DOVER, Del. — The Office of Women’s Advancement and Advocacy, in collaboration with the University of Delaware, announces the opening of the annual Women’s Hall of Fame Art Exhibition. The showcase, featuring portraits by Delaware Artist, Theresa Walton, pays homage to outstanding Delaware women and marks the start of Women’s History Month in March.

This unique collaboration with the University of Delaware reflects a commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive space to honor the legacy of remarkable Delaware women. The exhibition, open from March 1, 2024, to January 15, 2025, will display 169 watercolor portraits, capturing the essence of these influential women and their collective impact on the state.

“The University of Delaware is proud to be working with the state to host this exhibition and pay homage to these pioneers, all of whom have been key figures in the formation and positive transformation of the First State,” said Dennis Assanis, President of the University of Delaware. “These women serve as exemplars and role models for our students, who after graduation will make their own mark on the world. While the opening of this exhibition commemorates Women’s History Month, the University is always committed to advancing equity, promoting inclusion, and recognizing the achievements of women.”

“The Women’s Hall of Fame Art Exhibition underscores the importance of recognizing and celebrating the diverse accomplishments of Delaware’s women. This collaboration with the University of Delaware provides a platform to honor the trailblazers who have shaped our state’s history and continue to inspire positive change in our communities,” said Melanie Ross Levin, Director of the Office of Women’s Advancement and Advocacy.

Established in 1981, the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame recognizes the achievements of outstanding Delaware women from across various fields. From artists to athletes to community advocates and scientists, members represent diverse backgrounds. Nominees, irrespective of age, must have made a significant and lasting impact on the lives of Delawareans, and resided in the state for at least 10 years during their lifetime.

The 2023 honorees, which include two University of Delaware professors, showcase the breadth of accomplishment within the state. They are as follows:

• Patricia Dailey Lewis: Current CEO of the Beau Biden Foundation and former Deputy Attorney General with the Delaware Department of Justice.
• Bonnie Meszaros: Assistant professor of economics at the University of Delaware, an advocate for economics and personal finance education, and associate director of the UD Center for Economics Education and Entrepreneurship.
• Paulette Sullivan Moore: Delaware’s first African American female attorney, dedicated to addressing the needs of domestic violence victims. She also served as the New Castle County Recorder of Deeds from 1990 – 1994.
• Leslie Newman: Former CEO of Children and Families First for over a decade, and chairperson for the Delaware Community Foundation’s COVID-19 grant award committee, providing vital assistance to Delaware nonprofits during the pandemic.
• Lynn Snyder-Mackler: Celebrated physical therapist and sports medicine researcher, instrumental in making the University of Delaware’s Physical Therapy Graduate Program the top-ranked program in the country.

Event Details:

Women’s Hall of Fame Art Exhibition
Date: March 1, 2024 – January 15, 2025
Time: Monday-Friday 8:30am- 5pm
Location: Alfred Lerner Hall Atrium, 20 Orchard Rd, Newark, DE 19716

Note: The space may occasionally close for booked events. Plan your visit by contacting Lerner College of Business & Economics at 302-831-8163.

The public is invited to attend and explore this celebration of Delaware’s trailblazing women. The exhibition extends beyond the physical space, with an online showcase on the Office of Women’s and Advancement’s website, featuring all inductees and their accomplishments.

Applications for the 2024 Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame are open through March 28, 2024, and can be found at de.gov/women.

Sponsors: The Office of Women’s Advancement & Advocacy and the University of Delaware collaborated to organize the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame Art Exhibition. The exhibition receives support from the Delaware Department of Human Resources and the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame Committee. Additional support is offered, in part, through a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. Explore Delaware arts events at www.DelawareScene.com.

###

WILMINGTON, Del —The Office of Women’s Advancement & Advocacy, a Division of the Delaware Department of Human Resources, in partnership with the Delaware Departments of Labor and Education, released a new report titled- Delaware Women in the Construction Trades: A Path to Economic Security. The report examines the current state of women working in the construction trades and offers concrete solutions for how to increase the number of women participating in fields that have traditionally been male-dominated industries.

The significance of the report is made clear in the face of a looming labor shortage in Delaware’s construction industry with 55% of construction contractors reporting difficulty finding skilled workers in the second quarter of 2022. According to the report, women in Delaware’s construction industry currently make up 9.3% of the total industry, including administrative and sales roles. However, Delaware women represent just 3% of construction and extraction occupations such as plumbers, carpenters, and electricians.

“Increasing the number of Delaware women in construction trades is a win-win for both Delaware families and construction employers,” said Melanie Ross Levin, Director of the Office of Women’s Advancement and Advocacy. “Delaware women need jobs that have family-sustaining wages, and Delaware construction employers desperately need more skilled talent. This report outlines concrete steps Delaware can take to open construction trades to women of today and girls looking for careers tomorrow.”

The report also pays close attention to the role apprenticeship programs can have in addressing the small number of women working in the construction trades. Several recommendations from the report focus on ways to expand apprenticeship opportunities for women who may be considering a trade, as well as ways to increase support for women already working in the industry.

“Post pandemic, both employers and workers face new workforce dynamics that we all must work together to address,” said Karryl Hubbard, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Labor. “Delaware has more job openings than those looking for work and if Delaware is to remain competitive, all of us need to be at the table developing solutions, including promoting programs designed to reach women and others that have historically been on the outside looking in when it comes to skilled trades.”

OWAA is working with the Delaware Department of Labor (DOL) to highlight specific programming available to job seekers – particularly women – through Registered Apprenticeships and other training programs that DOL champions.

To view the report, visit: de.gov/TradesReport

MEDIA CONTACT: Karen Smith, Department of Human Resources
Karen.M.Smith@delaware.gov

Governor John Carney’s statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization:

“Today’s decision upends half a century of settled law, and it will lead to risk and heartache for women and families across the country. Here in Delaware, a woman’s right to choose is protected under the law, as it should be. These are deeply personal and private decisions — decisions that ought to remain in the hands of the women who have to make them.”

###

Deadline to submit nominations is midnight on March 15, 2022 

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney and the Office of Women’s Advancement & Advocacy (OWAA) announced today that the nomination process is open for induction into the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame and the She’s On Her Way Award for 2022. Nomination forms are available online at de.gov/women. The deadline for nominations is midnight on March 15, 2022. 

“Our state might be small, but we have no shortage of incredible women who deserve to be honored by the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame and the She’s on Her Way Award,” said Governor Carney. “I encourage everyone to take a moment to nominate a woman who has made a meaningful difference in Delaware.”

Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame

The Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame was established in 1981 to recognize the achievements of outstanding Delaware women and their contributions to communities across the state. The induction ceremony is the oldest annual celebration of its kind commemorating Delaware women. The award honors Delaware women who have made an important and lasting impact on the lives of Delawareans and have resided in the state for at least 10 years during their lifetime. Nominees both living and deceased are eligible. The 2022 inductees will be recognized at the Hall of Fame of Delaware Women Induction Ceremony in the fall of 2022.

New this year, the Office of Women’s Advancement and Advocacy recently launched a website that features portraits and biographies of all 160 members of the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame over the last 40 years. The original portraits are currently on display at the Delaware Art Museum until April 17, 2022.

She’s On Her Way Award

The She’s On Her Way Award, organized by the Delaware Commission for Women, recognizes the achievements and celebrates the contributions of talented young women leaders making a difference in Delaware. All nominees must be young women between 18 and 30 years of age by June 30, 2022. Nominees must be native-born Delawareans or have resided in the state for at least five years. Nominees must show that they have made a positive impact upon the lives of Delawareans and have exhibited characteristics of good character, promise and hope; as well as have information and or examples that illustrate the nominee’s positive reputation and or leadership among her peers, and or her community. The Delaware Commission for Women reviews, rates, and deliberates each nomination and selects the awardees. An award ceremony will take place in May or June at the Buena Vista estate in New Castle, Delaware. 

Event details for both the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame and She’s On Her Way will be available in the coming months at de.gov/women.

###

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney announced on Thursday that eight women were selected for induction into the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame for 2020 and 2021. The Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame Committee selected these women for their remarkable achievements and contributions to the State of Delaware. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, two historic honorees will be inducted in 2020, and six contemporary honorees will be inducted in 2021.

This year, 2020, marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing and protecting women’s constitutional right to vote. In honor of the anniversary, the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame Committee is partnering with the Delaware Women’s Suffrage Centennial Committee to induct two Delaware women’s suffragists into the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame: the late Margaret Burton White Houston, and the late Mary Seward Phillips Eskridge. The 2020 induction ceremony will take place during the historical marker dedication to women’s suffrage in Delaware on September 21, 2020 at 11 a.m. on the East Market Street side of the Sussex County Courthouse in Georgetown. The public is welcome to attend this free event, however, attendees must observe public health guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 that may be in place during this event.

The 2021 inductees include:

• Fayetta M. Blake, entrepreneur, and founder and executive director of Pathways to Success, Inc;
• Marianne Blackburn Drew, first female line Rear Admiral in the Naval Reserve, retired military, and former president of Lord Baltimore Women’s Club and Air Warrior Courage Foundation;
• Mrs. Ann Jaffe, a retired teacher, Holocaust survivor, and inspirational speaker;
• The Honorable Valerie Longhurst, Delaware House Majority Leader, executive director of the Police Athletic League of Delaware, and advocate for equality;
• The Honorable Stephanie T. Bolden, member of the Delaware House of Representatives, founder of Burton-Phelan Memorial Scholarship Program, and senior citizen and foster care activist; and
• The Honorable Jennifer Cohan, community leader and Secretary of the Delaware Department of Transportation.

The 2021 inductees will be recognized at the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Thursday, October 14, 2021 at the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino. Event details, including tickets and sponsorships, will be available in the coming months at de.gov/women.

“As we mark the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, it’s only fitting to induct Delaware suffragists – Margaret Burton White Houston and Mary Seward Phillips –  into the Hall of Fame of Delaware Women,” said Governor Carney. “These two leaders worked tirelessly to ensure the women of the future would have the rights they should have had all along. And the 2021 inductees have made a tremendous impact in Delaware – from inspiring and educating others, to being trailblazers in their fields and working to make Delaware a stronger state. Congratulations on your selection, and thank you to the Women’s Hall of Fame Committee for choosing another round of remarkable Delaware Women for induction into the Hall of Fame.”

The Hall of Fame of Delaware Women was established in 1981 and is the oldest annual celebration of its kind commemorating Delaware women. Eligible women must have been born in Delaware or resided in the state for a minimum of ten years.

“During this unprecedented time, it’s important that we take a moment to pause and celebrate the achievements of these outstanding Delaware women,” said Kay Keenan, Chair of the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame Committee.

“These women not only overcame obstacles, but broke barriers, and have left their mark on our state, nation and world,” said Melanie Ross Levin, Director of the Office of Women’s Advancement & Advocacy. “We encourage the public to sign up at de.gov/women to receive notification when tickets become available for the 2021 event.”

For more information about the honorees and the upcoming induction ceremonies – including how to receive notifications for when tickets are available to purchase – please go to de.gov/women.

View the biographies of the 2020 inductees and the 2021 inductees.

###