Established in 1995, YW Boston’s Academy of Women Achievers celebrates women who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and achievement in their professional and civic lives. The Academy has grown into a dynamic and dedicated group of over 100 women from all walks of life who have strengthened YW Boston’s voice in championing gender equity and leadership opportunities for women.
Academy of Women Achievers Members by Class Year
2023
Nora Moreno Cargie, Natanja Craig Oquendo, Lisa Fortenberry, Andrea Silbert, Cristela Guerra (Sylvia Ferrell-Jones Awardee)
2022
Evelyn Barahona, Saskia Epstein, Allison Feaster, Jeneé Osterheldt, Michelle Tat (Sylvia Ferrell-Jones Awardee)
2021
Betty Francisco, Karen Holmes Ward, Representative Liz Miranda, Deb Taft, Dr. Altaf Saadi (Sylvia Ferrell-Jones Awardee)
2020
Geeta Aiyer, Deborah Frieze, Makeeba McCreary, Rachael Rollins, Sheena Collier (Sylvia Ferrell-Jones Awardee)
2019
Maureen Alphonse-Charles, Julie Goodridge, Karen Morton, Grace Sterling-Stowell, Irene Li (Sylvia Ferrell-Jones Awardee)
2018
Vanessa Calderón-Rosado, Ph.D, Kip Hollister, Wanda McClain, Jeannette M. Mills, Nai Collymore-Henry (Sylvia Ferrell-Jones Awardee)
2017
Liz Brunner, Dr. Beverly Edgehill, Sandra L. Fenwick, Rebecca A. Lee, Valerie Mosley
2015
Lois Cornell, Helen Drinan, Jackie Glenn, Nancy Stager, Sandra Urie
2014
Stephanie Lovell, Smaiyra Million, Dianne Phillips, Marcy Reed, Helene Solomon, Evelyn Murphy
2013
Rosalin Acosta, Fay Donohue, Sheila Marcelo, Diane B. Patrick, Esq, Alison A. Quirk
2012
Deborah E. Barnard, Yvonne Garcia, Crystal Johnson, Mary Mazzio, Jean Russell
2011
Geri Denterlein, Dr. Carol R. Johnson, Carol I. Sanchez, CPA, Laura Sen, Nancy J. Tarbell, MD
2010
Josefina Bonilla, Deborah Enos, Vicary Graham, Pamela Lenehan, Sandra Sims-Williams
2009
Mary Lou Botwell, Maryanne Cataldo, Carol McMullen, Purnima Sangal, Bennie Wiley
2008
Sarah Abrams, Mary Bonauto, Maureen Curley, Debra Miller, Liz Walker
2007
Ruth Ellen Fitch, Barbara Wallace Grossman, Noriko Miyakoda Hall, Rita Kantarowski, Cynthia Mark, Lissy Medvedow, Madge Meyer, Beverly Morgan-Welch, Rebecca de Vives, Eleanor G. White
2006
Zamawa Arenas, Robin Chase, Dr. Linda A. Clayton, Arlene Fortunato, Lisa Guscott, Deborah Jackson, Stacey Lucchino, Klare Shaw, Nan Stone, Brigid Sullivan
2005
Nancy Altobello, Dr. Alice Chiang, Roberta Herman, M.D., Ambassador Swanee Hunt, Denise Kaigler, Gloria Nemerowicz, Susan Lewis Solomont, Stephanie Sonnabend, Meg Vaillancourt, Kellye Walker
2004 (Women of the Decade)
Lani Guinier, Kerry Healey, Melinda Marble, Kathleen O’Toole, Charlotte Golar Richie
2003
Heather P. Campion, Jean Lau Chin, Martha Sloan Felch, Gloria Fox, Carol Fulp, Jackie Jenkins-Scott, Nancy K. Kaufman, Teresa Heinz Kerry, Myra H. Kraft, Nawal M. Nour, M.D., Rosa A. Smith, Janie Victoria Ward
2002
Martha Coakley, Paula Johnson, Karen Kaplan, Florence Ladd, Barbara Lee, Vivien Li, Melissa MacDonnell, Elsa Nuñez, Patricia O’Brien, Regina Pisa, Kip Tiernan, Joan Wallace-Benjamin
2001
JudyAnn Bigby, Elyse Cherry, Pam Cross, Dawn Curtis Hanley, Amy Domini, Frieda Garcia, Joanne Jaxtimer, Gloria C. Larson, Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, Joan Parker, Marita Rivero, Atsuko Toko Fish
2000
Marjorie Decker, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Marian Heard, Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Anna Faith Jones, Bhavya Lal, Maria I. Lopez, Dani Monroe, Lois Silverman, Beth Terrana, Dessima Williams, Anne Woolf
1999
Mara G. Aspinall, Susan S. Bailis, Vicki Donlan, Kathleen Doxer, Augusta Hicks Gale, Meizhu Lui, Bernadine Foster Nash, Raquel Ortiz, Colette Phillips, Shula Reinharz, Helen Bowdoin Spaulding, Elaine Weddington Steward
1998
Ruth M. Batson, Maura S. Doyle, Margaret B. Harrison, Sally D. Jackson, Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Jacqueline Weis Liebergott, Yvedt L. Matory, June Rokoff, Agnes Bundy Scanlan, Cheng Imm Tan, Elaine S. Ullian, Joyce Williams-Mitchell
1997
Amalia Barreda, Joan L. Bavaria, Carolyn Shaw Bell, Denise M. Coll, Anne Finucane, Judy George, Joanna T. Lau, Irma S. Mann, Sheryl R. Marshall, Patricia McGovern, Glendora M. Putnam, Susan R. Windham-Bannister
1996
Margaret A. Burnham, Diane M. Capstaff, J. Elizabeth Harris, Nancy Hawthorne, Vivian Huang, Stacey Kabat, Donna Latson-Gittens, Joan A. Lukey, Cathy E. Minehan, Judy Norsigian, Gail Snowden, Dianne Wilkerson
1995
Patricia P. Baillieul, Anne E. Johnson, Gloria Johnson-Powell, Kija Kim, Linnie W. McLean, Evelyn F. Murphy, Fran Sussner Rodgers, Dorothy Terrell, Clara Wainwright, Patricia Wolpert
Sylvia Ferrell-Jones Award
The Sylvia Ferrell-Jones Award is given in memory of YW Boston’s longtime President and CEO at our annual Academy of Women Achievers Luncheon. The award recognizes a young professional woman of color who is a leader in her field and embodies the leadership qualities, and commitment to YW Boston’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women, that Sylvia represented.
Recipients by Year Awarded
2023 – Cristela Guerra
2022 – Michelle Tat
2021 – Dr. Altaf Saadi
2020 – Sheena Collier
2019 – Irene Li
2018 – Nai Collymore-Henry
Women’s Advancement Award
The Women’s Advancement Award is given to an individual or an organization for demonstrated exemplary commitment to gender equity, women’s leadership, and the advancement of women. This award is given periodically as merited.
Recipients by Year Awarded
2015 – Paul Guzzi
2003 – WFD Inc.
2002 – State Street Corporation
2001 – Hill/Holliday
2000 – Thomas M. Menino and the City of Boston
1999 – WCVB-TV Channel 5
1998 – Abt Associates Inc.
1997 – Deloitte and Touche LLP
1996 – The Body Shop
1995 – Avon
Sandra B. Henriquez Racial Justice Award
The Sandra B. Henriquez Racial Justice award is given to an individual or an organizations for demonstrated commitment to ethnic diversity, equal opportunity, and a work environment that encourages and supports diversity and the advancement of people of color. This award is given periodically as merited.
Recipients by Year Awarded
2011 – Diddy Cullinane
2010 – Peggy McIntosh, Ph.D.
2007 – The Reverend Professor Peter J. Gomes
2006 – Edward Jean Furshpan, Ph.D. & David Dickinson Potter, Ph.D.
2002 – Team Harmony Foundation
2001 – Northeastern University’s Center for the Study of Sport in Society
2000 – Foley, Hoag and Eliot LLP
1999 – Reebok International, Ltd.
1998 – The National Conference for Community and Justice
1997 – Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights
1996 – The Timberland Company
1995 – Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts