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Women Making History Awards Honorees

Inspiring the next generation of history makers.

The National Women’s History Museum’s annual gala, the Women Making History Awards, celebrates extraordinary, trailblazing women who have made profound contributions to our society and who serve as inspiration for the next generation of leaders, change agents, and history makers.

Since its debut in 2012, the Women Making History Awards has honored 65 outstanding women whose remarkable achievements demonstrate what is possible, including Dr. Maya Angelou, Laura Bush, Cokie Roberts, Dolores Huerta, Katherine Johnson, and Viola Davis.

 

Our Women Making History Award Honorees (list available here):

Maya Angelou

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 14:58

Author and Poet (Awarded 2012)

Image
Maya Angelou portrait
Sorting Title
Angelou, Maya

Aesha Ash

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 15:20

Former Professional Ballerina/The Swans Dream Project (Awarded 2016)

Image
Aesha Ash portrait
Sorting Title
Ash, Aesha

Kathy Bates

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 15:24

LE&RN Ambassador, Actor, and Director (Awarded 2018)

Image
Kathy Bates portrait
Sorting Title
Bates, Kathy

Kristen Bell

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 15:27

Activist, Actress, and Mom (Awarded 2018)

Image
Kristen Bell portrait
Sorting Title
Bell, Kristen

Maj. Gen. Charles F. Bolden (USMC, Ret.)

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 15:33

 12th NASA Administrator (Awarded 2017)

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Charles Bolden portrait
Sorting Title
Bolden, Maj. Gen. Charles F.

Abigail Breslin

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Wed, 07/17/2024 - 16:01

Advocate and Actress (Awarded 2016)

Image
Abigail Breslin headshot
Sorting Title
Breslin, Abigail

Logan Browning

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 15:34

Activist and Actress (Awarded 2020)

Image
Logan Browning portrait
Sorting Title
Browning, Logan

Tarana Burke

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 15:39

Activist and organizer, founder of the "Me Too" movement (Awarded 2018)

Image
Tarana Burke portrait
Sorting Title
Burke, Tarana

Duane Burnham

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 15:49

 Former CEO, Abbott Labs (Awarded 2010)

Image
Duane Burnham headshot
Sorting Title
Burnham, Duane

Ken Burns

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Wed, 07/17/2024 - 16:03

Documentary Filmmaker (Awarded 2013)

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Ken Burns headshot
Sorting Title
Burns, Ken

Laura Bush

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 15:56

Former First Lady of the United States (Awarded 2017)

Image
Laura Bush portrait
Sorting Title
Bush, Laura

Sophia Bush

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 16:03

Activist and Actress (Awarded 2014)

Image
Sophia Bush headshot
Sorting Title
Bush, Sophia

Johnetta Cole, Ph.D

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 16:06

Former President, Spelman College and Bennett College, Former Director, NMAFA (Awarded 2019)

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Dr. Cole portrait
Sorting Title
Cole, Johnetta Ph.D

France Cordova

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 16:09

President, National Science Foundation (Awarded 2015)

Image
France Cordova portrait
Sorting Title
Cordova, France

Patrisse Cullors

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 16:11

Artist, Organizer, and Educator (Awarded 2018)

Image
Patrisse Cullors portrait
Sorting Title
Cullors, Patrisse

Viola Davis

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 16:22

Actress, Producer, and Author (Awarded 2015)

Image
Viola Davis headshot
Sorting Title
Davis, Viola

Elizabeth Dole

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 16:28

Former Senator (Awarded 2012)

Image
Elizabeth Dole headshot
Sorting Title
Dole, Elizabeth

Fran Drescher

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Wed, 07/17/2024 - 16:04

Actress and Healthcare Advocate (Awarded 2013)

Image
Fran Drescher headshot
Sorting Title
Drescher, Fran

Ashley Graham

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Wed, 07/17/2024 - 16:05

Pioneering Supermodel, Designer, Entrepreneur (Awarded 2023)

Image
Ashley Graham headshot
Sorting Title
Graham, Ashley

Denyce Graves

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 16:31

Opera Singer (Awarded 2013)

Image
Denyce Graves headshot
Sorting Title
Graves, Denyce

Helen Greiner

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 16:37

Co-Founder, iRobot (Awarded 2011)

Image
Helen Greiner headshot
Sorting Title
Greiner, Helen

Dolores Huerta

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 16:41

 Civil Rights Activist (Awarded 2012)

Image
Dolores Huerta headshot
Sorting Title
Huerta, Dolores

Cathy Hughes

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Wed, 07/17/2024 - 16:07

Founder, Radio One (Awarded 2011)

Image
Cathy Hughes headshot
Sorting Title
Hughes, Cathy

Gale Anne Hurd

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 16:45

Film Producer and Screenwriter (Awarded 2015)

Image
Gale Ann Hurd Headshot
Sorting Title
Hurd, Gale Anne

Sally Jewell

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 16:48

 Former Secretary of the Interior (Awarded 2014)

Image
Sally Jewell headshot square
Sorting Title
Jewell, Sally

Katherine Johnson

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 16:52

NASA Mathematician (Awarded 2014)

Image
Katherine Johnson headshot
Sorting Title
Johnson, Katherine

Lesa France Kennedy

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Wed, 07/17/2024 - 16:08

CEO, International Speedway Corp (Awarded 2014)

Image
Lesa France Kennedy headshot
Sorting Title
Kennedy, Lesa France

Callie Khouri

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 16:58

Producer and Director (Awarded 2014)

Image
Callie Khouri headshot
Sorting Title
Khouri, Callie

Willie Pearl Mackey King

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 17:04

Civil Rights Activist (Awarded 2023)

Image
Willie Pearl Mackey King headshot
Sorting Title
King, Willie Pearl Mackey

Toni Ko

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 17:08

Entrepreneur, NYX Cosmetics (Awarded 2016)

Image
Toni Ko headshot
Sorting Title
Ko, Toni

Faye Laing

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 17:16

Professor and Radiologist (Awarded 2017)

Image
Faye Laing headshot
Sorting Title
Laing, Faye

Cathy Lanier

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Wed, 07/17/2024 - 16:09

DC Police Chief (Awarded 2015)

Image
Cathy Lanier headshot
Sorting Title
Lanier, Cathy

Sandra Lee

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 17:18

Activist, Philanthropist and Home Life Expert (Awarded 2019)

Image
Sandra Lee headshot
Sorting Title
Lee, Sandra

Annie Leibovitz

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Wed, 07/17/2024 - 16:10

Renowned Photographer (Awarded 2012)

Image
Annie Leibovitz headshot
Sorting Title
Leibovitz, Annie

Marne Levine

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 17:23

Former Chief Operating Officer, Instagram (Awarded 2017)

Image
Marne Levine headshot
Sorting Title
Levine, Marne

Marissa Mayer

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Wed, 07/17/2024 - 16:12

CEO, Yahoo (Awarded 2011)

Image
Marissa Mayer headshot
Sorting Title
Mayer, Marissa

Andie Mcdowell

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 17:26

Activist and Actress (Awarded 2020)

Image
Andie McDowell headshot
Sorting Title
Mcdowell, Andie

Rita Moreno

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Wed, 07/17/2024 - 16:13

Actress, Singer, and Entertainer (Awarded 2013)

Image
Rita Moreno headshot
Sorting Title
Moreno, Rita

Jennifer Siebel Newsom

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 17:45

Documentary Filmmaker (Awarded 2012)

Image
Jennifer Siebel Newsom headshot
Sorting Title
Newsom, Jennifer Siebel

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 17:31

Congresswoman and Activist (Awarded 2023)

Image
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton headshot
Sorting Title
Norton, Rep. Eleanor Holmes

Dr. Nancy O'Reilly

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 17:40

Founder, Women Connect4Good, Inc. (Awarded 2020)

Image
Dr. Nancy headshot
Sorting Title
O'Reilly, Dr. Nancy

Ellen Ochoa

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 17:36

Former Director, Johnson Space Center (Awarded 2015)

Image
Ellen Ochoa headshot
Sorting Title
Ochoa, Ellen

Etta Pisano

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Wed, 07/17/2024 - 16:14

Doctor and Researcher (Awarded 2013)

Image
Etta Pisano headshot
Sorting Title
Pisano, Etta

Phylicia Rashad

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Wed, 07/17/2024 - 16:15

Actress and Activist (Awarded 2013)

Image
Phylicia Rashad headshot
Sorting Title
Rashad, Phylicia

Diane Rehm

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 17:49

Former NPR Host, The Diane Rehm Show (Awarded 2017)

Image
Diane Rehm headshot
Sorting Title
Rehm, Diane

Richard Rhodes

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 17:52

Biographer (Awarded 2012)

Image
Richard Rhodes headshot
Sorting Title
Rhodes, Richard

Hon. Rosie Rios

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 17:57

43rd Treasurer of the United States (Awarded 2017)

Image
Rosie Rios headshot
Sorting Title
Rios, Hon. Rosie

Cokie Roberts

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 17:59

Award-Winning Journalist and Author (Awarded 2018)

Image
Cokie Roberts headshot
Sorting Title
Roberts, Cokie

Tracee Ellis Ross

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Wed, 07/17/2024 - 16:16

Actress and Activist (Awarded 2016)

Image
Tracee Ellis Ross headshot
Sorting Title
Ross, Tracee Ellis

Gwynne Shotwell

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 17:42

President & COO, SpaceX (Awarded 2017)

Image
Gwynne Shotwell headshot
Sorting Title
Shotwell, Gwynne

Hon. Olympia J. Snowe

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 18:01

Former Senator (Awarded 2019)

Image
Olympia J. Snowe headshot
Sorting Title
Snowe, Hon. Olympia J.

Rebecca Soni

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Fri, 07/19/2024 - 12:43

3x Olympic Champion Swimmer (Awarded 2013)

Image
Rebecca Soni headshot
Sorting Title
Soni, Rebecca

Debbie Sterling

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 18:08

Founder, Goldiblox (Awarded 2014)

Image
Debbie Sterling headshot
Sorting Title
Sterling, Debbie

Sharon Stone

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 18:10

Humanitarian and Actress (Awarded 2023)

Image
Sharon Stone headshot
Sorting Title
Stone, Sharon

Uma Thurman

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Wed, 07/17/2024 - 16:18

Actress and Activist (Awarded 2023)

Image
Uma Thurman headshot
Sorting Title
Thurman, Uma

Gabrielle Union

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 18:16

Activist, Actress, and Entrepreneur (Awarded 2018)

Image
Gabrielle Union headshot
Sorting Title
Union, Gabrielle

Brig. Gen. Wilma Vaught

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 18:17

Founding President, Women in Military Service for America Memorial (Awarded 2017)

Image
Brig. Gen. Wilma Vaught headshot
Sorting Title
Vaught, Brig. Gen. Wilma

Ann Veneman

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 18:19

Former Secretary of Agriculture (Awarded 2016)

Image
Ann Veneman headshot
Sorting Title
Veneman, Ann

Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 18:20

President & CEO, ECOS™ (Awarded 2020)

Image
Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks headshot
Sorting Title
Vlahakis-Hanks, Kelly

Christine Walevska

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Wed, 07/17/2024 - 16:19

World Renowned Cellist (Awarded 2016)

Image
Christine Walevska headshot
Sorting Title
Walevska, Christine

Senator John Warner

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 18:21

Former Senator (Awarded 2011)

Image
Sen. John Warner headshot
Sorting Title
Warner, Senator John

Diane Warren

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Wed, 07/17/2024 - 16:20

Songwriter (Awarded 2015)

Image
Diane Warren headshot
Sorting Title
Warren, Diane

Kerry Washington

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Thu, 07/11/2024 - 18:22

Activist and Actress (Awarded 2017)

Image
Kerry Washington headshot
Sorting Title
Washington, Kerry

Virginia Hayes Williams

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Fri, 07/19/2024 - 12:44

DC’s “First Mother” (Awarded 2010)

Image
Virginia Hayes Williams headshot
Sorting Title
Williams, Virginia Hayes

Rachel Zoe

First Name
Maia
Last Name
Brown
Submitted by mbrown on Wed, 07/17/2024 - 16:21

Entrepreneur and Fashion Designer (Awarded 2016)

Image
Rachel Zoe headshot
Sorting Title
Zoe, Rachel