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.

Caroline Sandin was a respected civic leader and served on the University of Wisconsin System’s Board of Regents.

Jewish activist Hannah Rosenthal served as a U.S. special envoy to work against anti-Semitism.

Mabel Raimey was the first African American woman to graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, attend Marquette University Law School, and practice law in Wisconsin.

Vel Phillips achieved many firsts, including first woman and first African American to be elected to the statewide office of secretary of state.

Barbara Nichols was the first African American president of the Wisconsin Nursing Association and of the American Nursing Association.

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.

Estella Leopold is a paleobotanist and conservationist who conducted ground-breaking research on fossilized pollen.