (Sweden x2, Denmark x2, Brazil, Canada, USA, Finland) and 6 different cities throughout North America (Kansas City, Boston x2, Portland, Vancouver, San Jose and DC).

Before playing professionally, she was a 3x All-American and 2x Runner-Up for the Herman Trophy while setting records at Penn State including the Big Ten and Penn State’s all-time leading goal scorer with 91 goals in 97 appearances.

While playing at North Haven, CT High School she scored a school record 109 goals in her four years, earning her All-American honors her senior and junior years.

Kara Wolters

Kara Wolters is a graduate from UCONN, where she excelled in basketball while playing for Coach Geno Auriemma. Wolters was in the spotlight while playing at UCONN and became the nation’s top female collegiate player as the starting center for the Huskies national championship team in 1995 with a 35-0 record. A former All-American, she was player of the year and went on to accumulate many accolades, including Big East Conference Player of the year and Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player along with Big East All-Tournament all four years. During the 1995 NCAA tournament, she was named to the All-Final Four team averaging 20.5 ppg. Wolters graduated from UCONN as the leading rebounder and shot blocker in 1997.

Wolters was then drafted by the New England Blizzard of the ABL in 1997 and played for the team in the final two of the league’s existence. She then played four years in the WNBA being drafted first by the Houston Comets and winning the WNBA Championship with the team. She then played for the Indiana Fever and finished her WNBA career with the Sacramento Monarchs before heading overseas playing in Italy, Korea, and China.

Kara is part of an exclusive group of women athletes to have the elusive “set” an NCAA National Championship (UCONN 1995), WNBA Championship (Houston Comets 1999), and an Olympic Gold Medal (Sydney 2000).

After her playing days, Kara began her broadcasting career with the YES Network color commentating college basketball games. She then worked in radio for six years as a color analyst for WTIC 1080 “Home of the Huskies” before transitioning to TV where she has been for the past 10 years as the in-studio analyst for Sports New York (SNY) covering UCONN Women’s Basketball. Kara owns and operates Dream Big Basketball which offers camps, clinics and lessons to young athletes using her skill and knowledge of the game. She also coaches her daughter’s AAU teams. Wolters currently lives in Somers, CT with her husband Sean Drinan and two daughters Sydney and Delaney.

SPOTLIGHT RECIPIENT COMMITTEE

women who served on this year’s Spotlight

Committee and helped to

Victoria “Vicky” Chun Athletic Director

University

Bonnie Edmondson

Emerita, School Health Education

Connecticut State University

Morgan Tuck Director, Franchise Development

Sun

2022 Women in Sports,

Paige Nelson Development Manager

Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame

Sarah Smith Lubarsky Executive Director Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame

FOUNDING PRESIDENTS AWARD

In 2013, in honor of our Founding President, Geena Clonan, we inaugurated the Founding President’s Award to recognize the outstanding work of a Connecticut non-profit that educates and empowers women. The eighth annual award honors:

Mission Statement

To provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympictype sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

About Special Olympics Connecticut

Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competitions for over 10,000 athletes of all ages with intellectual disabilities and Unified Sports partners - their teammates without disabilities. Through the joy of sport, the Special Olympics movement transforms lives and communities throughout the state and around the world by promoting good health and fitness and inspiring inclusion and respect for all people, on and off the playing field.

This year we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Title IX!

Thank You for Joining us today in honoring the work, the achievements, and the spirit of Women in Sports.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

CHAIR

Desiree Wolfe

Senior Director, Banking Industry Advisor Sales Force

TREASURER

Lori M. Budnick Principal, CliftonLarsonAllen

SECRETARY

Susan Sprano

Advertising Director, Republican-American, Waterbury, Connecticut

Founding President Geena Clonan

Beth Costello

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

The Hartford Kate Engle Director Environmental Assessment Louriero Engineering Associates

Tracy L. Feliciani Managing Director, Health & Public Service Client Service Group, Accenture, Inc.

Deb Geyer

Vice President, Environment, Health, Safety and Corporate Social Responsibility, Stanley Black & Decker

Lindsay Castonguay Hany

Senior Vice President, Senior Relationship Manager Bank of America Merrill Lynch

LaKisha Jordan VP, Inclusion & Diversity, American Eagle Financial Credit Union

Kayla Jump Principal RD Engineer, Medtronic

Melinda Kaufmann Counsel Pullman & Comley

Jaqui Borges King Associate General Counsel, Arcadia

Mickey Mattei Communication and Fund Development Professional

Ndidi Moses Connecticut Superior Court Judge

Jessica Neuweiler

Senior VP Manager Wealth Client Experience, Webster Investments

Lilian C. Ulan

Principal, Delivery Leadership, Slalom

Deborah Ullman

Retired Chief Executive Officer, YWCA of Hartford Region

Judite C. Vamvakides Associate VP Alumni & Donor Engagement, SCSU

Roberta Wachtelhausen President, WellSpark

Abby Warren Partner, Robinson+Cole

Nancy Wheeler President, WheelerConnect Brittney Yancy Assistant Professor of History Illinois College

Consulting Scholar, Rosalyn Amenta, Ph.D.

Adjunct Professor, Women’s Studies, Southern Connecticut State University

CONNECTICUT WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME STAFF

Sarah Smith Lubarsky

Executive Director

Michelle Marchese Manager of Marketing and Operations

Paige Nelson Development Manager

Halima Flynn Development Associate

Elisabeth "Liz" Krebs Education Manager

Louisa Iacurci Education Program Associate

Ursula Pfeiffer SCSU University Assistant

Our mission is simple: inform, educate, and inspire. Our success depends on you.

our team today!

As a member you support the local journalism and programming we rely on every day – including national favorites such as Fresh Air and PBS Newshour, as well as award-winning children’s programming like Curious George.

Members also get: Behind-the-scenes access to new shows and events before anyone else! Access to PBS Passport to stream the best of public television anywhere, anytime. Entry to all contests and giveaways during Membership Drives if you are a Sustainer.

CAPACITY CAMPAIGN DONORS

Thank you to our Capacity Campaign donors, who’s generous multi-year contributions will help financially secure the CWHF for years to come.

Beth Costello Elizabeth Gianesello Judd

Christine & Philip Lodewick

Sherry Manetta and Brian Harvey Mickey Mattei Ruby Melton & Gail McAvay

Sandra Vigliotti Senich Diane W. Whitney

PLEASE JOIN US!

Contact: Sarah Smith Lubarsky at sarah@cwhf.org to participate.

Congratulations to all of the 2022 Inductees to the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame!

The Hartford Foundation celebrates your achievements and is grateful for your dedication to our community.

Learn about our work: hfpg.org/joinus

A FEW GOOD MEN

The generous investments from A Few Good Men provide inspirational educational programs throughout the state.

Dudley W. Alleman

Charles Berg Stephen Corman Dick Ebersol

Neal J. Keating, in memory of Eileen Kraus

Stephen J. Kraus, in memory of Eileen Kraus

Hal Kraus, in memory of Eileen Kraus Philip H. Lodewick Ernie Mattie

Emil Meshberg

James K. Robertson, Jr., in honor of Joann, Elizabeth and Hannah Robertson

Peter Schrobenhauser John P. Senich Timothy Stuart Richard Sugarman Garry Trudeau Tom Willits

For more information contact Paige Nelson, CWHF Development Manager at 203.392.9009

SHAPING TOMORROW'S LEADERS TODAY

OUR EXPERTISE

BUSINESS ADVISORY COACHING & ASSESSMENTS

Guiding you to look for alignment throughout your organization and creating a long term sustainable framework and solutions that bring together your business and operations strategy with your people strategy

Self discovery and accountability are the first steps to understanding how to be a stronger and better leader to your team. LCC provides quality ICF certified coaches at all levels and certified to provide various quantitative and qualitative assessments

LEADER DEVELOPMENT

Customized multi disciplinary leadership curriculum designed to meet your organization’s needs Our goal is to provide leaders with current market edge knowledge, skills, and behaviors, so they can show up, lead, and be their best selves

TALENT PLACEMENT

Finding the right talent extends beyond resumes and interviews Getting input from all stakeholders on the right criteria, personality type, and ability to fit in with the team and corporate culture is critical to the success of finding, hiring, on boarding, and retaining talent.

From the women led Leadership & Coaching Center, we value and support fema leaders in all industries Together we are stronger to build the next generation o transformational leaders

Congratulations to the CT Women's Hall of Fame 2022 Women in Sports Inductees!

WENDY RAMOS MANAGING DIRECTOR

ZEBRINA WARNER LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

WWW ISIWDC COM LCC@ISIWDC COM

OUR INDUCTEES

Mary Jobe Akeley 1886-1966

Geographer, moun taineer, photographer and writer—one of the world’s leading explorers.

Inducted 1994

Anni Albers 1899-1994

First weaver to have a solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art. Inducted 1994

Marian Anderson 1897-1993

Renowned contralto vocalist and first Afri can-American singer to perform with the Metropolitan Opera. Inducted 1994

Beatrice Fox Auerbach 1887-1968

President of G. Fox & Company, business leader and philanthro pist.

Inducted 1994

Emma Fielding Baker 1828-1916

Mohegan medicine woman, responsible for regulating tribal land divisions and maintaining Mohegan historical records and oral traditions.

Inducted 1994

Emily Dunning Barringer 1876-1961

The first female ambu lance surgeon and the first female physician to secure a surgical residency.

Inducted 2000

Evelyn Longman Batchelder 1874-1954

A prolific sculptor, created Bushnell Park’s “Spirit of Victory.” Inducted 1994

Adrianne Baughns Wallace 1944First female television anchor in Connecticut and the first female African-American television newscaster in New England. Inducted 2000

Catharine Beecher 1800-1878

Founder and first pres ident of the Hartford Female Seminary. Inducted 1994

Josephine Bennett 1880-1961

Powerful campaigner for a woman’s right to vote. Inducted 2020

Frances Ellen Burr 1831-1923

One of Connecticut’s first suffragist orga nizers and co-founder of the Connecticut Woman’s Suffrage Association. Inducted 2020

Lucia Chase 1897-1986 Co-Founder, Director, and benefactor of the American Ballet Theatre.

Inducted 2018

Jewel Plummer Cobb 1924-2017

Leading cell biologist and educator. Inducted 2008

Jody Cohen 1954The first woman rabbi in Connecticut to have an extended tenure of her own congregation. Inducted 1994

Elizabeth Hart Jarvis Colt 1826-1905

First woman in America to establish a major art collection, later bequeathed to the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. Inducted 1997

Martha Coolidge 1946Filmmaker and first woman president of the Director’s Guild of America. Inducted 2005

Prudence Crandall 1803-1890

Teacher and abolition ist; Connecticut’s State Heroine. Inducted 1994

Katharine Seymour Day 1870-1964

Landmark conserva tionist. Inducted 1994

Rosa DeLauro 1943U.S. Representative of Connecticut’s 3rd dis trict since 1990, sharp political strategist and champion of women’s causes. Inducted 2013

Annie Dillard 1945Author of 1975 Pulitzer Prize-winning book “Pilgrim at Tinker Creek.” Inducted 1997

Beatrix Farrand 1872-1959

Nationally renowned landscape architect. Inducted 2014

Helen M. Feeney 1919-2004

First woman in New England and one of the first nationwide to serve as chancellor of an archdiocese. Inducted 1995

Fidelia Hoscott Fielding 1827-1908

A member of the Mohegan Pequot tribe and responsible for the preservation of her tribe’s language and customs.

Inducted 1994

Catherine Flanagan 1889-1927

Connecticut state and national organizer for the radical National Women’s Party (NWP)

Inducted 2020

Sarah Lee Brown Fleming 1876-1963

One of the first black women in America to publish a novel and a tireless advocate for social, political and edu cational opportunities for African- American women.

Inducted 2020

Helen M. Frankenthaler 1928-2011

Revolutionary abstract expressionist painter. Inducted 2005

Barbara Hackman Franklin 1940President and CEO of Barbara Franklin Enterprises, 29th U.S. Secretary of Commerce, led the first White House effort to recruit women for high-level government jobs.

Inducted 2013

Martha Minerva Franklin 1870-1968

Pioneer of the move ment for Black nurses. Inducted 2009

Edythe J. Gaines 1922-2006

First female Afri can-American super intendent of public schools in Connecticut.

Inducted 1996

Anne Garrels 1951-2022

Groundbreaking journalist and 23-year NPR Senior Foreign Correspondent best known for her coverage of conflicts around the world. Inducted 2012

Charlotte Perkins Gilman 1860-1935

Leading intellectual, social reformer, and author. Inducted 1994

Patricia Goldman-Rakic 1937-2003

World-renowned neu roscientist.

Inducted 2008

Dorothy Goodwin 1914-2007

Five-term Democratic state representative. Inducted 1994

Ella Tambussi Grasso 1919-1981

First woman in the nation to be elected governor in her own right. Inducted 1994

Kristen Griest 1989The U.S. Army’s first female infantry officer and one of the first two women to successfully complete Army Ranger School.

Inducted 2017

Estelle Griswold 1900-1981

Leader of the battle for elimination of Connecticut’s anti-birth control statute. Inducted 1994

Florence Griswold 1850-1937

Fostered the Impres sionist art movement in America. Inducted 2002

Mary Hall 1843-1927

First female lawyer in Connecticut. Inducted 1994

Dorothy Hamill 1956Olympic gold medalist and World Champi onship figure skating winner. Inducted 2007

Alice Hamilton 1869-1970

First female Harvard professor, pioneer in industrial medicine. Inducted 1994

Jane Hamilton-Merritt 1947-

Photo journalist, educator and author; nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her work on behalf of the Hmong people of Laos. Inducted 1999

Katharine Hepburn 1907-2003

One of America’s most accomplished ac tresses; winner of four Academy Awards. Inducted 1994

Katharine Houghton Hepburn 1878-1951

Prominent champion of women’s rights and Planned Parenthood. Inducted 1994

Caroline Maria Hewins 1846-1926

Pioneer in library ser vices for children. Inducted 1995

The Hill Sisters

Three sisters who campaigned for the passage of the 19th Amendment Inducted 2020

• Clara Hill 1871-1955

• Elsie Hill 1883-1970

• Helena Hill 1875-1958

Dotha Bushnell Hillyer 1843-1932

Founder and bene factor of the Horace Bushnell Memorial Hall. Inducted 2003

Dorrit Hoffleit 1907-2007

Astronomer, author of Bright Star Catalogue, Annenberg Award winner. Inducted 1998

OUR INDUCTEES

Isabella Beecher Hooker 1822-1907

Founder of Connecti cut Women’s Suffrage Association.

Inducted 1994

Mary Goodrich Jenson 1907-2004

First female pilot in Connecticut, first female reporter for the Hartford Courant with a bylined column. Inducted 2000

Emeline Roberts Jones 1836- 1916

First female dentist in America. Inducted 1994

Joan Joyce 1940-2022

Inspirational woman athlete achieving greatness in softball, basketball, volleyball, and golf.

Inducted 2007

Helen Keller 1880-1968

Inspirational champion of civil liberties for the disabled.

Inducted 2006

Isabelle Kelley 1917-1997

Principal author of the Food Stamp Act of 1964 and first director of the U.S. Food Stamp Program. Inducted 2011

Barbara Kennelly 1936First Connecticut woman to be elected to eight terms in Congress. Inducted 1994

Eileen Kraus 1938-2017

First woman to head a major regional financial institution. Inducted 2002 Susanne Langer 1895-1985

Leading 20th-century philosopher. Inducted 1996

Jennifer Lawton 1963Innovative entrepre neur, technologist and pioneer in the 3D printing industry. Inducted 2014 Annie Leibovitz 1949Internationally renowned photogra pher whose large and distinguished body of work includes some of the most well-known portraits of our time. Inducted 2012

Madeleine L’Engle 1918-2007

Award-winning chil dren’s author.

Inducted 1996

Jerimarie Liesegang 1950–2020

Tireless advocate for Transgender rights in Connecticut. Inducted 2021

Rebecca Lobo 1973Award-winning athlete, television analyst, and advocate for breast cancer awareness.

Inducted 2016

Donna Lopiano 1946Gifted athlete; instru mental in ensuring gender equity in sports. Inducted 1995

Linda Koch Lorimer 1952Former Vice President for Global and Strategic Initiatives at Yale University and visionary leader in higher edu cation, spearheading strategic partnerships locally and abroad. Inducted 2013

Ruth A. Lucas 1920-2013

The first African-Amer ican woman to attain the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Air Force. Inducted 2017

Clare Boothe Luce 1903-1987 Playwright, novelist, first U.S. Congresswoman from Connecticut; ambassador to Italy. Inducted 1994

Kica Matos 1966National advocate for immigration reform and coordinator of the work of the Fair Immigration Reform Movement, the nation’s largest network of immigrant rights organizations. Community organizer and attorney. Inducted 2021

Carolyn M. Mazure 1949Visionary founder of Women’s Health Research at Yale.

Inducted 2009

Barbara McClintock 1902-1992 Famed geneticist and Nobel Prize Winner. Inducted 2008 Dollie McLean 1936Founding executive director of the Artists Collective, Hartford. Inducted 2003

Faith Middleton 1948Thought-provoking Connecticut radio broadcaster and host of The Faith Middleton Show on WNPR. Inducted 2012

Carolyn Miles 1961President and CEO of Save the Children, inter national leader creating change for children around the world. Inducted 2015

Rachel Taylor Milton 1901-1995

Founder of the Urban League of Hartford. Inducted 1994

Constance Baker Motley 1921-2005

First female Afri can-American federal court judge; success fully argued nine U. S. Supreme Court civil rights cases. Inducted 1998

Anne M. Mulcahy 1952Former Chairman and visionary leader of Xerox Corporation. Inducted 2010

Denise Lynn Nappier 1951First woman elected State Treasurer in Connecticut history, first African-American woman elected State Treasurer in the nation, and first African-Amer ican woman elected to statewide office in Connecticut. Inducted 2011

Edna Negron Rosario 1944Educator who estab lished the first family resource center and school-based health clinic in the nation. Inducted 1994

Indra K. Nooyi 1955Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, known for her global leadership, strategy, corporate responsibility and sustainability efforts. Inducted 2015

Laura Nyro 1947-1997

Notable songwriter and singer. Inducted 2001

Martha Parsons 1869-1965

First female business executive in the state of Connecticut to earn her position by merit. Inducted 2010

Alice Paul 1885-1977

Leader of women’s suffrage movement, founder of National Woman’s Party. Inducted 1994

Jane Pauley 1950Broadcast journalist, advocate for children’s health, education and mental health. Inducted 2016

Ellen Ash Peters 1930First woman to be named a Chief Justice of the Connecticut State Supreme Court. Inducted 1994

Ann Petry 1908-1997

First African-American woman to sell one mil lion copies of a novel, “The Street.”

Inducted 1994

Emily Pierson 1881-1971

State organizer of the Connecticut Woman’s Suffrage Movement and organizer of the 1912 “Trolley Cam paign.”

Inducted 2020

Rosa Ponselle 1897-1981

Legendary Metropol itan Opera diva, hon ored on a U. S. postage stamp. Inducted 1998

Sarah Porter 1813-1900

Educator, founder of Miss Porter’s School. Inducted 1994

Theodate Pope Riddle 1867- 1946 Noted female architect who designed the HillStead Museum, and the Avon Old Farms and Westover schools. Inducted 1994

Catherine Roraback 1920-2007

Attorney, foremost ad vocate for civil liberties. Inducted 2001

Anika Noni Rose 1972Tony Award-winning actress of TV, film, and stage, and voiced the first black Disney princess in The Princess and the Frog

Inducted 2018

Margo Rose 1903-1997

Artist, teacher, perform er, and “grand dame” of the American Puppet Theater.

Inducted 1997

Margaret Fogarty Rudkin 1898-1967

Founder of Pepperidge Farm.

Inducted 1994 Regina Rush Kittle 1961A military and law enforcement trailblazer and the highest-rank ing African- American woman to serve in the Connecticut State Police.

Inducted 2017

Rosalind Russell 1906-1976

Legendary award-win ning actress of the stage and screen. Inducted 2005

Susan Saint James 1946Award-winning televi sion and film star and philanthropist. Inducted 1994

Marian Salzman 1959Thought leader in public relations, among the world’s top five trendspotters. Inducted 2014

OUR INDUCTEES

Maria C. Sanchez 1926-1989

First Hispanic woman to be elected to the Connecticut legislature. Inducted 1995

Mary Townsend Seymour 1873-1957

Pioneering advocate for equal rights for African Americans, co-found er Hartford Chapter NAACP. Inducted 2006

Lydia Huntley Sigourney 1791-1865

One of the first Ameri can women to succeed at a literary career. Inducted 1994

The Smiths of Glastonbury

Revered elder states women of the suffrage movement. Inducted 1994

• Hannah Hadassah Smith 1767-1850

• Hancy Zephina Smith 1787-1871

• Cyrinthia Sacretia Smith 1788-1864

• Laurilla Aleroyla Smith 1789-1857

• Julia Evelina Smith 1792-1886

• Abby Hadassah Smith 1797-1878

Virginia Thrall Smith 1836-1903

Activist in support of services to women and children. Inducted 1994

Helen L. Smits 1937International healthcare leader and teacher. Inducted 2009

Anne Stanback 1958Courageous activist for social justice for the les bian and gay communi ty; founding president of Love Makes a Family. Inducted 2006

Hilda Crosby Standish 1902-2005

First medical director of Connecticut’s first birth control clinic. Inducted 1994

Joan Steitz 1941Distinguished professor of molecular biophysics. Inducted 2008

Maria Miller Stewart 1803-1879

First American-born woman to publicly address mixed gender and race audiences on abolition. Inducted 2001

Harriet Beecher Stowe 1811-1896

Author, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”

Inducted 1994

Gladys Tantaquidgeon 1899-2005

Anthropologist, Mohe gan medicine woman. Inducted 1994

Betty Tianti 1929-1994

The nation’s first wom an president of a state AFL-CIO. Inducted 1994

Augusta Lewis Troup 1848-1920

Union organizer, jour nalist and promoter of the suffrage movement, beloved educator and advocate for teachers and minority groups. Inducted 2013

Sophie Tucker 1884-1966

Celebrated singer and actress. Inducted 1999

Antonina Uccello 1922First woman to be elected mayor of a Con necticut municipality. Inducted 1999

Glenna Collett Vare 1903-1989

Golfing champion who dominated American women’s golf in the 1920s. Inducted 1998

Lillian Vernon 1929-2015

Founded the first cor poration by a woman to be publicly traded on the American Stock Exchange. Inducted 1998

Florence Wald 1916-2008

Founder of hospice care in the United States and a former Dean of the Yale School of Nursing. Inducted 1999

Patricia Wald 1928First woman to sit on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, subse quently serving as its Chief Judge. Inducted 2011

Tina Weymouth 1950Innovative Rock & Roll Hall of Fame bass guitarist, songwriter and co-founder of the influential rock and funk bands Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club pioneer of New Wave and Hip Hop Inducted 2018

Laura Wheeler Waring 1887- 1948

Artist and educator best known for her landscape paintings and portraits of promi nent African Americans. Inducted 1997

Hannah Bunce Watson 1750-1807

Publisher of the Hart ford Courant, one of the first women publishers in America. Inducted 1994

Margaret BourkeWhite 1904-1971

First female pho tographer for Life magazine and first female American war photojournalist. Inducted 2015

Maggie Wilderotter 1955Telecommunica tions innovator and Chairman and CEO of Frontier Communi cations. Inducted 2010

Miriam Therese “MT” Winter 1938Medical Mission Sister, composer, author and musician; founder of the Women’s Leadership Institute at Hartford Seminary. Inducted 2002

Chase Going Woodhouse 1890-1984

First female Democrat elected Secretary of the State of Connecti cut. Inducted 1994

Mabel Osgood Wright 1859-1935

Founder, first presi dent of Connecticut Audubon Society; established first bird sanctuary in the U.S. in Fairfield, CT. Inducted 1998

Joyce Yerwood 1909-1987

First African-American woman physician in Fairfield Coun ty, founder of the Yerwood Center, and pioneer in drug treat ment programs. Inducted 2016

Teresa Younger 1969Activist, advocate, renowned public speaker, organiza tional strategist, and a proven leader in the philanthropic and policy sectors

Inducted 2021

“Men have the benefit of knowing their history for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. They can draw inspiration, courage and ingenuity from their forefathers and build on that foundation towards a brighter future.

Women don’t have that advantage. As one historian told me—every generation of women has to recreate the wheel because they don’t know about their past.”

—Joan Bradley Wages, President & CEO, National Women’s History Museum (Interview with Girls in Tech, 4-14-15)

Eileen Kraus 1938-2017

EILEEN KRAUS SCHOLARSHIP

THE EILEEN KRAUS SCHOLARSHIP was established in 2016 in partnership with Kaman Corporation and has been extended into the future thanks to the generosity of the Kraus family and friends. The scholarship awards $5,000 each year to an outstanding Connecticut woman beginning her first year of college or university. The scholarship honors Eileen’s legacy and ensures that the next generation of women leaders are able to follow the trail she so capably blazed.

2022 AWARDEE Helena Servin-DeMarrais

Helena Servin-DeMarrais was a high school student and researcher from Westport, CT. At Greenwich Academy, she was the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Board Representative for her grade for three years, and received the Cum Laude distinction, and was the captain and founder of her school’s Chess Team. Her passion for leadership and empathy for others has allowed her to combine her classmates’ ideas to create common goals. Outside of school, Helena played competitive chess both nationally and internationally and represented the United States at the World Youth Chess Championships in 2018 as a member of Team USA. One of her greatest joys has been sharing her knowledge and love of computer science and biology with her students at the American Museum of Natural History as a Peer Tutor and Intern. Helena currently works as a computational biology intern in a microbiology lab at Columbia University’s Medical Center. She also became a Finalist in the American Computer Science League in 2021 and her article on the Ebola Virus vaccine was included in MIT’s Best of MOSTEC 2021 Science Writing.

Helena is excited to continue her studies at Columbia University in the fall of 2022, where she will be majoring in Biomedical Engineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences on the journey to become a Physician Scientist involved in biotechnology.

2023 Scholarship Application

Eligible Applicants must be:

• Female students currently residing in Connecticut

• Recent high school graduates or in the final year of secondary school

• Intending to enroll in first year of college or university

Application and information available online at cwhf.org/scholarship

WINNING ESSAY

Jewel Plummer Cobb by Helena Servin-DeMarrais

Jewel Plummer Cobb’s passion for biology and research started while looking at cells under a microscope in high school. My passion for biomedical engineering began during the Ebola epidemic. I remember watching the news broadcast in August 2014 when Dr. Bradley arrived at Emory Hospital for treatment, marking the first case of Ebola treated in the US. Now living during the Covid pandemic, I feel fortunate to live in Connecticut, a state where public officials have been committed to vaccination equity and protecting the entire state population.

Cobb’s work resonates strongly with me because I am a Mexican-American woman committed to using biomedical engineering to reduce health disparities among minorities. My goal is to become a Physician Scientist, which involves obtaining an MD and PhD. I plan to focus on cellular engineering and its applications to tissue engineering, vaccine development, or therapeutics. Seeing Cobb work hard to obtain her M.S. and PhD in the 1950s, despite the adversity she faced from administrators and colleagues, encourages me to pursue my M.D. and PhD today.

Jewel Plummer Cobb inspires me because of her commitment to diversifying science and math by encouraging women and minorities to explore careers in STEM fields. Her work as an advocate for minority representation at Connecticut College and Rutgers University motivates me to advocate for myself and my peers as I now enter college. I understand how the education system often steers girls away from becoming confident science students, just as Cobb detailed in her “Filter for Women in Science” article. Although this article was published in 1979, it still has tremendous significance today. Progress has been made, and the percentage of women majoring in fields such as Math or Physics has increased, but there is still a long way to go (women still comprise only 20% of a graduating Math major class). To quote Jewel Cobbs, “why are women 52% of the population but only 10% of scientists and engineers?”.

I have done my own work toward encouraging diversity in computer science. During 2020 - 2021, I became a computer science Peer Mentor for girls from underrepresented ethnic and socio-economic groups in STEM. In this role, I taught computer science to high school girls. The pandemic drastically changed what the role meant to me and the girls. After moving online, I focused on supporting my students emotionally while creating a routine to teach them computer science virtually. I brought us together over Zoom, where we talked freely about our struggles and successes. I will never forget the stories they shared, and what I learned from their fortitude. Through this work, I built a community of diverse girls interested in STEM and computer science. These girls told me that they were often intimidated by the hard computer science concepts we worked on together. As their mentor, I gave them encouragement, problem solving skills, and the confidence to pursue computer science further.

One of the biggest steps for me in my own STEM journey has been working in a lab at Columbia University’s Medical Center for the past 8 months. Reaching out to Professor Postler and asking to work in his lab took a lot of courage. I was afraid of being turned down, and I

EILEEN KRAUS SCHOLARSHIP

essay continued

understand the bravery it took Jewel Cobb to stand up to her male colleagues while working in academia. It took persistence and multiple emails, but I am proud to say I am now a bioinformatics intern in the Poster Lab. I am conducting computational biology research on lncRNA (long non-coding RNA) in the coding language R. Using R, I coded a pipeline algorithm from scratch that sorts through mouse RNAseq genomic data to find what tissue types contain the mouse equivalent gene to a human gene called LNC00173. The data gathered from my computational experiments will be used by the lab to research lncRNA’s specific function in our immune system and aid the development of cures for viral diseases.

Learning about Jewel Cobb’s cancer research involving melanin and chemotherapy, and the significance it has in the medical field, motivates me to continue my own research. One day in the future, I will be creating a vaccine that prevents a viral disease. Thanks to Cobb, I have come to realize that I should be proud to be a computational biologist who is a Mexican-American woman.

As I make the transition to college and to become a Physician Scientist in the future, I feel galvanized by Jewel Cobb to keep advocating for minorities in STEM, and also beyond in healthcare. Because I plan to oversee clinical trials in the future, I understand the importance of diversity in test subjects. Surprisingly, women were not considered a “test population” for clinical trials until the 1990s. Therefore, drugs and vaccines were approved by the FDA after only seeing their effects on men. They often ended up having different side effects on women when released into the consumer market. I strive to contribute to the movement of diversifying clinical trial test populations in the future. I hope that one day there will not be discrepancies in deaths from diseases between races, ethnic populations, or genders. I was shocked to hear about the higher mortality of African Americans from Covid due to worse predictive measures and healthcare.

Because I believe in healthcare equity, I founded the organization “Salud Para Todos”. This movement was aimed at providing masks and Covid education in Spanish to people in Norwalk, CT and surrounding areas. My goal was to provide information in people’s native language that was accessible in their communities. The Latinx community in Norwalk is composed of many “essential workers”, and I wanted them to be well educated about Covid while they continued their jobs during the pandemic.

Through my journey in STEM and future career, I will embody Jewel Plummer Cobb and her legacy by continuing to advocate for myself and other minorities in healthcare, and by continuing my biomedical research passion to create vaccines and cure diseases.

The Women’s & Gender Studies Department Southern Connecticut State University

Congratulations to CWHF on its 29th year

Celebrating Women in Sports

Southern is a regional leader in Women’s & Gender Studies —

Inspiring Evolving Transforming

• Southern is the only public university in New England to offer a Master of Arts in Women’s & Gender Studies and dual degree in Social Work and Women's & Gender Studies.

• Graduate coursework emphasizes the interdisciplinary, intersectional, global, and comparative nature of the field.

• Department alumnae/i find employment in diverse fields, including higher education, not-for-profit organizations, and advocacy for women, girls, families, and other marginalized communities.

OFFERING A SOCIAL WORK AND WOMEN’S & GENDER STUDIES M.S.W./M.A. DUAL DEGREE AS WELL AS A FULLY ONLINE GRADUATE CERTIFICATE

MASTER OF ARTS

IN

WOMEN’S & GENDER STUDIES

SCSU Women’s & Gender Studies Department scsuwgs @scsuwgs

SouthernCT.edu/wgs

wgs@SouthernCT.edu (203) 392-6133

ABOUT THE HALL

EDUCATE. INSPIRE.

We are a provider of innovative educational programs and tools that motivate women and girls to believe in their unlimited potential. Our Inductees’ stories provide an inspirational window into women’s history.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING

School Programs

We bring the galvanizing stories of our inductees directly to students in grades 4th12th. We offer programs on over twenty topics that are aligned with state and national standards.

STEMfems Workshops

We host “STEMfems: Women Transforming Our World” events, energizing 200 middle school girls to consider careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The girls explore the historical impact of women in STEM and participate in hands-on science workshops with professional women in the field.

FinanceFems

Financefems provides an opportunity for high school girls to participate in hands-on workshops led by women finance professionals in the areas of budgeting, credit, and financial mental and physical well-being. The young women will leave the program with a financial toolkit for their future.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Talks on the Road

Hear the stories and join the discussion about remarkable Connecticut women at one of our community Talks on the Road. We have eleven Talks to choose from, including our newest Talks: Women in the Sciences and Women Leaders for Social Justice. Book a speaker for your organization or library to be inspired by the struggles and accomplishments of our inductees.

Exhibits

Our newest addition, “Rise Up, Sisters!” suffrage panel exhibit may be loaned free of charge to libraries, schools, organizations and corporate partners.

Corporate Programs

Empower your coworkers with our one-hour workshop on cultivating confidence in the workplace, or work with us to create a custom inspirational talk.

EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS

A special thank you to our Foundation partners that support CWHF programming.

Avangrid Foundation (UI/SCG/CNG)

Connecticut Humanities

Ensign-Bickford Industries, Inc. George A. & Grace L. Long Foundation Bank of America, N.A., Co-Trustee

The Hartford

SBM Charitable Foundation

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the corporate sponsors this evening for your belief in our programming and mission. Together we are a shining light on amazing Connecticut women and their contributions to our state, nation, and the world. We are grateful.

SPECIAL THANKS

EVENT PRODUCTION

Production Manager

Event Resources, Inc.

Producers

Sarah Smith Lubarsky

Geena Clonan

Photographer

Allegra Anderson Photography

Program Cover Graphic Design

Michelle Marchese

Program Book

Gayle Erickson

2022 TRIBUTE FILMS

Producer/Director/Editor/Writer: Karyl Evans – Karyl Evans Productions

Production Services: CTPublic

Executive Producer: Sarah Smith Lubarsky

Production Intern: Sara Gibek

Production Assistance: Halima Flynn, Michelle Marchese, Paige Nelson

ON CAMERA INTERVIEWS (In order of appearance)

Lhakpa Sherpa Film

Lhakpa Sherpa

Lori Riley

Chuck Boyd

Narrator: Anita Ford Saunders

Jennifer Rizzotti Film

Rebecca Lobo

Courtney Gomez

Jennifer Rizzotti

Narrator: Diane Smith

Cora Lee Bentley Radcliffe Film

Brittney Yancy, Ph.D.

Claudia Bentley Radcliffe Rose

Anika Noni Rose

Francine Austin

Narrator: Adrianne Baughns Wallace

Suzy Whaley Film

Gary Reynolds

Mia Grzywinski

Suzy Whaley

Narrator: Geena Clonan

Congratulations Mommy/Gramma/GreatGran!

We are so glad and proud that the world will finally see some of the great good you did. We miss you everyday, but you can rest easy knowing that your legacy will continue through the Cora Lee Bentley Radcliffe and William Radcliffe memorial fund, and more immediately through us, as we live your legacy daily.

We love you. Cricket, Anika, Khari, Atreyu & Micah

• Founded the Tigerettes, the first black female basketball and softball team and winners of the Eastern Regional Championship in their inaugural season in 1946

• Excelled in Track and Field at Florida A&M University

• Championed Special Education programs in Hartford, CT

• Steered the Women’s League towards Early Childhood Education

• Died on August 3, 2010

Born on January 1, 1922 in Tallahassee, FL, Cora Lee Bentley Radcliffe had a profound impact on Connecticut ever since moving to Hartford to earn her master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Hartford. Cora Lee grew up in a large family of fifteen brothers and sisters and excelled in track and field. During her time in college, she used her athletic abilities, collaboration skills, and passion to start the first black female basketball and softball team in Connecticut; the Tigerettes! She led the team to a victory on their very first season and inspired hundreds of girls and women, especially black girls and women, to realize their athletic potential during the 1940s and 1950s. Alongside this, she demonstrated her passion to help others in being a mentor to mentally challenged children in schools throughout Hartford for over 30 years. Although Cora Lee passed away on August 3, 2010, her mark on the involvement of black females in sports has been profound. Her legacy can also be seen through her children and grandchildren, like her granddaughter, Anika Noni Rose, famed actress and 2018 Inductee of the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame.

Union Baptist Church of Hartford recognizes and commemorates the achievements of Posthumous Inductee, Ms. Cora Lee Bentley Radcliffe

As a dedicated member of our congregation, we reflect on her accomplishments and celebrate her induction into the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame: Women in Sports

Congratulations to Heather Buck, RN

CT Women in Sports Spotlight Nominee Connecticut Children’s is proud of you and all our nurses!

We salute the memory of Cora Lee Bentley Radcliffe and her trail blazing work for the youth of Greater Hartford & beyond. Kenny Goodman and David Williams

Congratulations

Bank of America is proud to support the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame and congratulates the 2022 Women in Sports inductees. Your talents are just one of the many positive attributes you bring to our area. Extending your abilities and resources to the community through service make you true leaders. Visit us at bankofamerica.com/about

©2022 Bank of America Corporation

TOGETHER, WE ARE AMAZING

Cigna congratulates this year’s inductees into the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame. You truly inspire all of us to reach higher and do better.

All Cigna products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company. The Cigna name, logo, and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. 967746 08/22 © 2022 Cigna

Eversource is proud to support Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame’s

including Jennifer Rizzoti

you for

to this year’s

and

Serving the neighborhoods where we work, live and play.

Building bridges through ideas and education... Proud to support our friends at Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame

The Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame has been honoring the achievement of women by celebrating their legacies for more than 29 years. And The Hartford is proud to support the inspiring work being done.

TheHartford.com

The Hartford® is The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries. 22-CR-1528330 © October 2022 The Hartford

KAMAN IS PROUD TO SUPPORT THE ACHIEVEMENT OF CONNECTICUT WOMEN

IT’S IN CELEBRATING OUR DIFFERENCES THAT WE FIND OUR STRENGTH.

Congratulations to the 2022 Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame Inductees!

MOHEGANSUN.COM

All in for Women in Sports! CONGRATULATIONS TO JENNIFER RIZZOTTI ON YOUR INDUCTION INTO THE CONNECTICUT WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME.

Equality drives innovation

Equality is a powerful multiplier of innovation and growth. It inspires creativity and a sense of belonging.

At Accenture we’re committed to championing a culture of equality where our people are empowered to be their best, professionally and personally. Because as equals, anything is possible.

Learn more at accenture.com/equality

Creating healthier futures for our communities.

Learn more at: connecticare.com and wellsparkhealth.com

Congratulations 2022 Inductees

Thank you for your important contributions in Connecticut and beyond. Continue to lead & inspire!

The Green Bank’s mission is to confront climate change by increasing and accelerating investment into Connecticut’s green economy to create more resilient, healthier, and equitable communities.

Learn more at www.ctgreenbank.com.

Southern Connecticut State University is proud to applaud the 2022 Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame Inductees

Lee Bentley Radcliffe

Rizzotti

Sherpa

their leadership, vision,

PwC is

the

as

to

Women’s

to

Strengthening a culture of inclusion and equity

We are proud to support the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame and congratulate all of the 2022 Inductees

Conning is a proud supporter of the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame.

Conning celebrates women whose legacies add new colors to the palette of potential for all of us.

the

SAVE THE DATE!

30th Annual Induction Ceremony Fall 2023

Women Who Build