Alumnae Achievement Awards Ceremony 2024

Hear from the recipients of Wellesley’s highest honor from the ceremony held in the Diana Chapman Walsh Alumnae Hall on Friday, October 25, 2024.

2024

Climate Change Scientist and
Social Justice Advocate

College President and
Professor of Neuroscience

Business Leader and
Champion of Equality

2023

Legal Trailblazer and Appellate Judge

Planetary Science Pioneer

Philanthropic Leader and Educator

2022

Investment Trailblazer and Philanthropic Leader

Public Servant, Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Advocate

Physicist and Environmental Revolutionary

2021

Civil Rights Advocate

Transportation Entrepreneur

Educational Trailblazer and Community Advocate

2020

Journalist & Author

Planetary Geologist & Educator

Nonprofit Leader & Children's Advocate

2019

Health Policy Leader & Advocate for Health Care Access

Pediatric Trailblazer & International Toxicology Expert

2018

Quantum Astrophysicist, Outstanding Communicator, Leader, Innovator of Science, & Inspirational Professor

Family Physician, Epidemiologist, National Public Health Expert, & Champion of Racial & Economic Health Equity

2017

Conceptual Artist & Cultural Critic

Infectious Disease Physician & Disaster Relief Volunteer

Entrepreneur & Finance & Social Activist

2016

Engineer, Complex Problem Solver, PolicymakerHERE2

Transformational Food and Lifestyle Journalist

Photography Champion, Preeminent Art Scholar, & Curator

2015

Effective Politician, Distinguished Public Servant

Media Activist, Filmmaker, & Author

Electronic Music Pioneer, Composer, & Recording Artist

Past Recipients

2014
C. Tracy Orleans '70 - Behavioral Scientist, Public Health Advocate

Eva Sommaripa '63 - Organic Farmer, Champion of Sustainable Living

2013

Marilyn Koenick Yalom '54 - Feminist Scholar, Cultural Historian

Barbara Lubin Goldsmith '53 - Author, Preservationist, Philanthropist

Diana Farmer '77 - Pediatric-Fetal Surgeon, Teacher, & Mentor

Callie Crossley '73 - Journalist, Producer, & Commentator 

2012

Susan McGee Bailey '63 - Champion for Gender Equity, Collaborative Leader

Wendy Gillespie '72 - Early Music Virtuosa, Inspirational Teacher

Mary Jeanne Kreek '58 - Physician-Scientist, Pioneer in Addiction Research

2011

Susan Wunsch Rice '67 CBE - Socially Conscious Banker, Arts Advocate

Reena Raggi '73 - Courageous Jurist, Generous Teacher

Sarah Milledge Nelson '53 - Archaeologist Scholar, Feminist

Marilyn Crandall Jones '70 - Physician, Geneticist, Healer of Children

2010

Janet Parker Whitla '52 - Nonprofit Leader, Education Innovator

Alvia Wardlaw '69 - Art Historian, Museum Director, Advocate

2009

Barbara Lea '51 - Jazz Singer, Foremost Interpreter of "The American Song Book"

Helen Hays '53 - Ornithologist & Environmentalist

Enriqueta Bond '61 - Biologist & Science Policy Expert

2008

Diana Chapman Walsh '66 - College President

Katherine Marshall '67 - Leader in Global Development

Mary Rosenthal Lefkowitz '57 - Professor of Classical Studies

Ophelia Dahl DS '94 - Global Public Health Activist

2007

In-ho Lee '60 - Professor

JudyAnn Bigby '73 - Physician

200

Pamela Melroy '83 - Astronaut & Scientist

Nora Ephron '62 - Screenwriter & Director

 Persis Drell '77 - Particle Physicist

200

Lois Juliber '71 - Business Leader

Ellen Jacobson Levine '64 - Editor-in-Chief, Good Housekeeping

Carole Beebe Tarantelli '64 - Educator, Psychoanalyst, Italian Parliament Member, Antiterrorist Activist, Women's Rights Advocate

2004

Carol R. Johnson '51 - Landscape Architect

Judith Goslin Hall '61 - Clinical Geneticst & Pediatrician

Louise Dolan '71 - Mathematical Physicist & Superstring Theorist

2003

Niramol Bulakul Suriyasat '54 - Business Executive & Thai Senator

Barbara Loomis Jackson '50 - Educator & Administrator

Hillary Rodham Clinton '69 - US Senator, Former First Lady, & Attorney

2002

Patricia J. William '73 - Legal Scholar

Luella Gross Goldberg '58 - Corporate & Civic Leader

2001

Nancy Hayes Van de Vate Smith '51 - Contemporary Composer & Performer

Ellen Marram '68 - General Partner of North Castle Partners

E. Story Cleland Landis '67 - Scientific Director of the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Frances Daly Fergusson '65 - President of Vassar College

2000

Nora Manella '72 - US District Court Judge, Central District of California

Ann Hartman '47 - Social Worker & Dean Emerita, Smith College School of Social Work

Nancy Davidson '75 - Oncologist & Breast Cancer Researcher

1999

Alice Tepper-Marlin '66 - Social Economist & Founder, Council on Economic Priorities

Carol Lyons Meyers '64 - Biblical Scholar, Archaeologist, & Professor 

Ann Beha '72 - Architect & Preservationist

1998

Hilda Crosby Standish '24 - Physician & Pioneer in Family Planning

Krishna Roy Riboud '49 - Textile Conservator & Scholar

Martha McClintock '69 - Psychobiologist & Discoverer of Pheromones in Humans

Patricia Lauber Frost '45 - Author of Juvenile Science and Fiction

1997

Anna McCann Taggart '54 - Classical Underwater Archaeologist & Researcher

Sandra L. Lynch '68 - Federal Judge, First Circuit Court of Appeals

Cigdem Cizakca Kagiticibasi '61 - Social Psychologist in Family Dynamics

1996

Sharon Whelan Weiss '66 - Professor of Pathology & Surgeon 

Olivia Hood Parker '63 - Photographic Artist

Helen Lefkowtiz Horowitz '63 - Professor of History & Author

Barbara Swan Fink '43 - Portraitist & Teacher

1995

Martha P. Haynes '73 - Astronomer & Professor

Felice D. Gaer '68 - International Human Rights Activist

Carolyn Pratt Brock '68 - Chemist & Crystallographer

1994

Geneva Overholser '70 - Newspaper Editor & Journalist

Nannerl Overholser Keohane '61 - University President & Educator

Anna Faith Johnson Jones '54 - Foundation President & Philanthropist

Anne Cohen Heller '41 - Endocrinologist & Professor of Medicine

1993

Vivian W. Pinn '62 - Pathologist Educator

Carol Ann Newman Gluck '62 - Professor of Japanese History

Diana Hadden Gale '63 - Public Administrator & Civil Leader

Margaret Crissman Funkhouser '52 - Public Education Activist

1992

Louise Gilman Hutchins '32 - Pediatrician & Obstetrician 

Anne L. Davis '45 - Physician

Madeleine Korbel Albright '59 - US Secretary of State

1991

Gwendolyn Gunter Morgan '47 - Daycare Policy Analyst & Advocate

Claudine B. Malone '63 - Management Consultant & Educator

Diane Sawyer '67 - Broadcast Journalist, Television Co-Anchor & Co-Editor

1990

Florence Marshall '44 - Pediatrician & Public Health Activist

Erna Schenider Hoover '48 - Inventor & Computer Scientist

Laurel Cutler '46 - Advertising & Marketing Executive

1989

Elizabeth Barlow Rogers '57 - Urban Planner & Founder, Central Park Conservancy

Diane Silvers Ravitch '60 - Educator, Activist, & Historian

Alicia Haydock Munnell '64 - Economist & Social Security and Pensions Consultant

1988

Lynn Sherr '63 - Print & Broadcast Journalist

Eleanor M. Garvey '40 - Curator, Author, Editor, & Teacher

Virginia Roger Ferris '49 - Ecologist, Professor, & Administrator

1987

Leticia Ramos Shahani '51 - Diplomat, Civil Servant, & Human Rights Activist

Donna R. Ecton '69 - Corporate Executive

Christine Durham '67 - Judge, Utah State Supreme Court

1986

Shirley Young '55 - Advertising & Marketing Executive

Emily Browning Visher '40 - Psychologist & Co-Founder, Stepfamily Foundation

Anne Pyne Cowley '59 - Astronomer, Co-Discoverer of Extragalactic Black Hole

1985

Linda Cozby Wertheimer '65 - Radio Journalist

Cokie Boggs Roberts '64 - Broadcast Journalist, Television Producer & Writer

Terri Grodzicker '63 - Molecular Geneticist & Virologist

Muriel Moriss Gardiner '22 - Activist, Author, & Child Psychiatrist

1984

Carolyn G. Heilbrun '47 - Author & Historian

1983

Dorothy Walcott Weeks '16 - Women's Educator & Physicist

Virgina Foster Durr '25 - Civil Rights Activist

Ruth Morris Bakwin '19 - Pediatrician & Child Psychologist

1982

Genevieve Young '52 - Editor & Publishing Executive

Helen M. Wallace '33 - Public Health Advocate & Educator 

Andrea Kundsin Dupree '60 - Astrophysicist & Author

1981

Judith Rothschild '43 - Abstract Artist

Amalya L. Kearse '59 - Judge, US Court of Appeals

Jane Fay Desforges '42 - Hematologist & Editor

1980

Helen Bohen O'Bannon '61 - Economist & Administrator

Colette Flesch '60 - Direct General, European Commision & Public Servant, Luxemborg

1979

Phyllis Shapiro Sewell '52 - Management Executive & Civil Servant

Yukiko Domoto Maki '24 - Educator & Administrator

Harriet L. Hardy '28 - Physician & Industrial Medicine Consultant

Bertha D. Adkins '28 - Undersecretary of Health, Education, and Welfare

1978

Margaret Connors Driscoll '35 - Chief Justice, Juvenile Court of Conneticut

Lorna Cooke de Varon '42 - Musician & Conductor Emerita, New England Conservatory of Music

Harriet Stratemeyer Adams '14 - Author of Nancy Drew Series

1977

Ann Haymond Zwinger '46 - Illustrator & Naturalist

Marjory Stoneman Douglas '12 - Environmental Activist & Author

Sally Carrighar '22 - Author & Naturalist

1976

Phyllis Willams Lehmann '34 - Archaeologist, Author, College Professor & Administrator 

Ruth J. Dean '22 - Anglo-Norman Scholar

1975

Carol Rhodes Sibley '23 - Educator & Community Activist

Barbara Scott Preiskel '45 - Vice President, Motion Picture Association of America

Jean Trepp McKelvey '29 - President, National Academy of Arbitrator & Labor Relations Expert

Carroll McCarty Gundersen '24 - Leader of the League of Women Voters

1974

Lila Manfield Sapinsley '44 - Rhode Island State Senator, Lobbyist

Virgina Goldman Miles '36 - Marketing Executive & Consultant

Dorothea Jameson '42 - Professor of Psychology

1973

Marion Klein Sander '25 Journalist & Editor

Joan Richman '61 - Television News Producer

Elizabeth Breener Drew '57 - Writer, TV Journalist, Editor

1972

Rebecca Craighill Lancefield '16 -Bacteriologist & Professor

Anna M. Baetjer '20 - Professor & Public Health Consultanrt

Odette Alarcon '53 - Physician & Sex Educator

1971

1970