Every year, the Women Rock Science gala recognizes three individuals who are making a difference in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics through an Outstanding Educator, Outstanding Leader, and Rock Star Award.

Below are the honorees from previous years’ Women Rock Science events. Check back soon for details about 2023’s Honorees.

Nominate a 2023 Women Rock Science Honoree!
We are inviting nominations for this year’s Outstanding Leader and Rock Star Awards. Nominee submissions will be reviewed by the Women Rock Science Planning Committee and Cranbrook Institute of Science leadership. Final selection of awardees will be made by the Director of Cranbrook Institute of Science in consultation with Cranbrook Educational Community leadership and the Women Rock Science Planning Committee. Honorees are asked, but are not required, to attend the Women Rock Science event on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, and to participate in on-camera interviews in advance of the gala as a part of their award. The deadline to submit a nomination is March 31, 2023.


Previous Honorees

2022

Outstanding Leader Award Outstanding Educator Award Rock Star Award
Raven Jones
Beth Paretta
CEO / Team Principal
Paretta Autosport
Melissa Koronka
Science Teacher
Accelerated Learning Academy (ALA)
Flint Community Schools
Raven L. Jones, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Teacher Education
Michigan State University

2021

Outstanding Leader Award Outstanding Educator Award Rock Star Award
barra web
duddles web
williams web
Mary T. Barra,
Chair and CEO, General Motors 
Tuyen Duddles, 7th & 8th Grades Science Teacher, Warren Consolidated Schools Math Science Technology Center  Celeste T. Williams, MD, MS, FACC, Medical Director, Cardiac Transplantation and Director of Quality, Heart and Vascular Institute, Henry Ford Health System 

2020

Outstanding Leader Award Outstanding Educator Award Rock Star Award
poppe web
housey web
olkin web
Patti Poppe, President & CEO of Consumers Energy Rahiel Housey-Johnson, Middle School Teacher, Hamtramck Public School District Cathy Olkin, Planetary Scientist at the SW Research Institute

2019

Outstanding Leader Award Outstanding Educator Award Rock Star Award
devore web
english web
harris web
Richard DeVore, Executive VP and Regional President Detroit and Southeastern Michigan, PNC Financial Services Group Angela English, Pre-school Teacher at Emerson Elementary-Middle School, Detroit Public Schools Community District Joi Harris, Senior VP, Major Enterprise Projects DTE Energy

For more information or questions, please contact Katja Thomakos, CFRE, Director of Development at kthomakos@cranbrook.edu or 248.645.3220.