As an advisory board member of Glamour Women of the Year, I have the privilege of nominating five inspiring women -- or groups of women -- who have made an impact in 2012. And I'd love to hear your suggestions.
Please use the comments section to share the names and stories of women in any field -- entertainers, politicians, activists, educators, athletes, etc. Here are some suggestions from HuffPost editors:
Gazelle Emami, culture editor
Zaha Hadid: At 61, Iraq-born architect Zaha Hadid continues to leave her mark in a field dominated by masculine sensibilities with her bold, curving structures. Hadid has been as active as ever in the past year, designing everything from The London Aquatics Centre for the 2012 London Olympics and Glasgow's Riverside Museum to Chanel's Winter Wonderland runway. The first-ever female Pritzker Prize winner continued to pick up awards, including the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize in 2011 and the Jane Drew Prize for women in architecture in 2012.
Jack Mirkinson, media editor
Jineth Bedoya Lima: This journalist from Colombia was kidnapped, raped and tortured by a paramilitary group in 2000. Instead of shrinking away, she spoke up, and has become a leading voice for women journalists who have been the targets of sexual assault -- an issue which has, in many ways, only truly come to the forefront of the media dialogue in the last year and a half. Bedoya has continued to work as a reporter (she's flanked by bodyguards wherever she goes) and has taken the fight directly to her assaulters through a series of legal challenges, the latest of which is still going through the courts. It's because of people like her that we're finally having a real conversation about the tragedy of sexual violence that many women encounter while reporting.
Margaret Wheeler Johnson, women's editor
Sandra Fluke: In the face of personal attacks and immense renewed opposition nationally to women's reproductive rights, Fluke has emerged as a poised, articulate, unflappable voice of reason on issues that affect every woman in the United States. It's hard to overstate the impact she has made this year or her commitment to improving the lives of women nationwide.
Ashley Judd: Judd's response to the media frenzy around her "puffy" face was truly courageous, not to mention articulate and powerful. She's an excellent example of a woman with visibility and influence taking a position that stands to benefit many less visible women and girls.
Lena Dunham: As we say in our weekly Girls chats, Lena Dunham is our body image hero. While Girls is not perfect, it's an expression not only of a young woman's creativity and ambition but also her willingness to use her own body to question the huge disparity between the type of bodies allowed onscreen and the average American woman's body. The show also confronts women's emotional relationship with food very honestly.
Maria Klawe: The current president of Harvey Mudd College, Klawe is credited with almost single-handedly increasing the number of women enrolled in computer science classes at the university level. More about Klawe here.
Chris Greenberg, sports editor
Brittney Griner: This 21-year-old at Baylor is the most dominant women's college basketball player in the country as a junior. She led the Baylor Bears to a perfect 40-0 record en route to a national championship. Along the way, Griner became just the second female player to dunk in the NCAA Tournament (and she did it twice).
Pat Summitt: With 1,098 wins and eight national championships, Summitt is the most decorated coach in all of college basketball. She stepped down from her longtime post at the University of Tennessee after the close of the 2012 season at age 59 because she is facing early onset dementia. Summitt announced her diagnosis before the 2011-2012 season, but remained on the sideline and helped lead the Lady Vols to a regional final in the NCAA Tournament, where they lost to Griner's Baylor. President Obama will honor Summitt with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Virginia Rometty: Although she was not participating in the The Masters this year, Rometty was among the most talked about people at Augusta National. Appointed CEO of IBM not long before the most prestigious golf tournament of the year, Rometty's presence rekindled the debate about female membership as the men who previously held her position were welcomed into the club. Although Augusta Chairman Billy Payne did his best to avoid the issue as per usual, Rometty made an appearance that kept everyone talking about it. On the final day of the tournament, she secured a prime seat near the 18th hole and was hard to miss in a bright pink coat. For a club famous for its green jackets, this wardrobe choice garnered plenty of attention.
Victoria Azarenka: This 22-year-old Belarusian tennis player ascended to the top of the WTA rankings, fittingly reaching the No. 1 spot with her win in the final of the 2012 Australian Open. Not only was it her first time reaching No. 1 but it was also her first grand slam title.
Lindsey Vonn: The skier entered 2012 by immediately announcing her divorce and beset by rumors about her dating life, but managed to put together perhaps the most impressive season of an accomplished career despite the distractions. She was among the top three finishers more than 15 times during the season and approached several World Cup records.
Women's Olympic Boxers: While the star performances are yet to come, this sport will be making its Olympic debut in London this summer. It is a watershed moment for all female boxers and an opportunity for a few of the women in the competition to really distinguish themselves.
Dr. Ann McKee: Although the timeline of her research makes her perhaps a better candidate for a 2010 list, McKee remains among the most prominent researchers when it comes to head trauma and football.
Emily Peck, managing business editor
Sheryl Sandberg: If it's a woman in business you're after, it's hard not to pick Sheryl Sandberg. For many working women looking to break through the glass ceiling, the Facebook COO is a rock star and an inspiration. She's emerged as a leading role model for those seeking to find the confidence to lead. And when I asked several women journalists to name the most prominent woman in business, it was her over and over.
Update: Thank you so much for these wonderful suggestions! So many creative, empathetic, fearless women to choose from. Keep the ideas coming, please!
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Mark Osler: Brittney Griner, Confetti Angels and Baylor's Soul
I am posting on behalf of our small Non-Profit Org "Serene Light"..made up of all volunteer women:
www.serenelight.org
(We also have a Facebook page)
We are located in Tuskegee, Alabama and our small projects are designed to encourage women in mostly rural areas- through mentorship projects and Health Education projects.
*One of the most significant projects in our small on line E-Group (Serene Light -Yahoo Group)which has existed for about 8 years now- it's fun to be around wonderful women, and the mutual support and encouragment of the women is quite amazing!
Kindly join us!
In addition, NAOP has provided the most destitute grannies with over 150 new stable homes, kitchens, and pit latrines, as well as a microfinance program where they make goods like baskets and jewelry that is sold in the United States.
Thanks to these unsung heroes, their orphaned and vulnerable grandchildren have had increased access to food, medicine, and an education thanks to our micro-finance project.
www.nyakaschool.org
Christy Turlington Burns, Every Mother Counts, for the passionate and wonderful work promoting access and quality in maternal health care.
Hawa Salih, of Darfur, Sudan. After repeated arrests by forces of Sudanese President Omar al Bashir's genocidal government, Salih now residues in the US and continues her advocacy for women and girls in Darfur. She was recently was recognized as an International Woman of Courage, and deserves every honor.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57442460/toni-morrison-talks-writing-process-new-book/
This program manages over $500 million dollars in grants to state promoting and develop electronic health exchange around the united states and territories. Claudia leads a team that is literally at the forefront of one of the most important developments in healthcare of the 21st century. Her program will allow rural providers to share care summaries with emergency rooms at a minutes notice.
Claudia has worked tirelessly to encourage her team who are affecting millions of lives on a daily basis. Beyond the duties of her position, Claudia is also a mother of two and an advocate for bringing health reform to the neediest communities.
I nominate the Nominator: Arianna Huffington.
Arianna Huffington has done more to further the cause of free journalism during 2012, than anyone I can think of.
Arianna Huffington has done more to reach aspiring journalists during 2012, than anyone I know.
Arianna Huffington has encouraged more common people to speak out during 2012, than anyone I know.
Arianna Huffington has inspired more people to write during 2012, than anyone I know.
Arianna Huffington's Huffington Post is a forum that has allowed more people to engage in international, informational communion and the sharing of views about pressing issues of our time, in 2012, than any other forum that I know.
Arianna Huffington: In recognition of her extraordinary journey - Glamour Woman of the Year - 2012
Airborne!
Joy Sterling represents the second generation at Iron Horse Vineyards. She is the CEO of the winery and the author of four books. Born in America and educated in France her extensive passion for traveling has allowed her an extraordinary education in the appreciation of food and wine.
Joy returned to the United States to attend Yale University where she studied history and economics. She went into journalism, first for UPI and ultimately, network TV news. At the age of 29, Joy was Deputy Bureau Chief for ABC Network News in Los Angeles. She was given numerous special assignments: The first Space Shuttle landings in California, Presidential Trips, and Assignment Editor for ABC's Olympic coverage.
In 1985, Joy left ABC's to join her family's business. Thus, a new sort of woman was recruited into California's wine industry. Significantly, she made headlines for her first achievement at Iron Horse when the White House selected Iron Horse Sparkling Wine for the President's toast to peace at the first summit with Mikhail Gorbachev in Geneva.
Joy is an adventurer: climbed Kilimanjaro, run white water rapids in Chile and Yank Sing River in China, trekked in Tibet and Bhutan, and completed a road trip to Timbuktu.
One of her major initiatives is hosting an annual fundraising and awareness raising event in partnership with National Geographic celebrating Earth Day.
Also, I would like to nominate Rachel Maddow for having an intelligent, informative program where viewers can learn something with every show and where guests are always treated with respect whether they deserve it or not. Dr. Maddow shows that news commentary programs don’t have to be shouting matches with insults constantly being hurled back and forth.
Finally I would like to nominate Sandra Fluke. I agree completely with the statement that Ms. Fluke “has emerged as a poised, articulate, unflappable voice of reason on issues that affect every woman in the United States.” As far as I’m concerned, the only good thing that Rush Limbaugh has ever don’t was the fact that he gave this wonderful woman national attention.