Anassa Kata
Mawrters Making Their Mark
Maya Ajmera ’89
Maya Ajmera ’89 was included in Forbes’ 50 Over 50 in the category of Innovation for her work as president and CEO of the Society of Science. Under her leadership, she secured a $100 million, 10-year sponsorship for the Science Talent Search, launched an $11 million STEM outreach initiative to expand opportunities for underserved students, and helped grow Science News, of which Ajmera is executive publisher, into a media enterprise reaching more than 23 million readers.
Eugénie Birch ’65
Eugénie Birch ’65, Nussdorf Professor of Urban Research at the University of Pennsylvania, received the 2026 Sir Peter Hall Award for Lifetime Achievement in Planning History from the International Planning History Society. Over the course of her career, Birch has produced a distinguished body of scholarship spanning planning history, urban revitalization, global urbanization, sustainability, governance, and finance, combining rigorous historical analysis with practical insights for policymakers.
Theresa Kim ’01
Theresa Kim ’01 was nominated and elected as a 2026 fellow of the American Statistical Association (ASA). The honor recognizes a select group of statisticians and data scientists — less than one-third of 1 percent of the ASA’s membership — whose established reputations reflect outstanding contributions to statistical science and a sustained commitment to advancing the field. Kim specializes in federal data and health policy clinical trials research.
Isabel S. Lee, Ph.D. ’24
Isabel S. Lee, Ph.D. ’24, an assistant professor of social work at Salem State University, was elected vice president for membership and diversity of the National Association of Social Workers, Massachusetts Chapter. She was also appointed the university’s faculty fellow for global engagement. Her scholarship focuses on Asian American communities, cultural responsiveness, and social justice in social work practice and education.
Elizabeth Meade ’84
Elizabeth Meade ’84, president of Cedar Crest College, was elected chair of the Board of Directors of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania, the statewide organization that advocates for affordable, accessible, and independent nonprofit higher education. Her work for the board will include advocating for policies and initiatives that support the long-term sustainability of Pennsylvania’s independent colleges.
Samantha Pious ’11
Samantha Pious ’11 was the winner of the Golden Crown Literary Award in Poetry for Cactus Flowers, her translations of selected poems by Portuguese poet Judith Teixeira. Cactus Flowers was also a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award in Lesbian Poetry. Pious translates women poets, especially sapphic poets, with the aim of contributing to new literary canons.
Pamela Swett ’92
Pamela Swett ’92 was appointed dean of the University of Rhode Island’s College of Arts and Sciences, the university’s largest academic college. Swett is a scholar of modern German and European history, and comes to Rhode Island from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. She is the author or editor of six books and numerous publications about political culture, commerce, and violence in Germany between 1918 and 1945.
Dana Thompson ’94
Dana Thompson ’94 was recognized as an Innovation Champion at the Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s 2026 Legal Innovation Awards for Innovation in Legal Education. Thompson is a clinical professor of law at the school, the founding director of the Zell Entrepreneurship Clinic, and director of the Transactional Law Clinics Program and the Community Enterprise Clinic.
Marot Williamson ’04
Marot Williamson ’04 recently received the Maryland State’s Attorneys’ Association Distinguished Service Award as well as the Anne Arundel Bar Association President’s Pro Bono Award. She was recognized as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women by the Daily Record for the second time. Williamson is an assistant state’s attorney in Maryland, where she prosecutes drug, gun, and homicide cases.
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Published on: 10/14/2026