2024 Women of Excellence Awards

March 7, 2024

Miller-Award Alumni House

Reception: 6:30PM

Ceremony: 7:00PM

RSVP: tinyurl.com/WOEAwards2024

 

The Emory Women of Excellence Awards celebrate those who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication to issues that affect women at Emory and in the broader community. Nominations are open to everyone in the Emory University community including undergraduates, graduates,
faculty, and staff. 

2024 Honorees

Award for Distinguished Leadership

Ali P. Crown* 85C

Berky Dolores Abreu Spirit Award

Lydia Smith

Award for Student Leadership

Shreya Ramanathan 25C

Award for Student Leadership

Layla Dhabaan 24C

Event of the Year Award

Lydia Washington,

42nd Annual Carter Town Hall

Award for Mentorship

Colleen Kraft, MD, MSc 09FM 10MR 13G

Award for Excellence in Teaching and Pedagogy

Harshita Kamath, PhD 04C 12PhD

Award for Excellence in Collaboration

Emory Anticaste Initiative

Alumna of Promise Award

Brittney Cooper 07G 09PhD

Unsung Heroine Award

Kenya Casey

 

*posthumously awarded

 

 

Women of Excellence Awards Categories


During her 13 years at Emory, Berky Abreu touched the lives of countless individuals. Highly involved in the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and College Staff communities, Berky served as the Academic Department Administrator for Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She also served on the President’s Commission on the Status of Women, the Center for Women at Emory Advisory Board, and the College Staff Consortium, including a term as Chair of the College Staff Consortium. Berky’s extensive contributions to the Emory community were recognized by awards including Emory University’s Award of Distinction and the Unsung Heroine award, and she was recognized as the Emory College Staff Consortium Employee of the Year. What was truly remarkable about Berky, however, was not only the extent and depth of her commitment and service to the Emory community, but the warmth she brought to the lives of everyone with whom she came into contact, her unparalleled joie de vivre, and her unique ability to lift up each and every person who came into her office. She made everyone she met feel special and lit up every room she entered with her contagious humor and zest for life. Berky’s boundless kindness and concern for others and her ability to show us the goodness of people and life even in the most challenging of situations continue to be an inspiration for all of us. 

This award recognizes a woman in the greater Emory community whose presence has fostered the personal and academic growth of students, faculty, staff people, and/or departments.

Individuals receiving this award will have: 

  • Embodied an ethic of inclusion, compassion, and care
  • Inspired others to support the holistic well-being of all members of the Emory community
  • Worked tirelessly to create spaces and professional networks at Emory that promote equity, inclusivity, and collegiality
  • Exuded joy in their work

Nomination materials should include a reflection on the impact the nominee’s efforts have had on the well-being of greater Emory community, specific examples.

This award recognizes an undergraduate or graduate student who has demonstrated leadership in a co-curricular endeavor that has improved gender equity and/or addressed the needs of women in the Emory community. Award recipients will have hosted events or actions that facilitate the raising of feminist consciousness at Emory or will have campaigned for department or university-wide policies that improve academic opportunities for women and other people directly affected by patriarchy.

Examples of eligible activities include:

  • Creating a more equitable and inclusive campus environment for women and others.
  • Fostering public dialogue on gender issues in the Emory community and beyond.
  • Providing education on feminist issues or issues of gender equity.

Nomination materials should include a description of the student leader’s work, specific examples of how this nominee has contributed to one or more of the core activities listed above, and a reflection on the impact this work has had on the greater Emory community.

This award recognizes an individual or group who have developed a campus event to address the needs of women and/or improve gender equality on campus or in the greater Emory community. The winner(s) will have designed and created a novel event or led and improved upon an existing event that addressed the needs of women and/or feminist issues. The event may be a series or a one-­‐time event and must include the participation of students, staff, faculty, or other community members. The award honors an individual or group whose event has made strides in one or more areas of:

  • Creating a more equitable and inclusive campus environment for women and others.
  • Fostering public dialogue on women’s issues in the Emory community and beyond.
  • Providing education on women’s issues or issues of gender equity.

The nomination materials should include a description of the event and specific demonstrable examples of how the nominee has contributed to one or more of the core activities listed above.

The Award for Mentorship recognizes a woman in the Emory community who has demonstrated outstanding mentorship to undergraduate, graduate students, staff, or faculty at Emory. The award honors an individual who has establishing sustained and successful mentoring relationships by:

  • Helping mentees to become professionals in their field or achieve career goals by offering or promoting personal and professional development opportunities.
  • Supporting and advising mentees as they achieve their personal and professional goals.
  • Serving as a personal or professional role model or supervisor for mentees.

The nomination materials should include specific demonstrable examples of how the nominee has contributed to one or more of the mentoring criteria listed above. Nominees may be students, staff, or faculty.  

The Award for Excellence in Teaching and Pedagogy recognizes any teacher (lecturer, professor, graduate student, or teaching assistant) at Emory whose teaching methods, syllabi, and/or course design addresses women’s issues or matters of feminist importance with innovation and success. The award honors a teacher whose record demonstrates a willingness to bring gender issues into the classroom in creative and inspiring ways. The winner will exhibit excellence in feminist teaching and pedagogy in one or more of the following areas:

  • Creating innovative approaches to teaching concepts about gender, women’s issues, or feminism at the undergraduate or graduate level through course readings, assignments, and/or class service projects.
  • Successfully introducing a gendered or feminist component to class or field that does not traditionally address these issues.
  • Working to create a classroom space that promotes gender equity, inclusivity, open-­‐mindedness and critical thinking with respect to issues of gender and diversity

The nomination materials should include specific demonstrable examples of how the nominee has contributed to one or more of the criteria listed above. Nominees need not be full-time faculty and may include part-­‐time lecturers, graduate teachers, or teaching assistants.

This award recognizes an alumna of Emory University who has graduated in the last 15 years and who has demonstrated a strong commitment and dedication to issues that affect women in the Emory community and beyond. The award honors a recent alumna who has made meaningful contributions, including:

  • Advocating or providing leadership for women’s issues or concerns of gender equity at local, regional, or national levels.
  • Demonstrating leadership or excellence in her field, career, or academic program.
  • Improving or developing policies, initiatives, interventions, or programs that address issues affecting women.
  • Working to create institutional or social transformation in her spheres of influence.

The nomination materials should include a description of specific demonstrable examples of how the nominee has contributed to one or more of the core activities listed above.

An Unsung Heroine is a woman who has demonstrated extraordinary dedication to issues that affect women at Emory or in the larger community, but whose efforts have not received publicity or formal recognition.

Examples of the efforts of these women include:

  • Taking substantial risks to challenge sexism
  • Blazing trails in previously male-dominated environments
  • Promoting safety, justice, and equity for girls and women through significant community service
  • Serving as role models or mentors for girls or women

The Ali P. Crown Distinguished Leadership Award recognizes any person in the Emory community who has demonstrated outstanding leadership to and/or for women. The award honors any person whose leadership has helped to improve or elevate the status of women by:

  • Improving or developing policies and procedures that address issues that affect women in the Emory community and beyond to create institutional
  • Working to improve gender based education by leading programs that address the needs of women in the areas of: intellectual physical, mental, spiritual, or financial well
  • Demonstrating exceptional leadership in their field, career, or academic

The nomination materials should include specific demonstrable examples of how the nominee has contributed to one or more of the mentoring criteria listed above. Nominees may be students, staff, or faculty.

The Award for Excellence in Collaboration recognizes the remarkable efforts of individuals and teams who have demonstrated exceptional collaboration, creativity, and dedication in creating a more equitable environment for women. The award honors individuals and teams whose project has made strides in one or more areas of:

  • Promoting Inclusivity
  • Innovative Solutions
  • Collaborative Spirit
  • Sustainable Impact
  • Advocacy and Education

2023 Honorees

Award for Distinguished Leadership

Theresa Wicklin Gillespie 81N 98PhD

Berky Dolores Abreu Spirit Award

Patricia Y. Taylor

Award for Student Leadership

Anna-Frida Herrera 23C

Program of the Year Award

Georgia Health Professionals for Reproductive Justice

Award for Mentorship

Subasri Narasimhan, PhD, MPH

Award for Excellence in Teaching and Pedagogy Elizabeth Bounds, PhD
Alumna of Promise Award Wei Wei Chen 18C
Unsung Heroine Award

Elizabeth Collins, MD, MPH

 

2022 Honorees

Award for Distinguished Leadership

Michelle Wallace, MD 

Berky Dolores Abreu Spirit Award

Bree Ettinger, PhD
Martha Ward, MD

Award for Student Leadership
Stephanie Zhang, 22C
Program of the Year Emory Alliance for Women in Medicine and Science 
Award for Mentorship Julie Kable, PhD
Award for Excellence in Teaching and Pedagogy Alix Olson, PhD
Alumna of Promise Samantha Allen, PhD
Unsung Heroine

Olivia Johnson
Maria Jose Amarante Ribeiro, MD

 

2021 Honorees

Award for Distinguished Leadership

Nadine J. Kaslow, PhD

Sharon Rabinovitz, MD

Berky Dolores Abreu Spirit Award Ana Catarina Teixeira, PhD
Award for Student Leadership
Adaora Yvonne Ntukogu, 21C
Program of the Year WISER (Women in Surgery at the Emory Residencies)
Award for Mentorship Courtnay N. Oddman, 23EvMBA
Award for Excellence in Teaching and Pedagogy  Sarah C. Blake, PhD
Alumna of Promise Julie Schwietert Collazo, 97Ox 99C
Unsung Heroine Toncred Marya Styblo, MD 

 

2020 Honorees

Award for Distinguished Leadership Carrie Cwiak, MD, 03PH
Berky Dolores Abreu Spirit Award Cherie C. Hill, MD
Award for Student Leadership
Yesenia Ramirez, 20PH
Program of the Year Emory Reproductive Health Association
Award for Mentorship Amita K. Manatunga, PhD
Joyce B. Flueckiger, PhD
Award for Excellence in Teaching and Pedagogy Haylee Christine Harrell, 21PhD
Outstanding Alumna of the Year Award Rachel Loftspring, 04C
Unsung Heroine Carla S. Johnson, 16MBA
Barbara Gabriela Marin Cardoso, 18Ox 20C

2019 Honorees

Berky Dolores Abreu Spirit Award Tiffany Hailstorks, MD, 17PH
Student Leader of the Year Award
Rafely Palacios, 19C
Preetha Nandi, 19M 19PH
Program of the Year Women in Science at Emory (WiSE)
Award for Mentorship Patricia Marsteller, PhD
Award for Excellence in Teaching and Pedagogy Stacy Bell McQuaide, 87Ox
Outstanding Alumna of the Year Award Nanette Wenger, MD, 59MR
Unsung Heroine Melissa Kottke, MD, 09PH 12MBA

 

2018 Honorees

Berky Dolores Abreu Spirit Award Yanna Yannakakis, PhD
Student Leader of the Year Award Chelsea Jackson, 18C 18G
Program of the Year The REAL Conference
Award for Mentorship Joan Wilson
Award for Excellence in Teaching and Pedagogy Dawn Peterson, PhD
Outstanding Alumna of the Year Award Peggy Duke, MD, 77M 80MR
Unsung Heroine Jamani Montague, 16Ox, 18C
Hannah Fleischmann, 20C

Previous Unsung Heroines