Event rescheduled to Wednesday, April 21, 2021
Celebrate the Women of Spirit®
In the Beginning
The Women of Spirit® Award program was established in 1993 by former Carlow President, Grace Ann Geibel RSM, to recognize outstanding women, who, as leaders in the community, exemplify the Carlow University mission. The title was chosen to honor the first real “women of spirit”—the University’s founders, the Sisters of Mercy. Women of Spirit® have had a profound influence over Carlow University since its founding nine decades ago. The Sisters of Mercy arrived in Pittsburgh from Carlow, Ireland, in 1843 with a spirited mission to serve the poor, the sick, and the uneducated. These determined women established the college in 1929 with 24 freshman, five faculty, and makeshift classrooms in the Mercy Convent.
For the celebration of its 90th anniversary, Carlow University is pleased to honor seven outstanding Women of Spirit® awardees at the university’s 15th Women of Spirit® Awards Ceremony on April 21, 2021, at Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland.
2020 Women of Spirit® awardees
The Honorable Kim Berkeley Clark
President
Judge, 5th Judicial District, Pennsylvania
Cynthia D. Hundorfean
Chief Executive Officer, President, Allegheny Health Network
Kristen S. Kurland
Professor of Architecture,
Information Systems, and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon
University
Karen L. Larrimer
Executive Vice President,
Chief Customer Officer, Head of Retail Banking, PNC Financial
Services Group, Inc.
Anne V. Lewis
Board Chair, Oxford Development
Company
Nancy D. Washington, PhD
Educator and civic
leader
Sister Susan Welsh, RSM
President and CEO
(retired), Pittsburgh Mercy Health System
Awardees were nominated and then considered by a Women of Spirit® selection committee made up of former awardees and university officials. The awardees were chosen based on several criteria, including a strong commitment to values, accomplishments that have led to new knowledge or discoveries, and innovation or leadership that has brought about change for the good of humankind.
2020 Women of Spirit® Awards Ceremony
Event rescheduled to Wednesday, April 21, 2021.
Carnegie Music Hall
4400 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh, Pa 15213
6 p.m. Dinner Reception
7 p.m. Awards Ceremony
About the program
The Women of Spirit® Award program has earned a distinguished place as a Pittsburgh treasure. Since its beginning in 1993, women leaders have been recognized for their professional and personal leadership and their service to others. In turn, they share their expertise with the Carlow community by actively participating in the life of the University and in the development of its students.
View the past Women of Spirit® award recipients.