Timeline: 1951-Present

Image description: A black-and-white headshot of Nellie Wilson.

Nellie Y. McKay

Nellie Y. McKay was one of the first scholars to bring attention to the writing of African American women authors.
Image description: A portrait-style photo of Zoe Dunning.

Zoe Dunning

Zoe Dunning was one of the only openly LGB members of the U.S. military for 13 years and spoke out against the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.
Image description: A headshot of Danae D. Davis.

Danae D. Davis

Trained as a lawyer and committed to equity, Danae Davis is passionate about “success for every child, in every school, from cradle to career.”
Image description: A portrait-style photo of Millie Zantow in front of a wall of plastic bottles.

Milly Zantow

Milly Zantow pioneered the plastics recycling movement and invented the numbered-triangle system used for identifying different kinds of plastic.
Image description: A black-and-white headshot of Nellie Wilson.

Nellie Wilson

Nellie Wilson spent her life fighting for employment opportunities for women and was the first African American woman to hold a leadership position in her local steelworkers union.
Image description: A black-and-white photo of Glenn Wise sitting at a desk.

Glenn Wise

Glenn Wise became the first woman to hold a statewide public office in Wisconsin when she was appointed secretary of state in 1955.
A black-and-white headshot of Ingrid Washinawatok.

Ingrid Washinawatok

Ingrid Washinawatok, which translates to “Flying Eagle Woman,” was a celebrated human rights advocate for Indigenous peoples who was killed in South America.
Image description: A headshot of Ramona Villarreal.

Ramona Villarreal

Ramona Villarreal is a Mexican American activist who has devoted her life to fighting for equality and justice for people with Mexican/Latinx heritage in Wisconsin.
Image description: A portrait-style photo of Chia Youyee Vang.

Chia Youyee Vang

Chia Youyee Vang is a leading advocate for Hmong cultural preservation and education.
Image description: A portrait-style photo of Sheri Swokowski with her chin in her left hand.

Sheri Swokowski

Transgender advocate Sheri Swokowski, a former colonel in the U.S. Army, has worked to end discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation.