Lorraine Hansberry's first Broadway play, A Raisin in the Sun, changed how Black people's lives were shown in American theater.

Historian Camille Guérin-Gonzales, who directed the UW–Madison Chican@ and Latin@ Studies Program, was devoted to justice for working people.

Dorothy Davids was a respected Native American educator, author, speaker, community organizer, and activist for peace and justice.

Ruth Bleier was a neurophysiology professor whose pioneering work showed that there was gender bias in the field of biological science.

Miriam Ben Shalom was a drill sergeant in the U.S. Army before being discharged for her sexual orientation; she was later the first LGBT serviceperson ever reinstated.

Tammy Baldwin was the first woman elected to represent Wisconsin in Congress and the first openly gay senator in U.S. history.

Debra Amesqua was the first woman chief of the Madison Fire Department and one of the first women fire chiefs in the country.