ACADEMY OF WOMEN ACHIEVERS
Since its inception in 1984, the YWCA Greater Atlanta Academy of Women Achievers has been dedicated to recognizing and celebrating extraordinary women who have made a significant impact in their communities and beyond. These trailblazers come from diverse backgrounds and professions but share a common goal—making a difference in the lives of others.
The Academy has grown to include more than 400 women who exemplify leadership, service, and a commitment to empowerment. From business and education to healthcare and activism, these women are shaping a brighter future for Atlanta and beyond.
We invite you to explore the list of remarkable women who have been inducted into our Academy and continue to inspire with their contributions to society. Their legacies of change and advocacy embody the YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
More thank 350 esteemed Academy sisters uphold the legacy of YWCA Greater Atlanta. Our Academy sisters’ continued leadership has the power to shape our future.
Academy Sisters who have given $1500 or more in the current year to our annual fund
Members as of June 30, 2025
Ann Cramer
Gina Espinosa
Daryll Griffin
Beth Holder
Bari Love
Sally McDaniel
Erica Qualls-Battey
Lovette Russell
Jewel Burks Solomon
Ann Stallard
Beverly Thomas
Carolyn Young
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The Ann Stallard Award for Excellence and Leadership
Guests at the 2025 Salute to Women of Achievement event witnessed YWCA Greater Atlanta’s surprise tribute to Atlanta business and civic leader, Ann Stallard, renaming its Woman of Achievement Award the Ann Stallard Award for Excellence and Leadership. Stallard is YWCA Greater Atlanta’s only lifetime board member, and served as board president of the national YWCA from 1991 to 1996, and the Global Board of the World YWCA in Geneva, Switzerland, from 1996 to 2002.
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Successful Phillis Wheatley Westside YWCA Collaboration in Action Campaign
YWCA Greater Atlanta announced the completion of its capital campaign to transform the 22,000-square-foot Phillis Wheatley Westside YWCA building into a hub of services for women, girls, and their families. The $19.5 million Collaboration In Action campaign raised the funding necessary to return the Phillis Wheatley YWCA and its services to Atlanta’s Westside after a decade. Renovations to the community landmark include an Early Learning Academy, interactive media center, tutoring room,and space for medical services. The association made the announcement at its annual Salute to Women of Achievement luncheon on May 8. YWCA Greater Atlanta also inducted the 41st class of women into its Academy of Women Achievers and raised nearly $450,000 to support its core programming. The reopening of the Phillis Wheatley Westside YWCA located along Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive is scheduled for spring 2026.
Class of 2025
Donna Hyland - Ann Stallard Award for Excellence and Leadership
Ashley Carson
Kwajelyn Jackson
DeRetta Cole Rhodes
Elizabeth Correll Richards
Leslie Schreiner
Jewel Burks Solomon
Pamela Stewart
Belisa Urbina
Janis Ware
The 2024 Woman of Achievement Award was given in honor of Phillis Wheatley
Class of 2024
Paige Alexander
Deisha Barnett
Gina Espinosa-Meltzer
Chanel Frazier
Julia Houston
Kaye Husbands Fealing
Ayesha Khanna
Lauren Koontz
Maya Penn
April Ross
Misty Fernandez
Venessa Harrison
Sarah Irvin
Jenna Kelly
Class of 2023
Katie Kirkpatrick
Carrie Kurlander
Beth Lowry
Saadia Madsbjerg
Fay Twersky
Carolyn Young
Helene Gayle
Chloe Barzey
Nicole “Nikki” Clifton
Sharmen Gowens
Class of 2022
Nancy Quan
Leocadia I. Zak
Class of 2021
Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice
Alicia Philipp
Kali Beyah
Lori Billingsley
Martha Brooks
Class of 2020
Kathy Colbenson
Cynthia Day
Pat Gardner
Kim Greene
Condace Pressley
Bentina Chislom Terry
Sandy Welfare
Liz Blake
Allison Dukes
Sharon Gay
Sonya Halpern
Class of 2019
Soumaya Khalifa
Helene Lollis
Juliette Pryor
Blythe Keeler Robinson
Erika Shields
Martha Wilber, M.D.
Andrea Young
Erica Qualls-Battey
Dr. Debra Carlton, M.D.
Daryll Griffin
Beth Holder
Class of 2018
Erika James
Anne Kaiser
Mary Laschinger
Wonya Lucas
Mary Pat Matheson
Beatriz Perez
Wendy Stewart
Ann Cramer
Ann Curry
Ann Stallard
Class of 2017
Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell
Edie Cofrin
Lisa Gordon
Dr. Valerie Camille Jones
Stephanie Mains
Ileana Martinez
Teresa Roseborough
Joanne Smith
Yvonne Thomas
Dr. Mary Wilson, M.D
Billye Aaron
Liz Blake
Shan Cooper
Sandra Deal*
Class of 2016
Francesca Gary
Lila Hertz
Meredith Leapley
Julie Miller-Phipps
Qaadirah Abdur-Rahim
Sarah-Elizabeth Reed
Julie Seitz
Carol Tomé
Erika Alexander
Myra Bierria
Luncinda Bunnen*
Class of 2015
Dr. Meria J. Carstarphen
Charmaine Davis
Kelly Loeffler
Bari Love
Patrise Perkins-Hooker
Dr. Sita Ranchod-Nilsson
Lisa Williams
Rev. Dr. Joanna M. Adams
Lisa Cremin
Beth Finnerty
Dana Halberg
Class of 2014
Danita Knight
Paulette Norvel Lewis
Michelle Nunn
Natosha Reid Rice
Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice
Nita Sardana
Charmaine Ward
Rosalind Brewer
Keisha Lance Bottoms
Mary Brock
Janine Brown
Class of 2013
Stacy Cole
Denise Harrod
Holly Hughes
Cheryl Lomax
Mary Moore
Marian Pittman
Tisha Tallman
Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum
Kim Anderson
Amy Brady
Kelly Dolan
Class of 2012
Terri Badour
Noni Ellison-Southall
Donna Hyland
Glenda Minkin
Brenda Muhammad
Leslie Sibert
Lottie Watkins*
Kathy Betty
Rabbi Analia Bortz
Molly Burke
Emily Ellison
Class of 2011
Tad Hutcheson (Y’s Man)
Dr. Elizabeth Kiss
Penny McIntyre
M. Yvette Miller
Sheryl Sellaway
Geri Thomas
Nancy Grace
Stacey Abrams
Cathy Adams
Dr. Sheryl Gabram
Class of 2010
Marsha Johnson
Teri McClure
Katy Barksdale
Erica Qualls-Battey
Sylvia Russell
Christine St. Clare
Pearl Cleage
BJ Bernstein, J.D.
Renay Blumenthal
Anna Cablik
Class of 2009
Lesley Grady
Eve Higginbotham, M.D.
Linda Klein, J.D.
Brenda Reid
Lovette Russell
Suzanne Sitherwood
Chilton Varner, J.D.
Pinney Allen
Lisa Borders
Susana Maria Chavez
LaJean Gould
Class of 2008
Lisa Marie Hamilton
Cecilia Houston-Torrence
Dr. Candace Kaspers
Penelope McPhee
Rhonda Mims
Louise Sams
Leah Ward Sears
Juanita Abernathy*
Larrie Del Martin
Elise Eplan
Class of 2007
Gloria Goins
Nancy Hall
Patricia Harris
Marian Lucia
Shirley Mitchell
Margaret Reiser
Pamela Stephenson*
Stephanie Blank
Claire Arnold
Leona Barr-Davenport
Carol Hunstein
Class of 2006
Elizabeth Omilami
Melanie Platt
Anne Quatrano
Judy Tabb
Marvonia Walker
Evonne Yancey
Evern Cooper Epps
Rebecca Blalock
Juel Pate Borders-Benson
Ada Lee Correll
Class of 2005
Audrey Hines
Elisabeth Marchant
Kay Scott*
Linda Selig
Janet Street
Ray Uttenhove
Harriette Watkins
Charlayne Hunter-Gault
Carolyn Banks*
Janis Dubow
Rebecca Franklin
Class of 2004
Virginia Gorday
Virginia Hepner
Harriet Hessam
Helen Smith Price
Jenny Pruitt*
Laura Turner Seydel
Julia Wallace
Dorothy Fuqua*
Patricia Barnard
Carolyn Byrd
Brenda Cole
Class of 2003
Joan Garner*
Sara González*
Deva Hirsch
Kathy Klatt
Hala Moddelmog
Susan Neugent
Connie Stokes
Shirley Franklin
Vicki Escarra
Margaret Greene
Beverly Hall*
Class of 2002
Valerie Jackson
Dorothy Yates Kirkley
Vicki Palmer
Maria Saporta
Nancy Gordy Simms
Cathy Woolard
Jane Fonda
Marie Barnes
Diana Buntin
Class of 2001
Mary Harris
Nina Hickson
Barbara Loar*
Linda A. Parrish
Paula Rosput
Mtamanika Youngblood
Judge Glenda Hatchett
Clara Axam
Jacquelyn Belcher
Cathy Cox
Class of 2000
Delores E. Cross
Ronnie Gunnerson
Carolyn Kenny
Soon Paik
Janet Rechtman
Phyllis F. Schwartz*
Kathleen Toomey
Carol Jackson
Mary Bullock
Nellie D. Duke*
Renee Glover
Class of 1999
Marjorie Fine Knowles*
Rubye Lucas
Audrey F. Manley
Pat Mitchell
Rogsbert Phillips
Judy Turner
Pat Upshaw-Monteith
Ingrid Saunders Jones
Candy Berman
Betty Cook
Christine Farris*
Class of 1998
Amanda G. Hyatt*
Elizabeth Long
Karen Elaine Webster Parks
Peggy McCready Schwall*
Beverly Thomas
Dorothy J. Tracy*
Ruth West
Judy M. Anderson
Amanda Brown-Olmstead
Evern Cooper Epps
Connie Winifred Curry*
Class of 1997
Sallie Adams Daniel
Stephanie Davis
Camille Davis-Williams
Angela Gittens
Judy Hanenkrat
Julie Keeton
Deborah Richardson
Shirley Clarke Franklin
Barbara Balser
Nancy Boxill
Karen Duckett
Class of 1996
Roulettei Gildersleeve
Mary Long
Ivenue Love-Stanley
Sally McDaniel
Thelma Wyatt Cummings Moore
Nan Orrock
Polly Simpson*
Beverly Bailey Harvard
Kathy Ashe
Jacquelyn Barrett
Barbara “Bobbie” Cleveland
Class of 1995
Hattie Dorsey*
Jo Edwards
Gail Evans
Anne Harper
Pamela Hoffman
Clare Richardson
Gail Tusan
Myrtle Davis
Valerie Ferguson
Barbara Gifford
Class of 1994
Sondra Rhoades Johnson
Liane Levetan
Beth Schapiro
Georganna Sinkfield
Ann Stallard
Lucy Vance
Jean Childs Young*
Alice Ball
Sandra Barnhill
D. Gayle Gellerstedt
Class of 1993
Patsy Hilliard
Patricia Lottier
Grace Phillips
Beatrice A. Ruffin
Cynthia Tucker
Patricia M. Tunno*
Patricia Willis
Monica Kaufman Pearson
Jocelyn Dorsey
Maritza Keen
Class of 1992
Melody McCloud
Kathryn McDonagh
Frances Freeborn Pauley*
Anne Sparrow
Sue Wieland*
Elizabeth Wilson
Kathleen Ziegler
Mary Gellerstedt*
Billye S. Aaron
Marva Brooks
Class of 1991
Donna Paulette Carson
Melita Easters
Ryland McClendon
Jan Pringle
Pamela Pryor
Carol Reiser*
Ruth Schmidt*
Johnnetta B. Cole
Ollivette Alison*
Barbara Miller Asher*
Byllye Avery
Class of 1990
Barbara Bruner*
Bettye Davis
Marion Delaney-Harris*
Mary B. Jordan*
Mylle Bell Mangum
Iris Miles
Mary Margaret Oliver
Alicia Phillipp
Evelyn Ullman
Marie Walters Dodd*
Juanita Baranco
Lorri Christopher
Class of 1989
Teresa Clark
Susie LaBord*
Mary O’Connor
Alexis Scott
Alana Shepherd
Cathey Steinberg
Isabel Gates Webster*
Sally Jessy Raphael
Louise Richardson Allen*
Ella Mae Brayboy*
Class of 1988
Barbara Carter
Delores Crockett
Gretta Moll Dewald*
Sherry Frank
Carolyn Stradley*
Jackie M. Ward
Gladys Knight
J. Veronica Biggins
Dianne Harnell Cohen
Class of 1987
Eleanor Jay Davis
Sheryl Gripper
Betty Jacobson*
Maxine McNutt*
Joyce Ogletree*
Ruth E. Stanley*
Coretta Scott King*
Ellen L. Acquaviva
Paula Bevington*
Class of 1986
Carol D. Cherry*
Xernona Clayton
Suzanne Elson
Evelyn Gibson Lowery*
Gloria Randall Scott
Betty Siegel*
Jane Smith*
Betty Smulian
Elaine Alexander
Dorothy Beasley*
Anne Cox Chambers*
Class of 1985
Ann Curry
Freddye S. Henderson*
Grace Towns Hamilton*
Lillian Webb*
Margaret Lupo*
Nanette Wenger
Rosalynn Carter*
Johnnie L. Clark
Ann W. Cramer
Class of 1984
Barbara King*
Skipper Morrison*
Eleanor L. Richardson*
Deen Day Sanders
Judith Taylor
