Meet Paste BN’s Women of the Year
These honorees are women who lift up people in their communities and across the country, making a difference in the lives of many. They show up and speak out for those who may not have a voice, advocating for issues from health to equality and justice to the environment and more.
National honoreeQuannah Chasinghorse
A barrier-breaking land protector, model and Native American rights activist, she draws inspiration from her community and the women who raised her.
National honoreeRoberta “Bobbi” Cordano
She’s the first deaf woman and first openly LGBTQ person to become president of Gallaudet, the world’s only liberal arts university for deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
National honoreeGoldie Hawn
For 20 years, the Academy Award-winning actor has been helping kids manage stress and understand their emotions by teaching them how their brains work.
National honoreeMaura Healey
She’s the first woman to be elected governor in her state and one of the first two lesbian women to be elected as governor of any U.S. state.
National honoreeNicole Mann
The first Native American woman in space, she is the commander of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission and mother of a 10-year-old son.
National honoreeMonica Muñoz Martinez
An associate professor at University of Texas and an award-winning historian, she works to make the history of anti-Mexican violence on the U.S.-Mexico border publicly accessible.
National honoreeMichelle Obama
The former first lady continues to share her story of finding her place in the world with the hope that it will help others see value in their own stories.
National honoreeSandra Day O’Connor
As the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court, she helped pave the way for other women to serve at the highest levels of government by excelling.
National honoreeSheryl Lee Ralph
Enjoying a resurgence in her acting career, the recent Emmy Award winner continues to work to bring awareness and erase the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS.
National honoreeGrace Young
When COVID-19 hit, the renowned cookbook author became an activist and advocate for restaurateurs and business owners in Chinatown neighborhoods across the country.
National honoreeWomen of the 118th Congress
After the 2022 midterms, women hold a record 150 seats in Congress – 25 in the Senate and 125 in the House – and serve in key leadership positions.
National honoreeU.S. women’s soccer team
Matching their success on the field, the players won in the legal arena, too, ultimately prompting Congress to pass the Equal Pay for Team USA Act.
Alabama honoreeMeta Ellis
The director of Montgomery Pride United, she’s spent decades protesting laws that target LGBTQ+ youth and women while providing support to these groups.
Alaska honoreeQuannah Chasinghorse
A barrier-breaking land protector, model and Native American rights activist, she draws inspiration from her community and the women who raised her.
Arizona honoreeDiana “Dede” Yazzie Devine
After helping thousands of people in the Phoenix area find behavioral health support, housing, work training and childcare, she’s finally ready to retire.
Arkansas honoreeCharolette Tidwell
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising inflation costs, her program, Antioch for Youth & Family, continues to help people stave off hunger.
California honoreePatricia Guerrero
A first-generation American who’s spent years encouraging women to join the legal profession, she’s the state’s first Latina chief justice on the Supreme Court.
Colorado honoreeSarah Schielke
A criminal defense and civil rights lawyer who pursues justice in civil rights cases, she launched her career by advertising her legal services on Craigslist.
Connecticut honoreeDeb Kievits
She’s run the Norwich Bully Buster program for 23 years, reminding kids their actions matter and teaching them how to speak out against bullying and peer pressure.
- District of Columbia honoree
Bobbi Cordano
She’s the first deaf woman and first openly LGBTQ person to become president of Gallaudet, the world’s only liberal arts university for deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
Delaware honoreeStacey Henry
A self-described “people advocate,” she applied her community relations background to build an emergency management network and help families displaced by disasters.
Florida honoreeMary Ann Sterling
For more than 20 years, her nonprofit, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard County, has offered support groups, legal help, parenting classes and tutoring.
Georgia honoreeJenna Jambeck
A connoisseur of the discarded and 2022 recipient of the MacArthur Genius Grant, her work on marine debris shapes global research on the plastic pollution crisis.
Hawaii honoreePua Case
Committed to keeping Native Hawaiian customs, culture and language alive, Case helped organize the Mauna Kea movement to protest installation of a telescope on the dormant volcano.
Idaho honoreeRialin Flores
The executive director of Conservation Voters for Idaho, she’s made it her mission to protect the state’s public lands so future generations can enjoy them.
Illinois honoreeMargaret Ann Jessup
She founded Wooden It Be Lovely, a nonprofit where women recovering from forms of addiction, poverty or abuse get jobs refurbishing furniture, sewing or making candles.
Indiana honoreeTina McIntosh
Her nonprofit, Joy’s House, provides daytime care to adults with life-altering diagnoses, helping their families navigate difficult waters on a daily basis.
Iowa honoreeDasia Taylor
This 19-year-old invented an infection-detecting suture, then founded an inclusion-focused medical device company. “I’m not your average science kid,” she says.
Kansas honoreeJade Piros de Carvalho
After a decade on city council, she’s leading the state’s newly formed Office of Broadband Development, determined to bring affordable, high speed internet access to all residents.
Kentucky honoreeSadiqa Reynolds
An outspoken advocate for racial justice, the former Louisville Urban League president helped pave the way for Black women in her community and beyond.
Louisiana honoreeShirell Parfait-Dardar
A Native American chief, she’s committed to healing the earth, helping her community recover from Hurricane Ida and mitigating the impact of climate change.
Maine honoreeEmily Flinkstrom
A lifelong dedication to serving others brought her to Fair Tide, a nonprofit working to find permanent housing for people and families experiencing homelessness.
Maryland honoreeSheri Ewing
After years in corporate America, she sought a more fulfilling career. Now, as family services manager for Habitat for Humanity, she helps others achieve homeownership.
- Massachusetts honoree
Maura Healey
She’s the first woman to be elected governor in her state and one of the first two lesbian women to be elected as governor of any U.S. state.
Michigan honoreeNajah Bazzy
An interfaith leader widely considered an ambassador for Muslim healthcare and ethics, she’s spent more than three decades in critical care and transcultural nursing.
Minnesota honoreeLeigh Finke
She never planned to be a politician. Now she’s the first transgender legislator in the state’s House of Representatives, fighting to build a better future for trans youth.
Mississippi honoreeCindy Ayers Elliott
Her goal as CEO of Foot Print Farms is to provide healthy food options and educate Mississippians on how to better feed themselves through urban agriculture.
Missouri honoreeKathy Nelson
She’s helped bring some of the world’s most prominent sporting events to Kansas City, including the 2023 NFL Draft and the 2026 women’s World Cup.
Montana honoreeRonnie Jo Horse
The executive director of Western Native Voice, she’s making Native voices heard and building future leaders through advocacy, education and civic engagement
Nebraska honoreeNicky Clark
She says young people “have the answers, they have the solutions.” Through her work with a nonprofit focused on empowering young people, she’s determined to elevate their voices.
Nevada honoreeAnne McNulty
As the executive director of Care Chest, she expanded the nonprofit across the entire state, providing life-changing medical resources for people living in poverty.
New Hampshire honoreeDeb Anthony
Her nonprofit served more than 7,000 people a month across 50 cities and towns, creating a scalable model for communities to help people facing food insecurity
New Jersey honoreeDarlene Trappier
She began by feeding seniors. Now her nonprofit, Beacon of Hope, provides food and other services to people in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.
New Mexico honoreeWilhelmina Yazzie
She saw her child struggling in school and took action. She had no idea her efforts would impact students from underserved communities across the entire state.
New York honoreeKareema Morris
After her 13-year-old niece was murdered, this Buffalo woman launched a mission to bring other missing children home. Her work also supports families affected by homicide.
North Carolina honoreeAngela Tatum Malloy
Through African-centered breastfeeding support, parenting education and doula care, this Fayetteville resident works to improve maternal and infant health outcomes for Black families.
North Dakota honoreeChristy Dauer
As executive director for the state’s Women’s Business Center, she’s committed to helping women entrepreneurs find success and works to promote women’s economic empowerment statewide.
Ohio honoreeMaureen O’Connor
She served in elected office longer than any other woman in state history, first as lieutenant governor before becoming the first woman chief justice of the state Supreme Court.
Oklahoma honoreePatty Gasso
The winner of six NCAA softball championships at University of Oklahoma, she says changing her focus changed her life – and her team – for the better.
Oregon honoreeTiquette Bramlett
The first Black woman appointed to oversee a U.S. winery, she founded the nonprofit Our Legacy Harvested, which champions diversity in the wine industry.
Pennsylvania honoreeLoretta Claiborne
An accomplished long-distance runner, she became a Special Olympics icon first as a competitor and later as a world-wide ambassador for the organization. At almost 70, she’s still competing.
Rhode Island honoreeElizabeth Burke Bryant
She’s dedicated her career to helping the state’s children and their families. Leading with a sense of urgency, she often tells people, “The kids can’t wait.”
South Carolina honoreeDawn Staley
She’s been tremendously successful as both a basketball player and coach, in college and the pros. But her influence extends far beyond the court.
South Dakota honoreeBecky Hammon
The former Olympian, six-time WNBA All-Star and current head coach spent most her life being overlooked and underestimated. “I have a story of perseverance.”
Tennessee honoreeFlora Tydings
She’s the first woman in the state’s history to lead a higher education system, overseeing 37 community and technical colleges and their nearly 120,000 students.
Texas honoreeMonica Muñoz Martinez
An associate professor at University of Texas and an award-winning historian, she works to make the history of anti-Mexican violence on the U.S-Mexico border publicly accessible.
Utah honoreeDebbie Heisler
The co-founder of the Blue Butterfly House, she helped establish a low-cost safe space for families to see one another during court-supervised visits.
Vermont honoreeChristine DiBlasio
A psychologist with a fifth-degree black belt, she merged her clinical background with martial arts to create a free self-defense program for sexual assault survivors.
Virginia honoreeKristin Siegel
When she discovered a funding gap between what local schools needed and what the city was willing to provide, she helped rectify the problem.
Washington honoreeKimmy Siebens
As a nurse at the state’s only Level 1 trauma center and disaster control hospital, she’s a passionate advocate for residents who are unhoused.
West Virginia honoreeKatie Quiñonez
The executive director at what was the state’s only abortion clinic, she vows to keep providing essential healthcare to women: “Dobbs did not break us.”
Wisconsin honoreeVicki Davidson
As program director for a community learning center for 24 years, she’s helped hundreds of kids finish their homework, practice reading and prepare for life.
Wyoming honoreeLetara LeBeau
A member of the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone tribes, she’s determined to educate the public on the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Puerto Rico honoreeAna Irma Rivera Lassén
The first openly gay member of the Puerto Rico Senate, she’s spent four decades pushing for anti-racism measures and LGBTQ+ and women’s rights.