2012 Celebration of Women Award Winners

Gloria Aparicio Blackwell, originally from Venezuela, has worked at the university for 15 years, and now serves in the Office of Vice President for Administrative Affairs as associate director for community relations. Her late mother inculcated in her the value of education and of making a difference. Aparicio Blackwell graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in safety and fire science, then completed her M.S. in business at the University of Maryland University College. She serves on the President’s Commission on Women’s Issues, Leadership Prince George’s, the Board of Trustees for Montgomery College, and other causes.

Abimbola “Bola” Dawson emigrated from Nigeria to the United States in 1984. She began working in the Office of International Affairs in 1990 and the Academy of Leadership in 2000. In 2001, she was hired by the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Education (OMSE), where she serves as a program administrative specialist. While working and raising two boys as a single parent, she completed a B.S. in human resource management and an M.S. in management at the University of Maryland University College. She also mentors female students through the Sister2Sister program.

Donna Lim is the interim associate director and senior assistant director in the Adele H. Stamp Student Union-Center for Campus Life. She is also a doctoral candidate in the College Student Personnel program in the Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education. Lim is a long-standing steering committee member and recent past chair of the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders.

Ann Wylie, professor of geology, became senior vice president and provost on March 1, 2011. She previously served as vice president for administrative affairs (2008-11), assistant president and chief of staff (2001-08), interim dean of the Graduate School (2004-06), and assistant/associate provost (2000-01). Wylie earned her Ph.D. in economic geology from Columbia University in 1972 and a Bachelor of Arts from Wellesley College in 1966. She is a trailblazer for women and has worked to promote family-friendly policies.

Lindsay Wohlers is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Kinesiology. She received a B.S. from the University of Michigan in 2007 and M.A. from the University of Maryland in 2008. She is researching the physiological consequences of reduced ovarian hormones, in particular the effects on adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. Wohlers is also a world-class triathlete who has competed in four Ironman World Championships, most recently in October.

• Photo album from the event