Each year, the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW) partners with state legislators to identify women who make outstanding contributions to their organizations and communities. The MSCW is honored to announce the full slate of 2025 awardees and their nominating legislators.

Elected officials are encouraged to submit one woman from their constituency as a means of recognizing their invaluable efforts and extraordinary acts of service, who are making a big difference in their communities but not necessarily making the news. This year, the Class of 2025 Commonwealth Heroines comprises more than 125 women from across the state, leaders in industry, business, nonprofit, advocacy, and more. Congratulations!

Barnstable County

Mary-Jo Avellar, Provincetown 
Nominated by: State Senator Julian Cyr 

Catherine Bumpus, Falmouth 
Nominated by: State Representative Thomas Moakley 

Patty & Dawn Ericson-Taylor, Hyannis 
Nominated by: State Representative Kip Diggs 

Cyndy Jones, Mashpee
Nominated by: State Representative David Vieira 

Kimberly Sylvia-Riker, Sandwich
Nominated by: State Representative Steven G. Xiarhos

Mary Vilbon, Barnstable 

Berkshire County

Hope Amandos of Pittsfield and Gretchen DeBartolo of Pittsfield 
Nominated by: State Senator Paul Mark and State Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier 

Bristol County

Maureen Doherty, Mansfield 
Nominated by: State Representative Michael Chaisson 

Brittney Faria, Seekonk 
Nominated by: State Representative Steven Howitt and State Senator Kelly Dooner 

Kate Miller, New Bedford
Nominated by: State Representative Antonio Cabral 

Susan Murray, South Dartmouth 
Nominated by: State Representative Christopher Markey    

Wendy Sperduti, Westport
Nominated by: State Senator Michael Rodrigues  

Stephanie Perry, Fall River  
Nominated by: State Representative Carole Fiola 

Heather Porreca, Attleboro 
Nominated by: State Representative James K. Hawkins 

Colleen Simmons, Taunton and Eileen Kelleher, Taunton
Nominated by: State Representative Carol Doherty 

Essex County

Jessica Brown, Marblehead 
Nominated by: State Senator Brendan Crighton and State Representative Jennifer Armini 

Antonietta Calabrese, Gloucester 
Nominated by: State Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante 

Christine Cohne, North Andover
Nominated by: State Representative Adrianne Ramos 

Elizabeth DeGrenier, Newbury
Nominated by: State Representative Kristin Kassner    

Damaris Frias, Lawrence
Nominated by: State Senator Pavel Payano 

Marybelle Hollister, Marblehead
Nominated by: State Senator Brendan Crighton and State Representative Jenny Armini 

Kit Jenkins, Nahant
Nominated by: State Senator Brendan Crighton and State Representative Sean Reid 

Jacqueline Marte-Dilone, Lawrence
Nominated by: State Representative Frank Moran 

Jeannette McGinn, Peabody
Nominated by: State Representative Thomas Walsh 

Martha Morrison, Topsfield
Nominated by: State Representative Sally Kerans 

Ana Nuncio, Salem
Nominated by: State Representative Joan Lovely 

Dr. Erin Paszko, Haverhill
Nominated by: State Representative Andy Vargas & State Representative Ryan Hamilton 

Jennifer Roketenetz, Salisbury
Nominated by: State Representative Dawne Shand 

Hillary Stasonis, North Andover
Nominated by: State Representative Tram Nguyen 

Jan Stephanie Tyler-Nelson, Byfield
Nominated by: State Senator Bruce Tarr 

Franklin County

Pat Larson, Orange 
Nominated by: State Senator Jo Comerford 

Hampden County

Dr. Sonia Dinnall, Springfield
Nominated by: State Representative Angelo J. Puppolo Jr. 

Robin Frechette, Longmeadow 
Nominated by: State Representative Brian M. Ashe

Liz O’Gilvie, Springfield
Nominated by: State Senator Adam Gomez 

Kim Rivera, Springfield
Nominated by: State Representative Bud Williams 

Jacqueline Robles, Holyoke
Nominated by: State Representative Carlos Gonzalez 

Shatequa “Teka Jones” Watkins, Springfield
Nominated by: State Representative Orlando Ramos 

Hampshire County

Jan Eidelson, Amherst
Nominated by: State Representative Mindy Dom 

Karen “Jack” Magnus, Belchertown
Nominated by: State Senator Jacob Oliveira 

Virginia (Ginny) Miller, Northampton
Nominated by: State Representative Lindsay Sabadosa 

Nora Schmidt, Southampton

Nominated by: State Senator John Velis 

Middlesex County

Olga Bartolomeu, Somerville
Nominated by: State Senator Patricia Jehlen and State Representative Erika Uyterhoeven 

Barbara Best, Cambridge
Nominated by: State Representative Mike Connolly 

Maureen H. Buzby, Melrose
Nominated by: State Senator Jason Lewis 

Deborah (Debbie) Callery, Lowell
Nominated by: State Senator Edward Kennedy 

Anne Covino Goldenberg, Belmont
Nominated by: State Representative Dave Rogers 

Cara Endyke-Doran, Sudbury
Nominated by: State Representative Carmine Gentile 

Nancy Fliesler, Framingham
Nominated by: State Representative Jack Lewis 

Danielle Hender Esq., Malden
Nominated by: State Representative Steven Ultrino 

Barbara John, Newton
Nominated by: State Representative Greg Schwartz

Bhavika Kalia, Somerville
Nominated by: State Representative Christine Barber 

Pat Kenneally, Pepperell
Nominated by: State Representative Margaret Scarsdale 

Kathleen Keohane, Belmont
Nominated by: State Senator William Brownsberger 

Christine Lee, Bedford
Nominated by: State Representative Kenneth Gordon 

Kathi Lee, North Reading
Nominated by: State Representative Bradley H. Jones Jr. 

Danielle McFadden, Lowell
Nominated by: State Representative Rodney Elliott 

Pamela McNair, Marlborough
Nominated by: State Representative Danielle Gregoire 

Roberta Miller, Watertown
Nominated by: State Representative Steve Owens 

Elaine Monge, Everett
Nominated by: State Representative Joe McGonagle 

Sreyvan Nget, Lowell
Nominated by: State Representative Vanna Howard 

Diane Packer, Natick
Nominated by: State Representative David Linsky 

Maura Pensak, Cambridge
Nominated by: State Representative Marjorie Decker    

Andrea Peraner-Sweet, Westford
Nominated by: State Representative James Arciero 

Deborah “Deb” Roussell, Maynard
Nominated by: State Representative Kate Hogan 

Luma Samara, Acton
Nominated by: State Senator James Eldridge 

Diana Santana, Lowell
Nominated by: State Representative Tara Hong   

Jessie Steigerwald,, Lexington
Nominated by: State Senator Cindy Friedman and State Representative Michelle Ciccolo 

Sharon Stout, Newton
Nominated by: State Representative Amy Sangiolo   

Priya Sundaram, Boxborough
Nominated by: State Representative Danillo Sena 

Debra Tosti, Framingham
Nominated by: State Representative Priscila Sousa 

Kristen Tyson, Concord
Nominated by: State Representative Simon Cataldo 

Janis Mamayek and Marie Rej, Wakefield
Nominated by: State Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian 

Norfolk County

Carol Collord, Medway
Nominated by: Senate President Karen Spilka 

Lori Jacques, Stoughton
Nominated by: State Representative Ted Philips    

Frederica “Fred” Lalonde, Needham
Nominated by: State Senator Rebecca Rausch 

Patricia McGilvray, Quincy 
Nominated by: State Representative Bruce Ayers    

Lise Olney, Wellesley
Nominated by: State Representative Alice Peisch    

Tina Tavares Powderly, Franklin
Nominated by: State Representative Jeffrey Roy 

Dr. Robyn Riseberg, Wellesley
Nominated by: State Senator Cindy Creem   

Gladys Rita Rysman, Avon
Nominated by: State Senator Michael Brady   

Stacie Shapiro, Needham
Nominated by: State Representative Josh Tarsky 

Plymouth County

Deirdre Anderson, Hingham
Nominated by: State Representative Joan Meschino    

Amy Belmore, Kingston
Nominated by: State Representative Kathleen LaNatra    

Christina Brown, Plymouth
Nominated by: State Senator Dylan Fernandes and State Representative Kathleen LaNatra    

Lisa Crowley, Brockton
Nominated by: State Representative Michell DuBois    

Lori Cullen, Bridgewater
Nominated by: State Representative Dennis Gallagher    

Pam Denholm, Duxbury
Nominated by: State Senator Patrick O’Connor 

Donna Jones, Brockton
Nominated by: State Representative Rita Mendes   

Jordan Latham, Rochester
Nominated by: State Representative Mark Sylvia 

Patricia “Pat” McCarthy, Plymouth
Nominated by: State Representative Michelle Badger   

Melissa Pond, Abington
Nominated by: State Senator John Keenan    

Marynel Wahl, Norwell
Nominated by: State Representative David DeCoste    

Suffolk County

Dr. Almudena “Almi” G. Abeyta, Chelsea
Nominated by: State Senator Sal DiDomenico 

Lillian Brandao, Dorchester
Nominated by: State Representative Christopher Worrell 

Pamela Cannon, Boston
Nominated by: State Representative Kevin Honan   

Adriana Cillo, Boston
Nominated by: State Representative Rob Consalvo    

Caroline K. Foscato, Boston
Nominated by: State Representative John Moran    

Betsy Gwin, Boston
Nominated by: State Senator Mike Rush    

Ekua Holmes, Boston
Nominated by: State Senator Liz Miranda    

Margarita Lebron, Boston
Nominated by: State Representative Michael Moran    

Nancy LoConte, Boston
Nominated by: State Representative Adrian Madaro 

Chelsea McWilliams, Dorchester
Nominated by: State Representative Chynah Tyler    

Asia Mei, South Boston
Nominated by: State Representative David Biele    

Charlotte Osgood, Revere
Nominated by: State Representative Jessica Giannino    

Denise Quist, Winthrop
Nominated by: State Representative Jeffrey Rosario Turco   

Darra Slagle, West Roxbury
Nominated by: State Representative Bill MacGregor    

Elizabeth Thomas, Milton
Nominated by: State Representative Brandy Fluker-Reid    

Keila Velez, Chelsea
Nominated by: State Representative Judith Garcia    

Worcester County

Tasia Cerezo, Worcester
Nominated by: State Senator Robyn Kennedy    

Jolene Constant, Leominster
Nominated by: State Representative Natalie Higgins    

Lauren Crossman-Nanof, Lancaster
Nominated by: State Representative Megan Kilcoyne

Mary Ellen Duggan, Northborough 
Nominated by: State Representative Kate Donaghue    

Karen Farrington, North Brookfield
Nominated by: State Representative Donald Berthiaume    

Holly Gallerani, Uxbridge
Nominated by: State Representative Michael Soter & State Representative Joseph D. McKenna

Dot Green, Westborough
Nominated by: State Representative Hannah Kane & State Representative Kate Donaghue 

Johanna Hampton-Dance, Worcester
Nominated by: State Representative Daniel Donahue 

Kristin Mayotte, Dudley
Nominated by: State Representative John Marsi   

Julie McDonald, Paxton
Nominated by: State Representative Kimberly Ferguson 

Cathy McWilliams, Hubbardston
Nominated by: State Representative Jonathon Zlotnik 

Sallie Poirier, Leominster
Nominated by: State Senator John Cronin   

Leslie Reichert, Northbridge
Nominated by: State Senator Ryan Fattman 

Molyna Richards, Fitchburg
Nominated by: State Representative Mike Kushmerek & State Representative Thomas Stanley 

Josefina Velez, Worcester
Nominated by: State Representative David LeBoeuf   

Yianna Zicherman, Milford
Nominated by: State Representative Brian Murray