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 300 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.

  • 2024 Woman of Achievement

    In a touching tribute, this year’s surprise Woman of Achievement was named as Phillis Wheatley, in honor of the Collaboration in Action Campaign to renovate the Phillis Wheatley YWCA on Atlanta’s Westside. 

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  • 2024 Academy Reception

    We are thrilled to share highlights of the September 12 Academy reception. This celebration was filled with camaraderie, reflection, and inspiration as we recognized our newest inductees, shared details about upcoming events and provided a progress report on our Phillis Wheatley Westside YWCA Collaboration in Action Campaign.

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Class of 2024

Paige Alexander Chanel Frazier Ayesha Khanna April Ross
Deisha Barnett Julia Houston Lauren Koontz
Gina Espinosa-Meltzer Kaye Husbands Fealing Maya Penn

Class of 2023

Misty Fernandez Jenna Kelly Beth Lowry Carolyn Young
Venessa Harrison Katie Kirkpatrick Saadia Madsbjerg Helene Gayle
Sarah Irvin Carrie Kurlander Fay Twersky

Class of 2022 

Chloe Barzey  Sharmen Gowens  Nancy Quan  Leocadia I. Zak 
Nicole “Nikki” Clifton 

Class of 2021
Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice 

Class of 2020
Kali Beyah Kathy Colbenson Kim Greene Bentina Chislom Terry
Lori Billingsley Cynthia Day Alicia Philipp Sandy Welfare
Martha Brooks Pat Gardner Condace Pressley

Class of 2019
Liz Blake Sonya Halpern Juliette Pryor Martha Wilber, M.D.
Allison Dukes Soumaya Khalifa Blythe Robinson Andrea Young 
Sharon Gay Helene Lollis Erika Shields

Class of 2018
Erica Qualls-Battey Beth Holder Mary Laschinger Beatriz Perez
Dr. Debra Carlton, M.D. Erika James Wonya Lucas Wendy Stewart 
Daryll Griffin Anne Kaiser Mary Pat Matheson

Class of 2017
Ann Cramer Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell Dr. Valerie Camille Jones Teresa Roseborough Dr. Mary Wilson, M.D 
Ann Curry Edie Cofrin Stephanie Mains Joanne Smith
Ann Stallard Lisa Gordon Ileana Martinez Yvonne Thomas

Class of 2016
Billye Aaron Sandra Deal Meredith Leapley Sarah-Elizabeth Reed
Liz Blake Francesca Gary Julie Miller-Phipps Julie Seitz 
Shan Cooper Lila Hertz Qaadirah Rahim

Class of 2015
Carol Tomé Luncinda Bunnen Kelly Loeffler Dr. Sita Ranchod-Nilsson
Erika Alexander Dr. Meria J. Carstarphen Bari Love Lisa Williams
Myra Bierria Charmaine Davis Patrise Perkins-Hooker

Class of 2014
Rev. Dr. Joanna M. Adams Dana Halberg Michelle Nunn Nita Sardana
Lisa Cremin Danita V. Knight Natosha Reid Rice Charmaine Ward
Beth Finnerty Paulette Norvel Lewis Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice

Class of 2013
Rosalind Brewer Janine Brown Holly Hughes Marian Pittman
Keisha Lance Bottoms Stacy Cole-Bell Cheryl Lomax Tisha Tallman 
Mary Brock Denise Harrod Mary Moore

Class of 2012
Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum Kelly Dolan Donna Hyland Leslie Sibert
Kim Anderson Terri Badour Glenda Minkin Lottie Watkins* 
Amy Brady Noni Ellison-Southall Brenda Muhammad

Class of 2011
Kathy Betty Emily Ellison Penny McIntyre Geri Thomas 
Emily Ellison Tad Hutcheson (Y’s Man) M. Yvette Miller Molly Burke Dr. Elizabeth Kiss Sheryl Sellaway

Class of 2010
Nancy Grace Dr. Sheryl Gabram Katy Barksdale Christine St. Clare 
Stacey Abrams Marsha Johnson Erica Qualls-Battey
Cathy Adams Teri McClure Sylvia Russell

Class of 2009
Pearl Cleage Anna Cablik Linda Klein, J.D. Suzanne Sitherwood
BJ Bernstein, J.D. Lesley Grady Brenda Reid Chilton Varner, J.D. 
Renay Blumenthal Eve Higginbotham, M.D. Lovette Russell

Class of 2008
Pinney Allen LaJean Gould Dr. Candace Kaspers Louise Sams
Lisa Borders Lisa Marie Hamilton Penelope McPhee
Susana Maria Chavez Cecilia Houston-Torrence Rhonda Mims 

Class of 2007
Leah Ward Sears Elise Eplan Patricia Harris Pamela Stephenson 
Juanita Abernathy* Gloria Goins Marian Lucia
Larrie Del Martin Nancy Hall Margaret Reiser

Class of 2006
Stephanie Blank Carol Hunstein Anne Quatrano Evonne Yancey
Claire Arnold Elizabeth Omilami Judy Tabb
Leona Barr-Davenport Melanie Platt Marvonia Walker

Class of 2005
Evern Cooper Epps Ada Lee Correll Kay Scott Ray Uttenhove
Rebecca Blalock Audrey Hines Linda Selig Harriette Watkins 
Juel Pate Borders-Benson Elisabeth Marchant Janet Street

Class of 2004
Charlayne Hunter-Gault Rebecca Franklin Harriet Hessam Laura Turner Seydel
Carolyn Banks Virginia Gorday Helen Smith Price Julia Wallace 
Janis Dubow Virginia Hepner Jenny Pruitt

Class of 2003
Dorothy Fuqua* Brenda Cole Deva Hirsch Susan Neugent
Patricia Barnard Joan Garner* Kathy Klatt Connie Stokes 
Carolyn Byrd Sara González* Hala Moddelmog

Class of 2002
Shirley Franklin Beverly Hall* Vicki Palmer Cathy Woolard 
Vicki Escarra Valerie Jackson Maria Saporta
Margaret Greene Dorothy Yates Kirkley Nancy Gordy Simms

Class of 2001
Jane Fonda Mary Harris Linda A. Parrish
Marie Barnes Nina Hickson Paula Rosput
Diana Buntin Barbara Loar* Mtamanika Youngblood

Class of 2000
Judge Glenda Hatchett Cathy Cox Carolyn Kenny Phyllis F. Schwartz*
Clara Axam Delores E. Cross Soon Paik Kathleen Toomey
Jacquelyn Belcher Ronnie Gunnerson Janet Rechtman

Class of 1999
Carol Jackson Renee Glover Audrey F. Manley Judy Turner
Mary Bullock Marjorie Fine Knowles Pat Mitchell Pat Upshaw-Monteith 
Nellie D. Duke Rubye Lucas Rogsbert Phillips

Class of 1998
Ingrid Saunders Jones Christine Farris Karen Elaine Webster Parks Dorothy J. Tracy*
Candy Berman Amanda G. Hyatt* Peggy McCready Schwall* Ruth West 
Betty Cook Elizabeth Long Beverly Thomas

Class of 1997
Judy M. Anderson Connie Winifred Curry Camille Davis-Williams Julie Keeton
Amanda Brown-Olmstead Sallie Adams Daniel Angela Gittens Deborah Richardson 
Evern Cooper Epps Stephanie Davis Judy Hanenkrat

Class of 1996
Shirley Clarke Franklin Karen Duckett Ivenue Love-Stanley Nan Orrock
Barbara Balser Roulettei Gildersleeve Sally McDaniel Polly Simpson
Nancy Boxill Mary Long Thelma Wyatt Cummings Moore

Class of 1995
Beverly Bailey Harvard Barbara Cleveland Gail Evans Clare Richardson
Kathy Ashe Hattie Dorsey Anne Harper Gail Tusan 
Jacquelyn Barrett Jo Edwards Pamela Hoffman

Class of 1994
Myrtle Davis Sondra Rhoades Johnson Georganna Sinkfield
Valerie Ferguson Liane Levetan Ann Stallard
Barbara Gifford Beth Schapiro Lucy Vance 

Class of 1993
Jean Childs Young* D. Gayle Gellerstedt Grace Phillips Patricia M. Tunno*
Alice Ball Patsy Hilliard Beatrice A. Ruffin Patricia Willis 
Sandra Barnhill Patricia Lottier Cynthia Tucker

Class of 1992
Monica Kaufman Pearson Melody McCloud Anne Sparrow Kathleen Ziegler 
Jocelyn Dorsey Kathryn McDonagh Sue Wieland*
Maritza Keen Frances Freeborn Pauley* Elizabeth Wilson

Class of 1991
Mary Gellerstedt* Donna Paulette Carson Jan Pringle Ruth Schmidt*
Billye S. Aaron Melita Easters Pamela Pryor
Marva Brooks Ryland McClendon Carol Reiser*

Class of 1990
Johnnetta B. Cole Byllye Avery Marion Delaney-Harris* Iris Miles Evelyn Ullman 
Ollivette Allison* Barbara Bruner* Mary B. Jordan* Mary Margaret Oliver
Barbara Miller Asher* Bettye Davis Mylle Bell Mangum Alicia Phillipp

Class of 1989
Marie Walters Dodd Teresa Clark Alexis Scott Isabel Gates Webster* 
Juanita Baranco Susie LaBord* Alana Shepherd
Lorri Christopher Mary O’Connor Cathey Steinberg

Class of 1988
Sally Jessy Raphael Barbara Carter Sherry Frank
Louise Richardson Allen* Delores Crockett Carolyn Stradley
Ella Mae Brayboy* Gretta Moll Dewald* Jackie M. Ward 

Class of 1987
Gladys Knight Eleanor Jay Davis Maxine McNutt
J. Veronica Biggins Sheryl Gripper Joyce Ogletree
Dianne Harnell Cohen Betty Jacobson Ruth E. Stanley 

Class of 1986
Coretta Scott King* Carol D. Cherry* Evelyn Gibson Lowery* Jane Smith*
Ellen L. Acquaviva Xernona Clayton Gloria Randall Scott Betty Smulian 
Paula Bevington Suzanne Elson Betty Siegel*

Class of 1985
Elaine Alexander Ann Curry Lillian Webb*
Dorothy Beasley Freddye S. Henderson Margaret Lupo*
Anne Cox Chambers* Grace Towns Hamilton* Nanette Wenger

Class of 1984
Rosalynn Carter* Barbara King* Deen Day Sanders
Johnnie L. Clark Skipper Morrison* Judith Taylor 
Ann W. Cramer Eleanor L. Richardson*