Alabama State University News November 6, 2015 President Boyd and Fellow Alumna Shera Grant Receive Statewide Honor Author: Lois G. Russell President Gwendolyn E. Boyd and fellow alumna Shera Grant were honored on Thursday, Nov. 5, as two of the "Women Who Shape the State." The awards were given during a luncheon in Birmingham, Ala., where AL.com recognized a diverse group of 34 women from across Alabama for contributions in their respective fields of leadership and public service. AL.com described the award recipients as "...pioneers, revolutionaries, women who have fought for their rights and women who have created safe environments for others." AL.com is a news and information website that provides statewide and national news to more than 9 million viewers through its affiliation with several of Alabama's major newspapers. The 34 award winners were selected from among 200 women nominated by the news outlet's readers. Boyd was chosen for her contributions in several areas, primarily education. "One of my goals is help to promote educational progress and advancement in the state of Alabama," said Boyd, who has gained national prominence, including recognition by President Barack Obama, for her work as a champion of education. "I am particularly interested in promoting those initiatives that place an emphasis on STEM education from K-12 through post secondary studies." Grant is a Birmingham native who graduated summa cum laude from ASU. She attended Louisiana State University's School of Law and the Université D'Aix-Marseille III in Aix-en-Provence, France. Grant currently is a deputy public defender at the Community Law Office in Birmingham where she also serves on the board of Leadership Vestavia Hills and is a member of The Women's Network, Magic City Bar Association and the Birmingham American Inn of Court. Grant also volunteers at Aletheia House, the Salvation Army and INROADS. One of Grant's goals is to help reduce the state's crime rate. "One consistent factor that is critical to reducing crime is youth prevention. Because of this, I developed a youth leadership academy program for children in the Birmingham area. I want children to get excited about learning. I want them to be inspired, and I want them to get involved in their community by seeing a need and filling it," Grant said in a quote on the AL.com website. "My greatest hope for my metropolitan area and state as a whole is that those with few resources will still have access to opportunity. Every child deserves the opportunity to maximize their potential and to put their God-given talents to good use." Complete list of "Women Who Shape the State" Jan Davis, Huntsville Retired astronaut and NASA executive, current vice president for Jacobs Technology Allison Dillon-Jauken, Huntsville Executive director, The Arts Council, Inc. Laura Hall, Huntsville House Representative for District 19 (Madison County), retired educator Lilly Ledbetter, Jacksonville Advocate for women's workplace equality, retired manager for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company Elizabeth Barbaree-Tasker, Birmingham Chief of operations and finance, REV Birmingham Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd, Montgomery President, Alabama State University Susan B. Brouillette, Birmingham CEO/owner, Alacare Home Health & Hospice Catrena Norris Carter, Birmingham Executive Director of Selma's 50th Anniversary Commemoration Foundation Miranda Carter, Chelsea Owner and operator of Johnny Ray's BBQ in Chelsea and Columbiana Ashley DeRamus, Hoover Volunteer and founder of Ashley DeRamus Foundation and Ashley by Design Amy Disney, Birmingham Owner/CEO, AMT Staffing Maricela Garcia, Homewood Self-employed, domestic cleaning Nancy C. Goedecke, Birmingham Chairman and CEO, Mayer Electric Supply Company, Inc. Shera Grant, Birmingham Deputy public defender at the Community Law Office Wendy Jackson, Ashville Executive director, Freshwater Land Trust Melissa Kendrick, Birmingham Owner of Sojourns fair-trade store and volunteer in several community organizations Barbara Waters Larson, Montgomery Executive director of Leadership Alabama Jayme Elizabeth Locke, Birmingham Transplant surgeon at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, active in several nationwide transplant organizations Sally Purnell Mackin, Birmingham Executive director, Woodlawn Foundation Kagendo Mutua, Tuscaloosa Professor in the College of Education at the University of Alabama (emphasis in special education and disabilities) and leader in community organizations Joan Perry, Birmingham Owner and vice president of PHP Communications and longtime leader in community organizations Ashley Reitz Peinhardt, Birmingham Attorney at Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton and leader in law-related organizations Mia Raven, Montgomery Founder of Montgomery Area Reproductive Justice Coalition, Legislative Chair for Moral Monday Alabama, Owner/Designer of Mia's Muses Jewelry Leslie Sanders, Montgomery Vice president, southern division, Alabama Power Company Terri Sewell, Birmingham U.S. Representative of Alabama's 7th Congressional District Jennifer Skjellum, Birmingham President, TechBirmingham Patricia Todd, Birmingham State legislator and state director for Human Rights Campaign Alabama Jackie Wuska, Tuscaloosa President and CEO, United Way of West Alabama Casi Callaway, Mobile Executive director and baykeeper at Mobile Baykeeper Kathryn Calogrides Coumanis, Mobile Founder, retired executive director and current ambassador at Penelope House Patti Hall, Gulf Shores Director, Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo Monique Rogers Henley, Mobile President, H&S Management Holding Company Alicia Mackie, Mobile Social media, PR and marketing director of Together Assisting People Martha Lyon Peek, Mobile Superintendent, Mobile County Public Schools SANDRA M. 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