Florence Bascom was a trailblazing geologist and the first woman to receive a degree from Johns Hopkins University.

Gloria Ladson-Billings is an influential professor of education who has worked to make education more equitable for students of color.

Nellie Y. McKay was one of the first scholars to bring attention to the writing of African American women authors.

Helen C. White was the first woman to hold a full professorship in the College of Letters and Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Chia Youyee Vang is a leading advocate for Hmong cultural preservation and education.

Donna Shalala was the first woman to head a Big Ten university and the longest-serving secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Sister Joel Read served for 35 years as president of Alverno College and became widely known and respected for her innovative education reforms.

Kathryn "Kate" Morrison was the first woman elected to the Wisconsin State Senate.

Katharine Lyall was the first woman president of the University of Wisconsin System.

Patricia "Patty" Loew is a celebrated journalist, filmmaker, and educator about Native Americans in Wisconsin.