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

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.

Nobel Peace Prize winner and Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was the first female head of state of any African country.

Pleasant Rowland founded the American Girls Collection, a popular line of books, dolls, and accessories that features girls living throughout U.S. history.

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.

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

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.