Fearless Women Award Recipients 2025

The 3rd 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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Since 2016, Attorney Elizabeth G. Dineen has served as the CEO of the YWCA of Western Massachusetts. For 27 years, Dineen served as an Assistant District Attorney, prosecuting sexual assaults, child abuse, domestic violence and child murders. Dineen transitioned to Bay Path University, and served for six years as the Chair of the Criminal Justice Department.

Dineen is a member of the Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence; Board of Trustees at Elms College; Board of Directors for the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts; and Board of Directors of Hampden County Homelessness Continuum of Care. Dineen has received many awards: BusinessWest’s Women of Impact, Massachusetts Lawyers: Top Women of Law, Governor’s Award for Service to the Commonwealth, Massachusetts Bar Association–Access to Justice—Prosecutor of the Year (first female recipient), United States Postal Service: Women’s History Award, YWCA: Woman of Achievement, and Elms College Distinguished Alumna.

My name is Dr. Katelyn Roberson, a licensed registered nurse with a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Bay Path University. I will soon be licensed as a nurse practitioner. I serve as a tenure-track nursing professor in the undergraduate baccalaureate program at American International College.

I am an active member and former vice president of the Western Massachusetts Black Nurses Association, a board member of the African American Female Professors Association, and a former board director for Region One of the Massachusetts Nurses Association. I also engage in racial and social justice advocacy, particularly in nursing labor rights.

As a speaker, I am dedicated to empowering individuals who have faced disparities, gender inequality, and racial oppression. My work focuses on advancing equity in healthcare, education, and leadership.

Educational Consultant and Motivational speaker for nonprofits and colleges in the Pioneer Valley. Ms. Ayanna C. Crawford (Springfield) is the proud mother of two children.She also is the owner/ President of AC consulting and Media Services specializing in workshops in communications skills; press releases; social media management & marketing with nonprofits and community-based centers in the New England area. She also has a love for public relations and media work. She currently works for the state of Massachusetts as Chief of Staff for Representative Orlando Ramos in 9th Hampden district. She was also a former Educator in Springfield Public Schools and she has been a guest lecturer at Smith College on “Best Practices for literacy development in Urban Schools” in the education department at Smith College.

She is a graduate of Westfield State University with a BA in psychology and an M.Ed. from Springfield College as well as an Alumni of Ameri Corps program, which is a service program that places students in urban schools to help with closing the achievement gap. Ayanna is the original former host of “Gospel Café, a regional entertainment showcase in New England area, as well as Tastemakers Soul event of local, regional, national entertainment world to network with Executives in the Entertainment industry. Also, to Ayanna’s credit, she has been a featured speaker at numerous colleges and universities on the topic of race, women’s issues, and parenthood.

She created a signature program for girls in a western mass called “it’s your turn take the mic” – which is a summer enrichment program, Afterschool and school-aged program for girls ages 5-18 years old in the Greater Springfield area. She is also the founder of Women in the Business club of Western Mass area. Former board of director members on the American Red Cross and TWC. She is currently on the board of Parent Villages, American Service Alliance & Behavioral Health Network.She is currently writing a book on Tips for young girls in public speaking. Ayanna volunteers for several organizations and community-based centers assisting them with media & Public Relations!

Tania M. Barber is the President/CEO at Caring Health Center (CHC). Tania has been at CHC for 28 years. CHC employs a staff of more than 300 and provides over 21,000 patients per year with affordable, accessible, comprehensive care with over 90,000 visits/year.

Under her leadership, CHC has grown from $13 million to $46 million. CHC offers comprehensive medical, dental, pharmacy, WIC, and behavioral health services. Inspired by her vision and naming it after her, the Board of Directors approved the launch of the Tania M. Barber Learning Institute. This workforce equity model is committed to addressing systemic barriers affecting people of color, immigrant, and refugee communities. 

Ms. Barber is the Pastor and Founder of Living Water Global Ministries Inc.

Inspired to help women become successful leaders, Ms. Barber founded EST. HER, LLC, which was divinely inspired and birthed from the biblical book Esther. 

Dr Sara Hulseberg is a mother of two wonderful middle school boys, a wife to a loving and supportive husband, a travel agent with We Do Travel Right, a singer with Sunday Minor and Kiszmet, and the owner of EXCEL Therapy & Conditioning; an outpatient rehab and training facility in Wilbraham, MA. Sara opened EXCEL 13 years ago this weekend, after deciding she needed a better way to both provide quality care to the people that entrusted their injuries and ailments to her, and support her two infants as a single mother. And so EXCEL was born and Sara’s legacy of putting people first became a business that survived against all odds- and a pandemic. This display of perseverance is a reflection of Sara and her family’s motto; we’re Hulsebergs, we don’t know how to give up.

A surge of energy surrounds Lorraine Gorham wherever she goes. The retired owner of Lorraine’s Fashion Showcase and Northampton Bridal, Lorraine has been a successful businessperson for more than 65 years and has won myriad honors including Holyoke Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year and the Holyoke Quota Club’s Career Woman of the Year. She is a charter member of the Women Business Owners Alliance and received its Today’s Professional Woman Achiever Award. Holyoke Community College honored her with a special award for her support of its internship program. She served as state president and veterans chair for the General Federation of Women’s Clubs and regional governor of Quota International.

Today, Lorraine can be found at the helm of the Ms. Senior Massachusetts pageant, encouraging women in the “age of elegance” to fulfill their potential. She is the manager of the pageant’s Cameo Club, a senior troupe of singers and dancers who entertain year-round at venues such as MGM and the Big E. An active volunteer with the Holyoke Senior Center, she successfully lobbied the Holyoke City Council to keep the weekly Friday bingo games that attract a large cross-section of the city’s seniors. This fall, she organized and directed a charity fashion show for the city’s 150th anniversary, bringing together local celebrities from 8 to 80+. In the rare moments she is not on the go, she spends time with her family and friends, cheering on her beloved Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, and Minutemen. Hurrah for this unstoppable octogenarian!

Nora is a resilient mother whose life took a heartbreaking turn when her beloved eight-year-old daughter, Maddie, passed away from DIPG, a rare and devastating pediatric brain cancer. In the wake of this unimaginable loss, Nora transformed her grief into a powerful mission by founding Magic for Maddie, a charity dedicated to fueling research for pediatric brain cancer, helping families in the fight and impacting locally in Western MA. Through tireless advocacy, Nora has mobilized supporters, raising nearly $1 million to fund critical research and support families facing pediatric cancer.

Nora is a Reading Specialist in Enfield, CT and lives in Southampton with her husband, Greg and sons, Will & Patrick. While Nora is deeply honored to be recognized for her bravery, she believes the true honor belongs to Maddie, who faced her 10 month battle with unwavering strength, inspiring those around her with her remarkable resilience and unyielding spirit.

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.