Rhode Island Commission on Women

Honors

Dr. Lynn T. Antonelli
Sister Mary Reilly
Karen F. Stein, Ph.D.

As 2007 Women of the Year

Providence, R.I., (August 1, 2007) - The Rhode Island Commission on Women (RICW) announced today that it has selected three extremely distinguished individuals as recipients of  the 2007 Women of the Year Award. The award is presented to Rhode Island residents with a history of achievement reflecting the mission of the RICW, which is to advance women toward full equality in all areas of life, and to promote rights and opportunities for all women.  The award is an important way to recognize the work of positive female role models who have made significant contributions to women in our State.

The award will be presented at a dinner and reception to be held in their honor on October 3 at the Radisson Airport Hotel in Warwick.

Lynn Antonelli

Dr. Lynn T. Antonelli:  Dr. Antonelli, of Cranston, RI, is an engineer with the United States Navy and is a recognized researcher and world leader in the area of laser-based sensors technology.  She pioneered an optical solution for detecting underwater sounds from the air.  Since 1999, Dr. Antonelli has provided educational laser demonstrations to school children and judged local school. She has encouraged middle school and college age women to study math and science, giving them a window into the life of a female engineer. 

Mary Reilly Sister Mary Reilly:  Sister Mary Reilly of Bristol, RI, has spent the last sixty years working for the betterment of girls and women.  She is the founder and executive director of Sophia Academy and she was a founding member of such local area non-profits as McAuley House and Dorcas Place.  Additionally she serves on the board of directors of the Rhode Island Rape Crisis Center (Day One), The Women’s Center and the Genesis Center, to name a few.  She has worked tirelessly to empower women and girls to meet the challenges of their world.
Karen Stein Karen F. Stein, Ph.D.:  Dr. Karen Stein of Kingston, RI, helped found and develop the Women’s Studies Program at the University of Rhode Island (URI), and is its current Director.  She also headed various committees to improve working conditions for part-time faculty, who are primarily women.  As the co-chair of the URI President’s Commission on the Status of Women, Dr. Stein co-authored the new parental leave policy and is currently working on new strategies to address sexual harassment and other issues of concern to women at URI.

 

The Women of the Year Award dinner and reception will be held Wednesday, October 3, 2006 at the Radisson Airport Hotel, 2081 Post Road, Warwick, RI.  Tickets for the event are $45.  The reception begins at 6:00 PM, and is followed by dinner and the awards program at 7:00 PM.  All net proceeds from this event will benefit the RI Commission on Women/Freda H. Goldman Education Award, established to assist women of modest means seeking education and training, for practical expenses such as childcare and tutoring.

For information on tickets, donations or sponsorships for this event, please call the RICW Office at 401-222-6105, or email at swells@ricw.ri.gov