Event Announcement
Celebrating the Class of 2026 Commonwealth Heroines

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 2026 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 2026 Commonwealth Heroines is comprised of a historic 147 women from across the state, the largest class awarded to date by the MCSW. These women are leaders in industry, business, nonprofit, advocacy, and more, and their work truly makes a difference in our local communities all across the state.
Congratulations to the Class of 2026!
Barnstable County (4)
Diane Chamberlain, South Dennis
Nominated by: State Senator Julian Cyr
Shareen Davis, Chatham
Co-nominated by: Senator Julian Cyr and State Representative Hadley Luddy
Nell Fields, East Falmouth
Nominated by: State Representative David Vieira
Emily Stephens, Marstons Mills
Nominated by: State Representative Steven G. Xiarhos
Berkshire County (4)
Abigail “Abby” Allard, Pittsfield
Nominated by: State Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier
Patti Messina, Cheshire
Nominated by: State Representative John Barrett
Alison Peters, Hinsdale
Nominated by: State Senator Paul Mark
Jenny Schwartz, Great Barrington
Nominated by: State Representative Leigh Davis
Bristol County (13)
Denise Barbosa Lane, North Easton
Nominated by: State Senator William Driscoll
Rosemary Gill, Dartmouth
Nominated by: State Representative Antonio Cabral
Michelle Hamilton, Foxborough
Nominated by: State Representative Michael Chaisson
Cynthia “Cindy” Brogan, Taunton
Nominated by: State Representative Lisa Field
Rebecca Frias, Assonet
Nominated by: State Representative Carole Fiola
Leslie Kola, Raynham
Nominated by: State Representative Dennis Gallagher
Joanne Roche, Mansfield
Nominated by: State Representative James K. Hawkins
Keyanna Jones, New Bedford
Nominated by: State Representative Christopher Hendricks
Frances Kelley, Swansea
Nominated by: State Representative Steven Howitt
Wendy Morill, New Bedford
Nominated by: State Representative Christopher Markey
Lisa Feitelberg-Costa, Westport
Nominated by: State Representative Steven Ouellette
Jenny Mello Reis, Somerset
Nominated by: State Representative Justin Thurber
Rachel Resendes, Fall River
Nominated by: State Representative John R. Gaskey
Essex County (20)
Gayla Bartlett, Danvers
Nominated by: State Representative Sally Kerans
Anne Boris, Salem
Nominated by: State Senator Joan B. Lovely
Darby Connolly, Lynn
Nominated by: State Representative Daniel Cahill
Dianne Connolly, Haverhill
Nominated by: State Representative Ryan Hamilton
Grace Connolly, Newburyport
Nominated by: State Representative Dawne Shand
Ellen Crawford, Lynnfield
Nominated by: State Representative Bradley H. Jones, Jr.
Deborah Ann Eskenazi, Peabody
Nominated by: State Representative Thomas Walsh
Devan Ferreira, Haverhill
Nominated by: State Senator Pavel Payano
Kim Hearst, North Andover
Nominated by: State Representative Adrianne Ramos
Audrey S. Jiménez, Lynn
Nominated by: State Representative Sean Reid
Wendy Joseph, Lynn
Nominated by: State Senator Brendan Crighton
Lori Marenda-Lang, Salem
Nominated by: State Representative Manny Cruz
Nancy Marino, Beverly
Nominated by: State Representative Hannah Bowen
Christina Minicucci, North Andover
Nominated by: State Senator Barry Finegold
Erin Padilla, Haverhill
Nominated by: State Representative Andy Vargas
Ruth Pino, Gloucester
Nominated by: State Senator Bruce Tarr
Shannon Scully, Andover
Nominated by: State Representative Frank Moran
Nancy Stehfest, S. Hamilton
Nominated by: State Representative Kristin Kassner
Heidi Whear, Swampscott
Co-nominated by: State Representative Jenny Armini and Senator Brendan Crighton
Bonnie Zahorik, Andover
Nominated by: State Representative Tram Nguyen
Franklin County (1)
Carol Hillman, New Salem
Nominated by: State Representative Aaron Saunders
Hampden County (6)
Xiomara Albán DeLobato, Wilbraham
Nominated by: State Representative Angelo J. Puppolo Jr.
Jynai McDonald, Springfield
Nominated by: State Senator Adam Gomez
Charlene M. Naylor, Springfield
Nominated by: State Representative Bud L. Williams
Gladys Oyola-Lopez, Springfield
Nominated by: State Representative Carlos Gonzalez
Bonny Rathbone, Palmer
Nominated by: State Representative Todd Smola
Carla Sarno, Springfield
Nominated by: State Representative Orlando Ramos
Hampshire County (4)
Kate DiSanto, Southampton
Nominated by: State Senator John Velis
Elizabeth A. LaFond, Granby
Nominated by: State Senator Jacob Oliveira
Britt Ruhe, Granby
Nominated by: State Representative Mindy Domb
Lexi Walters Wright, Florence
Nominated by: State Representative Lindsay Sabadosa
Middlesex County (34)
Susan Abramson, Burlington
Nominated by: State Representative Kenneth Gordon
Tina Alu, Cambridge
Nominated by: State Senator Sal DiDomenico
Francesca Arsenault, Acton
Nominated by: State Representative, Danillo, Sena,
Laurie Bent, Weston
Nominated by: State Representative Alice Peisch
Susie Chhoun, Lowell
Nominated by: State Representative Tara Hong
Theresa Clawson, Tyngsboro
Nominated by: State Representative Colleen Garry
Marcia Cooper, Newton
Nominated by: State Representative Greg Schwartz
Jeanne Craigie, Stoneham
Nominated by: State Representative Michael Day
Sarah Donnelly, Natick
Nominated by: State Representative David P. Linsky
Andrea Dunne Adrian, Framingham
Nominated by: State Representative Priscila Sousa
Brynn Durno, Pepperell
Nominated by: State Representative Margaret Scarsdale
Laurel Farnsworth, Newton
Nominated by: State Representative Amy Mah Sangiolo
Barbara Fenby, Marlborough
Nominated by: State Representative Danielle Gregoire
Lisa Gibalerio, Belmont
Nominated by: State Representative Dave Rogers
Tanya Howard, Medford
Co-nominated by: State Senator Patricia Jehlen and State Representative Sean Garballey
Vineeta Kumar, Lexington
Nominated by: State Representative Michelle Ciccolo
Thao Lan, Lowell
Nominated by: State Representative Vanna Howard
Denise Lauers, Somerville
Nominated by: State Representative Christine Barber
Dr. Patricia Kelly Luoto, Hudson
Nominated by: State Representative Kate Hogan
Zeyneb Magavi, Cambridge
Nominated by: State Representative Steve Owens
Samantha McGarry, Framingham
Nominated by: State Representative Jack Lewis
Frances Nwajei, Medford
Nominated by: State Representative Paul Donato
Valerie Opara, Lowell
Nominated by: State Representative Rodney Elliott
Elvira Pinjic, Everett
Nominated by: State Representative Joe McGonagle
Stacey Raffi, Holliston
Nominated by: State Senator Karen Spilka
Leela Ramachandran, Acton
Nominated by: State Senator James Eldridge
Patricia Reppucci, Westford
Nominated by: State Representative James Arciero
Louise Rice, Cambridge
Nominated by: State Representative Mike Connolly
Sarah Rosenberg, Cambridge
Nominated by: State Representative Marjorie Decker
Teresa Gentile Sauro, Newton
Nominated by: State Representative John Lawn
Maura Sullivan, Waltham
Nominated by: State Representative Tom Stanley
Jeanette Velasquez, Weston
Nominated by: State Senator Mike Barrett
Tania Vitvitsky, Sudbury
Nominated by: State Representative Carmine Gentile
Anna Winter Rasmussen, Concord
Nominated by: State Representative Simon Cataldo
Nantucket County (1)
Brooke Mohr, Nantucket
Co-nominated by: State Representative Thomas Moakley and State Senator Julian Cyr
Norfolk County (10)
Lynne Abbott, Walpole
Nominated by: State Representative John Rogers
Kerri Berry, Randolph
Nominated by: State Representative, Richard Wells
Ellen Burns, Wellesley
Co-nominated by State Senator Cynthia Creem and State Representative Alice Peisch
Candice Hartford, Cohasset
Nominated by: State Senator Patrick O’Connor
Kristie Henriksen, Quincy
Nominated by: State Representative Bruce Ayers
Karen Johnston, Weymouth
Nominated by: State Representative James Murphy
Caleigh Keating, Franklin
Nominated by: State Representative Jeffrey Roy
Eileen Kelly, Quincy
Nominated by: State Senator John Keenan
Leandra McLean, Sharon
Nominated by: State Representative Ted Philips
Linda Polach, Needham
Nominated by: State Representative Josh Tarsky
Plymouth County (13)
Kaitlyn Baker, Whitman
Co-nominated by: State Senator Michael Brady & Representative Alyson M. Sullivan-Almeida
Sophia Bethoney, Duxbury
Nominated by: State Representative Kenneth Sweezey
Ann Cambra, Rochester
Nominated by: State Senator Michael Rodrigues
Jill Fearons, Mattapoisett
Nominated by: State Representative Mark Sylvia
Nancy Gardner, East Bridgewater
Nominated by: State Representative Alyson Sullivan Almeida
Debra Garland, Brockton
Nominated by: State Representative Michelle DuBois
Lorren (Lorri) Gibbons, Cohasset
Nominated by: State Representative Joan Meschino
Katherine Jackson, Plymouth
Nominated by: State Representative Michelle Badger
Jeanne Kling, Halifax
Nominated by: State Representative Kathleen LaNatra
Carol Mattes, Hanover
Nominated by: State Representative David DeCoste
Jacquelyn Rose, Bridgewater
Nominated by: State Representative Rita Mendes
Susan Runne, Pembroke
Nominated by: State Senator Dylan Fernandes
Liz Wiley, Wareham
Nominated by: State Senator Kelly Dooner
Suffolk County (21)
Asmaa Abou-Fouda, Revere
Nominated by: State Senator Lydia Edwards
Edith Alexander, Roslindale
Nominated by: State Representative Russell Holmes
Maria Blasi, South Boston
Nominated by: State Representative David Biele
Meri Bond, Roslindale
Nominated by: State Representative Rob Consalvo
Catrina Cooley-Flagg, Boston
Nominated by: State Representative Chynah Tyler
Amy Epstein, Winthrop
Nominated by: State Representative Jeffrey Turco
Sasha Goodfriend, Jamaica Plain
Nominated by: State Representative Samantha Montano
Barbara Groover, Boston
Nominated by: State Representative Christopher Worrell
Edna Hall, Boston
Nominated by: State Representative Brandy Fluker-Reid
Lori Hooley, Charlestown
Nominated by: State Representative Daniel J. Ryan
Andrea Howard, Boston
Nominated by: State Representative Kevin Honan
Yvette Jarreau, Boston
Nominated by: State Representative John Moran
Ruth Khowais, Boston
Nominated by: State Representative Jay Livingstone
Kristen McDonnell, West Roxbury
Co-nominated by: State Representatives William MacGregor & John Rogers
Glenola Mitchell, Mattapan
Nominated by: State Senator Liz Miranda
Tracy Nowicki, Chelsea
Nominated by: State Representative Judith Garcia
Jane O’Reilly, East Boston
Nominated by: State Representative, Adrian Madaro
Eileen Ryan, Watertown
Nominated by: State Senator William Brownsberger
Minnah B. Sheikh, Revere
Nominated by: State Representative Jessica Giannino
Katherine Tallman, Boston
Nominated by: State Representative Tommy Vitolo
Nicola Truppin, Boston
Nominated by: State Senator Nick Collins
Worcester County (16)
Jill Ashton, Clinton
Nominated by: State Representative Meghan Kilcoyne
Suchira Channoi, Worcester
Nominated by: State Representative David LeBoeuf
Claire Freda, Leominster
Nominated by: State Representative Natalie Higgins
Patricia (Pat) Freiss, Leominster
Nominated by: State Senator John J. Cronin
Karen Henderson, Westborough
Co-nominated by: State Representatives Kate Donaghue and Hannah Kane
Theresa Hicks, Uxbridge
Nominated by: State Senator, Ryan, Fattman
Kelly Hitt, West Brookfield
Nominated by: State Representative Donald Berthiaume
Lori Hout, Douglas
Nominated by: State Representative Joseph McKenna
Deborah Johnson, Dudley
Nominated by: State Representative John Marsi
Anahit Marutyan, Worcester
Nominated by: State Senator Robyn Kennedy
Tracey Philips, Hopedale
Nominated by: State Representative Brian Murray
Victoria Selser, Sterling
Nominated by: State Representative Mike Kushmerek
Karen Spencer, Uxbridge
Co-nominated by: State Representatives Michael Soter and Joseph McKenna
Karen Swindell, Milford
Nominated by: State Senator Becca Rausch
Theresa Thompson, Gardner
Nominated by: State Senator Peter Durant
Shannon Wall, Shrewsbury
Nominated by: State Representative Hannah Kane
