Nora Bredes, a former New York legislator and director of the Anthony Center for Women's Leadership, will be posthumously awarded this year's Susan B. Anthony Lifetime Achievement Award by the Center she helped shape at the University of Rochester.
"We want to recognize Nora for the exemplary way in which she understood and lived by the values of Susan B. Anthony. She was determined, committed, principled, and deeply understood the subtle and the not-so-subtle barriers that still exist to women's full equality," said Aimee Senise Bohn, program coordinator for the Anthony Center for Women's Leadership.
Bredes' husband, Jack Huttner, will accept the award at the 2012 Legacy Dinner on Thursday, Feb. 9. The event is a long-standing University tradition that celebrates the women's rights leader's campaign to win women admission to the University and her lifelong struggle to gain equal rights for all. Presenting Huttner with the award will be Julianne Nigro '09, a former student of Bredes' who will present a talk Bredes conceived titled, "You are Susan B. Anthony."
Bredes served as the director of the Anthony Center for 12 years, analyzing barriers to women's progress in politics and creating programs to support those with political aspirations. Before her arrival in Rochester in 1999, she spent more than 20 years working in government and for nonprofit organizations. During that time she directed the New York League of Conservation Voters, led the successful fight against opening the Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant on Long Island, served on the Suffolk County (N.Y.) Legislature, and was a candidate for U.S. congress. The longtime activist in women's, environmental, and public health issues, passed away in August after a lengthy battle with breast cancer.
She joins former lifetime award recipients, including Esther Conwell '45, winner of the 2010 National Medal of Science; The Honorable Lois J. Giess '63, former president of the Rochester City Council; Suzanne Jagel O'Brien '59, associate dean of undergraduate studies and director of the College Center for Academic Support; and Mary Huth, former assistant director of the Department of Rare Books & Special Collections.
This year's Legacy dinner also includes student awards and scholarships that will be presented to six undergraduate students and one Take Five student. This year's Susan B. Anthony Scholarships will be awarded to Kelly Mulrey of Cincinnati, Ohio, a junior majoring in cell and developmental biology, and Molly O'Roark of Cordova Tenn, a junior majoring in harp performance at the University's Eastman School of Music.
The Susan B. Anthony Prize will be awarded to Birx Allen of Syracuse, N.Y., a senior majoring in cell and developmental biology and religion. The Jane R. Plitt award will be given to Allison Shaber of Tenafly, N.J., a senior majoring in chemistry, and the Dean Ruth Merrill Award will be presented to Rainie Spiva of Rochester, N.Y., a senior studying international relations.
Receiving the Fannie Bigelow Prizes is Naomi Ahsan of Rochester, N.Y., a Take Five student studying neuroscience, and Lendsey Achudi of Maseno, Kenya, sophomore studying international relations and affairs.
Sponsored by the Anthony Center for Women's Leadership and the University of Rochester's Women's Club, the Legacy Dinner will be held on Thursday, Feb. 9, at 6 p.m. in the May Room of Wilson Commons. Tickets for the dinner are $40 or $25 for University students. Seating is limited and tickets must be purchased in advance. For more information on seating and reservations, call (585) 275-8799 or visit www.rochester.edu/SBA/.