Fearless Women Award Recipients 2024

The 2nd annual Fearless Women Awards, presented by the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, honors extraordinary women who embody courage, resilience, and empowerment across five inspiring categories:

1. Bravery: Recognizing women who embrace vulnerability as a source of strength, navigating challenges with unwavering determination.
2. Advocacy: Celebrating women who champion the growth of others, whether through vocal support, behind-the-scenes sponsorship, or a belief in fostering mutual success.
3. Passion: Highlighting women whose fervent pursuit of their own lives inspires those around them, driving positive change through their infectious enthusiasm.
4. Perseverance: Commending women who refuse to surrender to adversity, demonstrating unwavering resilience in their own journeys and in supporting others.
5. Authenticity: Honoring women who bravely present their true selves to the world, fostering an environment where everyone feels empowered to embrace their authenticity.

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Edna N Rodriguez, PsyD is a bilingual/bicultural Clinical Psychologist who has spent her career working within non-profit organizations providing and leading the implementation of clinical services from an evidence-based approach. She currently serves as the Director of Behavioral Health for Trinity Health of New England, including Mercy Medical Center, Brightside for Families and Children and Johnson Memorial Hospital. Her work prioritizes education about stigma and cultural humility/awareness to help providers treat with respect and compassion people with histories of trauma, recovering from substance use and other mental illnesses.  Her advocacy has achieved the allocation of funding for services dedicated to serving people with substance use disorders, harm reduction interventions, and anti-stigma campaigns. She works tirelessly to continue expanding behavioral health services within THONE to address the needs of our communities using an integrated model of care. Currently she serves on the Board of Directors of the Public Health Institute of WM and leads the Data/Policy to Action Committee.

Shalimar Colon-Torres was born in Puerto Rico and moved to Springfield in 1985 with her parents, her sister, and her little brother. Growing up in a Christian home with a father who was a pastor and a mother who was a teacher, she understood the importance of the call to serve and help people. Throughout her life, Shalimar always gravitated to leadership roles. From Sunday School to student government president at Central High School, to student trustee at Westfield State University, to post graduate work directing Summer Camps, to teacher, and presently as a principal, her impact has touched the lives of many. In her professional career, Shalimar has worked in the Springfield Public School for the last 22 years ;5 years as a teacher, 2 years as Supervisor for Leadership Development, and the last 14 years as a school principal. Leading in urban school district for Shalimar has always been about empowering people to believe in themselves and work together to deliver the best experiences for our students and families in a safe, caring, and respectful environment.

In her current principalship, Shalimar was entrusted to lead a school remotely, having been appointed in the Summer of 2020. Meeting all the staff, families, and working for more than 2/3 of the year via “zoom”, she made a connection and continues to strengthen it alongside her team! As a leader of a school that survived the pandemic, she acknowledges the power of other amazing woman like Ms. Tracy Friedenberg, that believe in the good of people and in their potential to be the best with the right supports and guidance!! In her personal life, Shalimar is married to her love of 16 years, a “bonus” mom to 3 beautiful children, the mother to one, and grandmother as well.

In 2012, four years after her first appointment as principal, she was diagnosed with cancer and began the fight for her life. After many treatments, clinical trials, and continuous care at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, staying positive and strong in faith, had her prayers answered and became a mother 3 years after a stem cell transplant to her miracle baby, Arya.She gives credit to her success and perseverance to God, her amazing parents and family, and her mission in life to be “Be the Light!”, Matt 5:14, wherever she goes and with whoever she leads!

Jess Roncarati-Howe serves as the Executive Director of Dress for Success Western Massachusetts. Inspired by her mother and grandparents who instilled volunteerism in her at an early age, she has dedicated her career to promoting dignity and quality of life in our community. This includes work in the arts, serving those living with HIV/AIDS, promoting community engagement, and now helping marginalized women forge a path toward economic independence and success. A proud graduate of both Bay Path University and Elms College, she most recently served as President of the Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce and The AIDS Foundation of Western MA. She is a graduate of Leadership Pioneer Valley, a member of the Business West 40 Under Forty and recipient of the CHD Gamechanger Award through the Springfield Thunderbirds. She and her husband share three children who make life outside of work a never-ending adventure.

Kate Cardoso started the Travel with Purpose Pact in 2023 after leading a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program for meetings, events and incentive travel programs post-pandemic. Kate was inspired to get into the social impact space after becoming very involved with a community kitchen and homeless shelter in Northampton at the start of COVID and beyond. A post-pandemic world needs more giving and more doing good, and Kate has spent a lot of time and effort creating CSR initiatives that benefit people in need all over the world. Kate is also a big supporter of Girls on the Run Western Mass and volunteers whenever her schedule allows. 

Kate, who received her Global MBA from Suffolk University in 2010, has more than 20 years of experience in the corporate group travel industry in both agency and in-house roles. She has overseen all aspects of design, planning and execution for both domestic and international meetings, events and incentive travel programs.

Professor Gloria Caballero Roca, Ph.D., exemplifies the epitome of bravery leading to her extraordinary accomplishments.  As a child growing up with her three siblings in a one-room apartment, she carried water every day to assist her loving mother.  

Dr. Caballero Roca used every opportunity she saw to attain her educational goals.  With incredibly hard work, grit and determination, she earned two Master’s degrees and two Ph.D’s.  One Master’s degree was awarded by UMass Amherst in Hispanic Culture and Linguistics, and her second Master’s degree was awarded by Oviedo University, Asturias, Spain-Lodz University, Poland, in Women’s and Gender Studies.  Her first Ph.D. was awarded by UMass Amherst for Latin American and Portuguese Languages and Literatures, and her second Ph.D. was awarded by Oviedo University, Asturias, Spain in Autoethnography, Gender and Diversity.

She has given presentations in over a dozen countries about ethics, gender inequality, social justice, and environmental extractivism.  Dr. Caballero Roca has organized international symposia in Spain, France, and Portugal on gender, social media, and artificial intelligence.  Of great significance is the fact that she has used her educational, multilingual, and multicultural background achievements to honor and give to her community through teaching and empowering low-income women at The Care Center in Holyoke, Massachusetts.  

Dr. Caballero Roca then continued to serve her community first as a candidate for Mayor of Holyoke, then as a candidate for Auditor of the Commonwealth, and in November of 2023 was elected to the Holyoke School Committee.  On March 2 of this year, Dr. Caballero Roca received the prestigious Policy & Leadership Excellence Award at the Inaugural Massachusetts Black Excellence & Achievement Gala held in Springfield.

Further, she was recently invited to speak and present two workshops at the University of Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain, and, as a result, is so disappointed that she will be unable to attend the Springfield Symphony performance and honors on May 18.

Dr. Gloria Caballero Roca is so very honored and filled with joy and gratitude to be a recipient of the Fearless Woman Award from the Springfield Symphony.

Dr. Lech has worked in special education for more than 15 years. Her professional career within K-12 public education included roles as a special education teacher and special education administrator at the elementary and middle school levels within urban school districts. Dr. Lech is the Director of the Special Education and English as a Second Language Graduate Programs at Bay Path University. Dr. Lech’s research focuses on evidence-based practices, Universal Design For Learning, and Culturally Relevant Pedagogy. Under her maiden name, she has published several international books and book chapters related to the unique needs of diverse student populations and establishing effective instructional programs.

In addition to her academic career, Dr. Lech has been appointed as a Guardian Ad Litem for the Massachusetts Juvenile Court System and an Educational Surrogate Parent for the Massachusetts Federation for Exceptional Children. Dr. Lech serves as the President of the Learning Disabilities Association of Massachusetts, Vice Chair of the Nominating Committee for the Learning Disabilities Association of America, and is a Board Member of the Pathlight Organization

Rachel Isbell Branch has dedicated her life to human and civil rights and given public service in every community where she lived.  She is a writer, an historian and worked for over twenty years in law.  In her sixties she became an intensive respite foster care parent for 23 children who had suffered unspeakable violence, the most meaningful work of her life.  She describes herself as a “Community Street Fighter!”  

A lifetime musician, she is completing five years as a musician at the Northampton VA Community Living Center for very disabled veterans, presently the most cherished part of her life, and in January became the VA Chapel musician.  At seventy she became the Creator & Producer of Solutions Rising, a community television program now in its twelfth year.  (webcast.nbctc.org)  She is also a co-producer of a radio program called “Jazz Oasis,” now in its fifth year.”

As a graduate of Katharine Gibbs School in Boston, she saw President John F. Kennedy on the eve of his election and then was at Shaw Air Force Base when he was assassinated.  From there she became Secretary to the Chief of Information & Civil Affairs (OICA) at Wheelus Air Base, Tripoli, LIBYA, and was evacuated during the Six-Day, Arab/Israeli War in June, 1967; and, nearly unbelievably, wound up on Huntley & Brinkley after being interviewed by Gabe Pressman of NBC News.   

Rachel has been a five-time mayoral appointee in Denver, Bridgeport, CT, and North Adams, MA, and now as a Dalton Select Board appointee.  She was a candidate for North Adams mayor in 2017, 2019 and 2021; was elected to a four year-term to the Northern Berkshire Vocational Regional School District/McCann School Committee in 2015.  The hardest job she ever had was as Coordinator of Disaster Volunteers in April of 1987 after the L’Ambiance Plaza building collapse in Bridgeport.  She has been publicly fighting Climate Catastrophe since 1997.

It must be known that she is a multi-rape victim survivor and will not cease fighting to stop rape, rape as a weapon of war and violence against women and children.  Although her life has been filled with tragedy, she has faced it fearlessly way beyond what most people could endure and done it with grace and unrelenting courage.  

As a “seasoned” citizen at 82, Rachel is ecstatic to be honored by the Springfield Symphony as a “Fearless Woman!”

Zyiasia Knighton, a beacon of authenticity, demonstrates exceptional leadership and resilience. Graduating with honors, Magna Cum Laude from Bay Path University with her Bachelor’s in Medical Science, she displays unwavering determination. Her diverse skill set includes roles as an Emergency Medical Technician in Springfield Massachusetts and an Aircraft Armament Technician in the Massachusetts Air National Guard. As a Division 1 volleyball athlete, Zyiasia excels in leadership both on and off the court. On the court as defensive captain, and off the court as a student-athlete tutor.

Her passion for research and innovation has led her to become a Cardiovascular Research Fellow at Washington University in St. Louis, Where she conducted groundbreaking research on ion therapies to treat conditions such as hypertension and coronary artery disease.  Zyiasia’s commitment to advancing medical knowledge is evident as she will begin her Master’s in Cardiovascular Perfusion at the Medical University of South Carolina. She does so with a steadfast determination to make a meaningful impact in the field of medicine and be a role model to any woman who looks at her story.

At the SSO, we believe in the collective power of women to shape the future, elevate underrepresented industries, and enrich our communities. Each fearless woman honored reminds us that every success is a victory for all women, paving the way for future leaders and fostering a culture of authenticity where everyone can thrive. This celebration of our local women and the incredible women conducting, playing and composing is a tribute to their strength and accomplishments, this concert is a celebration of their invaluable contributions.