Women's History Month

The Alice Wright Franzke Feminist Award was established by the St. Mary’s Women’s Caucus in March 1990 to commemorate the life and works of Alice Franzke, Ph.D., a professor in the Sociology Department at St. Mary’s University from 1982 until 1989. She was the coordinator of the Peace and Justice Minor program, faculty moderator of the Students' Peace Group, and a founding member of the President's Peace Commission. She was co-founder of the St. Mary's University Women's Caucus, was an engaged civil rights activist, and worked vigorously for voter registration and education. She was a tireless advocate for non-traditional students at St. Mary's, and was active with the Bexar County Women's Political Caucus, and the League of Women Voters. Dr. Franzke was the national delegate of St. Mary's University to the American Association of University Women. She was committed to human equality, justice and peace, and embodied the spiritual and civic values which the award commemorates. Dr. Franzke was inducted as a Scholar into the Academy of St. Mary's University in 1989. The award honors feminists of the St. Mary’s University community who promote peace, empowerment, civic engagement, cooperation, equality, and respect of all persons.

Eligibility:
Any past or present member of the St. Mary's University community (student, faculty, staff, administrator, or alumni) who promotes peace, empowerment, civic engagement, cooperation, equality, and respect of all persons, is eligible for nomination. This page includes a list of past recipients. Past recipients are not eligible for nomination.

The online 2025 Nomination Form is now open. The deadline is Friday, January 17, 2025 at 5pm. Late nominations will not be considered.

Note: Please be as specific and thorough as possible in addressing how the nominee meets the criteria above. Please assume this is the ONLY INFORMATION the Selection Committee has about the nominee. We recommend that you compose responses addressing these criteria in an editable document before copying or entering the information into the online form. Once you submit the online nomination form, you will be re-directed to this page about the Franzke Award. This means your nomination form has been successfully submitted. To provide consistency for the Selection Committee, the online nomination form must be completed for a nominee to be considered for the Award.

Selection Criteria:
• Demonstrates commitment to efforts to increase gender equity and empowerment within and/or outside the University.
• Actively engaged in efforts to promote justice and peace locally, regionally, or globally.
• Considered an exemplary role model of civic engagement.
• Works in a collaborative manner that respects diverse people and traditions.
• Bears witness to St. Mary's University's mission as a Catholic and Marianist University through their life and accomplishments.

The 2025 Selection Committee: the 2024 recipients.

Questions about the Alice Wright Franzke Feminist Award nomination process may be directed to Sue Nash, Ph.D. at snash1@stmarytx.edu . 

The Alice Wright Franzke Feminist Award Ceremony will be held on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. in the Sarita Kenedy East Law Library, Law Alumni Room. 

Past Alice Wright Franzke Feminist Award recipients are listed below. 

Any past or present member of the St. Mary's University community, except previous recipients, is eligible to be nominated for the Alice Wright Franzke Feminist Award.  

Past Recipients:

2024
Marie E. Peterson (undergraduate student)
Emily Norwood (graduate and Law student)
Julieta Sanchez Olivas (staff)
Belinda Román, Ph.D. (faculty)
Migdalia Navarro Garcia (alumna)
2024 Alice Franzke Non-Traditional Student Scholarship Awards: Megan Davis and Kenia Rodriguez

2023
Lauren Olivia Mabie (Law student)
David J. Cavazos (staff)
Margaret Cantú-Sánchez, Ph.D. (faculty)
Alyssa M. Cedillo (alumna)
2023 Alice Franzke Non-Traditional Student Scholarship Awards: Victoria Heffner and Caylen Lucio

2022
Shalini Venkat (undergraduate student)
Karen Muñoz (Law student)
Jessica González Uhlig, Ed.D. (staff)
Rick Sperling, Ph.D. (faculty)
Mary Brennan Stich, J.D. (alumna)
2022 Alice Franzke Non-Traditional Student Scholarship Awards: Ezequiel Hernandez and Kimberly Rubio

2021
Zoe Brigman (undergraduate student)
Samantha McCoy (Law student)
Myrna Gaxiola Marinik, L.M.S.W. (staff)
Sue P. Nash, Ph.D. (faculty)
Artessia "Tess" House, J.D. (alumna)
2021 Alice Franzke Non-Traditional Student Scholarship Awards: Nicole Bongiorno and Katherine L. Muniz

2020
Brandi Nicole Loving (undergraduate student)
Leslie Mariela Alvarez (Law student)
Courtney K. Barrie (staff)
Janet S. Armitage (faculty)
Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez, J.D. (alumna)
2020 Alice Franzke Non-Traditional Student Scholarship Awards: Roberson Maria Lubin, Jessica Marquez-Munos, and Luisa Arumi Ortiz

2019
Ximena Mondragon Salinas (undergraduate student)
Allison L. Gray, Ph.D. (faculty)
Kimberly Sama (alumna)
Renée A. Yanta, J.D. (alumna)
2019 Alice Franzke Non-Traditional Student Scholarship Awards: Ian Bryan and Luisa Ortiz

2018
Jocelyn Baca (undergraduate student)
Irene Chavez (graduate student)
Magdalena Salazar (staff)
Sharon K. Garcia, Ph.D. (alumna)
Kathleen M. Gallagher, Ph.D. (faculty)
2018 Alice Franzke Non-Traditional Student Scholarship Awards: Amanda Rodriguez and Alex Valdez

2017
Rebecca Quintanilla Cedillo (alumna)
Stephanie R. Harlien (student)
Marcy LaBossiere (staff)
Team HSS - Delia Lara von Muldau (staff) & Janet Belew Dizinno, Ph.D. (faculty) 
2017 Alice Franzke Non-Traditional Student Scholarship Awards: Juana "Janie" Contreras and Christina Lopez

2016
Virginia "Liz" Garcia (staff)
Victoria Heffner (student)
Teresa Miriam Van Hoy, Ph.D. (faculty)
2016 Alice Franzke Non-Traditional Student Scholarship Award: Kathy Samms

2015
Melanie Lira (student)
Clare Acosta Matos (staff)
Carolyn Tubbs, Ph.D. (faculty)
Sandra M. Vasquez-Kayruz, M.D. (alumna)

2014
Grace Keyes, Ph.D. (faculty)
Adriane Meneses, J.D. (staff)
Julia Elizabeth Null (student)
Dayla S. Pepi, J.D. (alumna)
Richard S. Pressman, Ph.D. (faculty)

2013
Jenee Margo Gonzales, J.D. (alumna)
Tanairí Y. Ochoa (student)
Rosemarie Wahl, Ph.D. (faculty)
Sr. Grace Walle, FMI., D.Min. (staff)

2012
Cyra Dumitru (faculty)
Andrea Escalon (staff)
Alma L. Lopez, J.D. (alumna)
Ana Olivares (student)

2011
Francesca Garcia (student)
Celine A. Jacquemin, Ph.D. (faculty)
Dorothy “Dottie” Laster (alumna)

2010
Diane Duesterhoeft (faculty)
Sarah Linares (student)
Marisela Marquez (alumna)
Minita Santizo (staff)

2009
Monica Cruz (staff)
Misha McDonald (student)
Leona Pallansch, Ph.D. (faculty)
Mildred Rodriguez (staff)

2008
Deidra Coleman (staff)
Sonia Garcia, Ph.D. (faculty)
Vanessa Torres (student)

2007
Tonya Hammer (student)
Patricia J. Mejia (staff)
Carol Redfield, Ph.D. (faculty)
Maria Elena Torralva-Alonso (alumna)

2006
Antonia Castaneda, Ph.D. (faculty)
Rosalyn Falcon Collier (alumna)
Khushbu Patel (student)

2005
Kiran Bains (student)
Caroline Byrd (faculty)
Vicki A. Williams, Ph.D. (staff)

2004
Jacqueline Dansby, Ph.D. (staff)
Rebecca Flores (alumna)
Sr. Grace Luther, FMI, Ph.D. (faculty emerita)

2003
Ana Novoa, J.D. (faculty)
Lee Teran, J.D. (faculty)

1995
Amy Kasteley, J.D. (faculty)

1994
Barbara Bader Aldave, J.D. (faculty/administration)

1993
Sr. Ann Semel, SSND, Ph.D. (faculty)

1992
Raeline Nobles (student)

1991
Rose Marie Cutting, Ph.D. (faculty)

1990
Blanca Aguirre (staff)
Louise Cantwell (staff/administration)
Mary Lynne Gasaway Hill (student)
Alice Wright Franzke, Ph.D. (faculty)

• Because the 2021 program was pre-recorded, there was no printed program.