AWIS Loyalty Circle
Recognizing individuals with over 40 years of membership in the AWIS community
Photo by Aung Soe Min on Unsplash
Thank you!
AWIS has supported many members over its 50+ year history. Some members join to obtain skills and grow their careers. Others are looking to build networks and find a sense of belonging. Many will stay engaged, volunteer, and work to support other women entering the scientific workforce behind them.
We would like to recognize the dedication of the following individuals who have been members for 40 or more years. They have continued to stay involved in the AWIS community year-after-year. Their passion for our mission is evident, and we are grateful for their commitment to advancing women in science.
In appreciation, the AWIS Loyalty Circle members will receive a complimentary lifetime membership:
- Dr. Ann Brodie
- Dr. Lynn Cominsky
- Dr. Cynthia D’Ambrosio
- Dr. Donna Dean
- Dr. Suzanne Epstein
- Dr. Dominique Homberger
- Dr. Anita Klein
- Dr. Sheila Lukehart
- Dr. Barbara Mandula
- Dr. Linda Mantel
- Dr. Mary Moller
- Dr. Page Morahan
- Dr. R. Peggy Smith
- Dr. Cherrill Spencer
- Dr. Andrea J. Tenner
- Dr. Stephanie Tristram-Nagle
- Dr. Marion Thurnauer
- Dr. Lydia Villa-Komaroff
- Dr. Susan Wallace
- Dr. Judith Weis
- Dr. Patrice Yarbough
Why they support AWIS
Throughout my career I became aware of how important mentoring is for a successful career. I have supported AWIS for the role it plays.
Dr. Ann Brodie
Retired Biologist
AWIS was one of the first professional societies that I joined, while I was in graduate school at MIT in 1978. As the first and only woman in my graduate research group, it was very important to me to connect with other female scientists. AWIS has continued to be a source of inspiration and encouragement throughout my career, as I have actively worked to include and support female students, especially by creating hands-on opportunities to get engaged in hardware projects.
Dr. Lynn Cominsky
Professor in the Physics and Astronomy Department at Sonoma State University
I have been an AWIS member since graduate school when I helped found the Philadelphia chapter of AWIS. The information and support that I have received over the years was tremendously important in securing and advancing in my career in the pharmaceutical industry.
Dr. Cynthia A. D'Ambrosio
Retired Regulatory Consultant
Don't be afraid to choose new pathways when you are frustrated with your current career or life status, while reflecting on what is most important to you. Explore new networks of support and always question the 'conventional' wisdom.
Dr. Donna Dean
Career Consultant, American Chemical Society
Some AWIS memories: In 1979 when I joined, meetings were a few of us in someone’s living room. I was just out of grad school and didn’t know what my chances were as a scientist. AWIS was a support through my postdoc years and early years as an independent investigator. As time went on, I suggested AWIS to students and trainees, and served as a mentor at some AWIS events. In January, 2017, at a gathering at AWIS headquarters with members from around the country heading to the big Women’s March, I remember the wonderful and sometimes rowdy messages on the walls. When student tours visited the FDA/CBER research labs, I handed out AWIS buttons and magazines to encourage the next generation to join. Now that I am retired, AWIS has provided webinars, opportunities to volunteer as a mentor with individuals and a mentoring circle, and to talk with other retirees. Thank you, AWIS!
Dr. Suzanne Epstein
Retired Associate Director, Food and Drug Administration
The Baton Rouge AWIS Chapter and its wonderful members provided much-needed personal and professional support when I was hired as the first female assistant professor in the Dept. of Zoology & Physiology (now the Dept. of Biological Sciences) in 1979. I learned immensely from my stint as chair of the International Relations Committee and as Contributing Editor to the “AWIS Magazine” (1993-1998), and from my generous mentors, AWIS Board Members Ellen Weaver and Dorothy Skinner, and Executive Director Catherine Didion. I have since tried to pay forward.
Dr. Dominique G. Homberger
Professor, Louisiana State University
Joining AWIS gave me a sense of community. When I started graduate school in 1975, at a Big Ten University, only 4 of my classmates were women; only two completed the PhD. The first women assistant professors had just been hired; none had been tenured. AWIS was essential to me as I became a Postdoc. In 1985, I was hired as the first woman in the Biochemistry Department at the University of New Hampshire. By 1988, I was one of three women, out of ~100 tenure track faculty, in the College of Life Science and Agriculture. In the 70's and 80's women in STEM tenure track positions were on a revolving door, coming and leaving before tenure or being denied tenure. I co-coordinated the UNH AWIS chapter for several decades. We provided community for faculty and improved undergraduate and graduate options for STEM careers. We grew the number of women faculty in STEM to almost parity in many departments of the two STEM colleges.
Dr. Anita Klein
Emerita Associate Professor Biological Science, University of New Hampshire
I first attended an AWIS get-together at a FASEB Meeting when I was a UCLA graduate student in the mid 1970’s—what a wonderful feeling to be surrounded by a large group of female scientists!! After I moved to the University of Washington, I saw a notice on a bulletin board asking whether anyone was interested in starting a local AWIS chapter. I immediately responded and, with a wonderfully committed group of women, we founded the Seattle Chapter, meeting in the living rooms of members in the early days. Along the way, I served on the AWIS National Board (1988-90) and as National Treasurer (1990-1992), working with Executive Director Catherine Didion. I will always be grateful for the constant support, leadership training, and friendship provided by AWIS, and am honored to continue as a member.
Dr. Sheila Lukehart
Emerita Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) and Global Health, University of Washington
AWIS has been integral to my social and professional life. My best friends have all been women I met through AWIS. When the first editors of the AWIS Magazine asked me if I wanted to interview women scientists about their careers, I discovered that writing about scientists was more rewarding than doing biology lab experiments. Not only did I become a health science writer, but I also enjoyed editing the AWIS Magazine for 15 years. The AWIS founding mothers recognized the need for the organization in the 1970’s; I don’t think they expected it to still be so crucial to women scientists 50 years later.
Dr. Barbara Mandula
Retired Biochemist
AWIS is the one organization that advances women in all the various STEMM fields. I been proud to stay affiliated with an organization that changes to meet the evolving needs of women in STEMM over the 30+ years and am glad to continue to participate in virtual webinars to keep up to date. I continue to advance gender equity in leadership however I can, knowing that I may never see this come to fruition in my lifetime, and committed to sowing seeds for equality in the future – as were most of the women who fought for the right for women to vote.
Dr. Page Morahan
Founding Co-Director, Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research
AWIS has contributed to my career and personal growth both in academia and public service, as well as in retirement. Beyond that, it has been the major way I have been able to help and advocate for women in science.
Dr. R. Peggy Smith
Retired Bioligist
When I started as a graduate student in Elementary Particle Physics at Oxford University, UK, I was the only woman physicist in my department. I was very pleased to find other women scientists at AWIS. I was a founding member of the Palo Alto Chapter and helped develop its mentoring program. I brought my daughter to meetings with me when she was born so I didn’t miss out on the interesting speakers. She was fussed over by my AWIS colleagues who still ask after her 30 years later! AWIS has been an important part of my life, both as a scientist and as a human being.
Dr. Cherrill Spencer
Retired Physicist
Attending my first AWIS meeting in Bethesda, Maryland in the mid-80s, I met other women scientists and professionals who were dealing with the same issues that I was as a young mother, wife, homemaker and scientist. They shared their experiences and offered support and helpful suggestions. That was absolutely pivotal to my continuing in science. AWIS continued to be impactful as I progressed in my career. The AWIS newsletters (short enough to be able to read with limited time, but so enlightening) enabled me to share the collective experiences, wisdom and advice with my own mentees.
So many thanks to all at AWIS for sharing and maintaining the infrastructure for survival and growth.
Dr. Andrea J. Tenner
After 45 years, AWIS remains an important part of my toolbox for navigating the world as a female scientist. Having a long-term perspective, I am hopeful that the recent societal attention on equity, inclusion and diversity is authentic. As the goals and focus of AWIS have remained constant and relevant, AWIS is poised to respond to the positive and negative issues that will be the outcome of these challenging times.
Dr. Marion Thurnauer
Senior Scientist Emerita, Argonne National Laboratory
I joined AWIS when I was first a postdoc at Carnegie Mellon University in 1982. I chose AWIS over GWIS because it was more organized and well-run. I have enjoyed reading about successful women in science for many years through the magazine - hearing their stories and being inspired by women who made contributions in science, sometimes against great odds. My faith in my own thinking and work is an outcome of having many role models through AWIS. We are strong, don't forget it!
Dr. Stephanie Tristram-Nagle
Research Professor Emerita, Carnegie Mellon University
I’ve stuck with AWIS because it has been a source of support, encouragement, a place I sent trainees. The newsletters are informative and useful. It was through AWIS that I met Neena Schwartz, who became a friend and an advisor when I became VP of Research at Northwestern University. Before that Mary Clutter at NSF took me under her wing and pushed me to develop leadership skills. And there have been many others. AWIS has been a constant my entire professional life.
Dr. Lydia Villa-Komaroff
President, Intersections Consulting: Science, Business, Diversity
It has been a privilege for me to have been a member of AWIS for 52 years. When I was studying for my PhD, I was told by my teachers that the only reason a woman got a PhD was to run the lab of a man. I swore I would never do that. When AWIS was established, it gave us statistics as to where women in science were at the time and the difficulties they were encountering. AWIS always provided encouragement and as well helpful tools for us to overcome barriers. I shall always be grateful to AWIS, and it is an honor for me to now be a member of the AWIS Loyalty Circle.
Dr. Susan Wallace
Distinguished Professor Emerita, University of Vermont
"It was always good to know that AWIS was there: back in the '70s when our faculty women's group filed charges against the university for sex discrimination in salaries and promotions (with advice from RBG who was on the Law School faculty!) - which we won and got raises and back pay; and more recently in the '00s when we had an NSF Advance Grant and were supporting junior women faculty with funds for travel to meetings, publication costs, etc. to facilitate their promotion to tenure. AWIS was always there.
Dr. Judith Weis
Professor Emerita, Rutgers University
"I joined AWIS as a graduate student, a member in the Houston and Palo Alto chapters in my early career. Mid-career, as the Diversity Task Force Lead for National AWIS and an Advisory Board member for the Gulf Coast Houston AWIS chapter, my focus was to broaden participation of women in science. In my senior career years, my service on the AWIS National Governing Board was to influence change.... perfectly aligned with my retirement goals to empower the next generation of scientists.
Dr. Patrice Yarbough
Retired NASA Scientist and former AWIS Board Director