The Oregon Commission for Women established the Oregon Women of Achievement in 1985 to recognize the accomplishments of Oregon women and to demonstrate appreciation for their endeavors. Qualifying candidates to be nominated for the Oregon Women of Achievement are exemplary role models who promote the status of women in society, are committed to diversity and equity and have earned recognition for success and leadership in their fields. , 81 women have been honored by the Oregon Commission for Women.

Inductees Oregon Women of AchievementNameImageBirth–DeathYearArea of achievement 2024Emerging Leader Award 2024Professional Achievement Award 2024Lifetime Achievement Award (b. 1958/59)2023Lifetime Achievement Award - Mari is a former Co-Chair of the Oregon Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (OCAPIA), OCFW's sister commission. Now retired, Mari is a former Executive Director of Partners in Diversity, founding member of the City of Beaverton Diversity Advisory Board and serves on other nonprofit boards that support veterans, Japanese Americans, women, and the arts. She holds a diversity and inclusion certificate from Cornell University and an undergraduate degree from Washington State University in fashion merchandising. 2023Professional Achievement Award - LaNicia Duke is the founder and CEO of Humble Beginnings, a nonprofit dedicated to serving rural communities in Oregon. Her latest program, Black Rural Network, provides outreach, networking, and civic engagement opportunities for Black residents of rural communities. 2023Emerging Leader Award - Throughout her career, Fatuma Mohamed has shown dedication to ending food insecurity, supporting and advocating for underrepresented communities, bridging the racial wealth gap, and advocating for accessible housing. 2022Oregon Senate 1997–2021, Majority Leader 2015-2020 2022LGBTQIA leadership and volunteerism 2020Co-founder and president of Islamic Social Services of Oregon State (ISOS); co-chair of Muslim Advisory Council with Portland Police; chair of IRCO's Greater Middle East Center Advisory Council. 2020First executive director for Pride Northwest 2020First woman attorney to serve as president of Markowitz Herbold litigation firm. Created Leaders and Executives Across Professions (LEAP) to provide support for women professionals. 2020Natural Resources Policy Advisor(b. 1976)2019Writer, stand-up comedian, actor, activist2019Social activist(b. 1967)2019Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court2019Co-founder and executive director of Family Forward Oregon and Family Forward Action2018Executive Director of the YWCA of Greater Portland(b. 1942)2017Author, chair Department of Ethnic Studies at Oregon State University; 2017Senior consultant of Nonprofit Association of Oregon for 30 years2017DACA immigrant student. Coordinator of Portland Community College's Multicultural Center on the Rock Creek campus2017Founding partner of the MultiCultural Collaborative2016Retired judge, founded the Central Coast Chapter of the National Organization for Women2016Chairman Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs. Advocate for the rights of immigrants and refugees.2015Portland advocate for persons with disabilities2015Portland creator of the nonprofit RACE TALKS, to promote racial understanding2015President and chief executive officer of Volunteers of America Oregon2015Founder of Maxville Heritage Interpretative Center in Wallow County; advocate and researcher for the roles of minorities in the logging industry2014Founder Portland's Housing Center2014Owner of Mother's Bistro & Bar in Portland(b. 1968)2014Author2014Presiding Magistrate of the Oregon Tax Court(1930–2023)2014Politician, first female mayor of Coos Bay, Oregon2013Businesswoman, founder of Hanna Andersson(1924–2018)2013Women's rights and clean government activist2013Mentor, director of the after-school Adelante Chicas for young women of Hispanic heritage2013Former Executive Director of De Paul Treatment Centers2012Law professor at Willamette University2012Vice-chair of the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission2012Vice President of Global Diversity and Inclusion for Nike, Inc.2012Coalition of Communities of Color2011Medical director of the North by Northeast Community Health Center(b. 1947)2011Environmental scientist and marine ecologist2011Founder and executive director of the Birth To Three parenting program2011Executive Director of OnTrack, a chemical dependency treatment organization(1942–2015)2010Representative in the Oregon Legislative Assembly, Multnomah County Commission and the Portland City Council2010Vice provost for academic programs and instruction at Portland State University; founder and director of The Center for Women, Politics & Policy2010Administrator for the Oregon Office of Multicultural Health and Services(1924–2019)2009Chair of Columbia Sportswear(1929–2020)2009Patron of the arts and philanthropist alongside her husband Harold Schnitzer; namesake of the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall(b. 1951)2008Former superintendent of Springfield Public Schools, Education Advisor to Governor Kitzhaber, and Chief Education Officer for the State of Oregon.(b. 1939)2008Former member of the U.S. House of Representatives who represented Oregon's 5th congressional district2008Executive Director of Tigard Chamber of Commerce2008Gerontology professor at Portland State University's Institute on Aging2007Pastor and founder of the Power House Temple Church2007Farm worker and board member with PCUN(b. 1946)2007Former president of Chemeketa Community College2006Executive Director of the Oregon Child Development Coalition2006Assistant director for facility operations for the Oregon Youth Authority2006Professor and Intel Faculty Fellow at the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Oregon State University(b. 1943)2005Professor and coordinator of the women's studies program at Portland State University(b. 1936)2005Former U.S Ambassador to Benin and Cameroon2005Professor and Pathways and Articulation Coordinator at Rogue Community College in Southern Oregon2004Executive director of the Washington and Multnomah counties program of Oregon CASA; former president and owner of Brown-Kline & Company2004Helped build the Crisis Response Teams for the Portland Police Bureau(−2006)2004Executive Director for the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation(b. 1936)2003Director of Multicultural Affairs at Oregon State University(b. 1949)2003Senate President Pro Tempore of the Oregon State Senate2003Anti-poverty activist2002Founding member and the executive director of the non-profit Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc.(b. 1951)2002Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction and member of the Oregon State Senate. Castillo was the first Latina in the Oregon Legislative Assembly.2002Writer and certified Nurse Midwife2001Executive Director of Better People2001Economist and founding director of the Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics at the University of Oregon2001Member of the Florence Area Coordinating Council2000Manager of the Hermiston Neighborhood Center and developer of a successful senior meal program 2000Developer nicknamed the "Queen of Alberta" for her efforts to revitalize Alberta Street in Northeast Portland(1922–2017)2000Tribal leader of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians(1947–2026)1999First African-American woman to be elected to the Oregon State Senate(1924–2023)1999Tribal leader from the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon(b. 1938)1999Attorney and member of the ABA Board of Governors(1912–2006)1998Co-owner of the East Oregonian(b. 1936)1998Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives(1936–2011)1998Microbiologist, educator(b. 1935)1997Served in the Oregon State Senate and the Oregon House of Representatives1997Attorney(1923–2017)1997Former political director of the Oregon AFL-CIO1996Attorney and director of the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training1996Executive director of Campaign for America and trustee at Lewis and Clark College(b. 1941)1996Former president of Portland State University(b. 1933)1995Civil rights activist and journalist who worked tirelessly to seek justice for the murder of her well-known civil rights activist husband Medgar Evers in 1963(b. 1960)1995Governor of Oregon (first openly bisexual governor) Oregon Secretary of State and former member of the Oregon Senate(1935–2008)1994Pro-choice Republican who served in the Oregon House of Representatives for 15 consecutive years representing Washington County(b. 1940/41)1994Former Executive Director of the Oregon Commission on Hispanic Affairs; Benton County Commissioner1994Board member and commissioner; Public Policy Director for Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon; advocate for low-income Oregonians(1913–2009)1994Writer and professor. Stevenson served as Mayor of Hammond, Oregon.(b. 1951)1993Attorney and jurist1993Government Relations Specialist for Oregon School Employees Association1993Lawyer, journalist and human rights activist. Legal counsel to the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. During 2002–2005 she represented the Coalition for International Justice monitoring the Trial of Slobodan Milošević.(b. 1958)1992Lieutenant General in the United States Air Force and a former NASA astronaut at the International Space Station1992(1929–2018)1991Author of novels, children's books, and short stories, mainly in the genres of fantasy and science fiction(b. 1958)1991First openly gay member of the Oregon House of Representatives; served on the Portland Planning Commission(1909–1999)1990Member of the Walla Walla tribe1990President Clackamas County Master Gardeners; former director Seattle Aquarium and the Oregon Zoo (1988–97)(b. 1944)1989Daughter of Frank L. Roberts and member of the Oregon House of Representatives and the Oregon State Senate; served as Commissioner of Labor and Industries from 1979 to 1995(1947–2017)1989President of Marylhurst University from 1984 to 20081988Vice President of Policy and Strategy at US West and director of Mentor Graphics(1923–2011)198883rd Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court(1937–1990)1987Served in the Oregon House of Representatives, the Oregon Senate and as one of three members of the Oregon Public Utility Commission(1948–2020)1987Attorney and mediator(b. 1936)198634th Governor of Oregon from 1991 to 1995(1933–2019)1986Oregon Secretary of State and Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction(1933–2017)1985First woman to serve as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives and the 49th mayor of Portland

See also

List of awards honoring women

References

Further reading

External links Official Oregon Women of Achievement list