"These exceptional women, all leaders in their fields, have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to excellence, achievement and service, often against great odds, with courage, determination and compassion," Strickland said. "I am proud to welcome them in to The Ohio Women's Hall of Fame."
The inductees for 2010 are:
Dorothy McAlpin Maguire Chapman was born in LaGrange and lived her entire life in Ohio from 1918 until her death in Spencer, Ohio in 1981. She was recruited from the Erin Brew Softball Team in Cleveland to be one of the original baseball players in the All American Girls Professional Baseball League. She played 7 seasons from 1943-1949. The statue for "Women in Baseball" at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown is modeled after one of her famous photos during a game in 1948. She later became well-known for her championships in the Central Ohio Saddle Club Association.
Barbara K. Fergus, of Dublin, is a businesswoman, philanthropist, mentor and community advocate. She is a founding member of the Women's Fund of Central Ohio, Women in Philanthropy, and the Women's Leadership Council. Fergus also serves as a board member and officer of the International Women's Forum. Her work with women and girls in Central Ohio led to the creation of the Barbara K. Fergus Women in Leadership Lecture Series. Fergus received a bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University.
Merle Grace Kearns, of Port Clinton, is a former member of the Ohio House of Representatives representing the 72nd House district and serving as Majority Leader in the 126th General Assembly. Kearns was also a member of the Ohio Senate from 1991–2000, representing the 10th Senate District. Throughout her tenure, Kearns was named "Legislator of the Year" by 10 different organizations. She also served as the director of the Ohio Department of Aging from 2005-2007. Kearns became the first woman ever to be elected as a commissioner in Clark County in 1980. She received a bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University.
Nina I. McClelland, of Toledo, currently serves as the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the interim dean of the School of Solar and Advanced Renewable Energy at the University of Toledo. She previously served as the president of the Nina McClelland Consulting Services and as the president of the National Sanitation Foundation. McClelland has served in various governance roles for the American Chemical Society. She received a bachelor's degree from the University of Toledo and a doctorate from the University of Michigan.
Lana Moresky, of Shaker Heights, currently serves as a member of the Ohio Board of Regents. She previously served as the director of the Department of Community Services for the Cuyahoga County Auditor's Office from 1984-1999. Moresky has also served as the vice president of Heights Fund since 1990 and served as an executive board officer for Women's Law Fund from 2003-2008. She received a bachelor's degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1967.
Martha Potter Otto, of Mount Vernon, served as the senior curator of archaeology of the Ohio Historical Society before retiring. She was the first female curator of archaeology at the Ohio Historical Society when she was named to the position in 1974. During her tenure, she designed numerous educational exhibits and programs to demonstrate Ohio's heritage. She received a master's degree from The Ohio State University.
Alvarene N. Owens, of Dayton, has served as the CEO of the law firm of Alvarene N. Owens since 1986. She previously served as the director of the Inner West Dayton Model City Crime and Juvenile Delinquency program. Owens began her career as a juvenile probation officer for the Montgomery County Juvenile Court. She was the first woman to be appointed to the board of the Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers and is a member of the National Council of Negro Women. She received a bachelor's degree from the University of Oklahoma, a master's degree from Xavier University and a law degree from the University of Cincinnati.
Elizabeth S. Ruppert, of Toledo, currently serves as the medical director of the Anne Grady Corporation Prescribed Pediatric Center and has spent her professional career advocating for and promoting quality of life issues for medically fragile children. She also serves as a professor emeritus at the University of Toledo Medical College. Ruppert served as the director of the Women's Initiative of the United Greater Toledo Area in 2006. She began her career as a pediatrician to help children live productive lives despite their health challenges. Ruppert received a bachelor's degree from Tulane University and a medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine.
Rita N. Singh, of Pepper Pike, is the founder of S&A Consulting Group and Miraj International. She also serves as the vice president of education for the National Association of Women Business Owners and previously served on the statewide committee of Women Economic Development Organization for National City Bank and as a member of the Key4Women program. Singh also served as the honorary international development director for ATHENA International. She received a bachelor's and a master's degree in India. Singh later completed an associate's degree after immigrating to Ohio.
Gayle Channing Tenenbaum, of Columbus, has served as an advocate for children and Ohio's most vulnerable populations throughout her career. She currently serves as a senior policy fellow for Voices for Ohio's Children and lends her expertise and experience to numerous children and human service organizations. Tenenbaum also serves as the CEO of Channing and Associates, a human services and public policy consulting firm. She served as executive assistant of human services for Governor Richard Celeste and as the director of several human services organizations in Cuyahoga County. Tenenbaum received a master's degree from the University of Cincinnati.
The Ohio Women's Hall of Fame was established in 1978 to publicly recognize the many outstanding contributions Ohio women have made to our state and nation.
The induction ceremony will be held on August 26, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at the Ohio Statehouse and is open to the public. General questions regarding the induction ceremony can be directed to the Governor's Office for Women's Initiatives and Outreach at (614) 466-3555 or women.policy@governor.ohio.gov.
