Announcing the 2022 Excellence in Advocacy Award Honorees

Women in Government Relations is pleased to announce the honorees for the 2022 Excellence in Advocacy Awards. These individuals and teams were honored during a reception the evening of Monday, October 3, 2022, at the Marriott Marquis Washington, DC. This is the only awards program that recognizes everyday women advocates.

For more information on all the nominees and the awards program, please visit wgr.org/eiaawards.

The 2022 honorees are:

Advocate of the Year

Shanequa Levin, CEO & Founder, Women’s Diversity Network

Shanequa is the founder and CEO of the Women's Diversity Network, an organization connecting and mobilizing women of different backgrounds to create positive change through collective work and a unified sisterhood. She convened a Black-led, multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-generational coalition of organizations, activists, and community members who are working to ensure genuine public safety for all Long Island communities called LI United to Transform Policing & Community Safety. She has been instrumental in advocating policy changes to Early Care and Learning, Raise The Age, Paid Family Leave Insurance, Bail Reform, and more.

Advocate on the Rise

Samantha Sliney, Department of the Air Force Women's Initiatives Team Co-Lead, United States Air Force

Major Samantha “Sam” Sliney is a United States Air Force (USAF) judge advocate serving within Special Operations. In addition to her full-time duties, she co-leads the Department of the Air Force Women’s Initiative Team as an advocate changing policies to ensure the USAF has inclusive policies for women. Sam is a powerful advocate for servicewomen in the USAF and within the Department of Defense (DoD). She worked for 3 years to change the USAF and DoD policies regarding breastmilk shipping for servicewomen. The Secretary of Defense adopted her proposal in April 2022 and servicewomen are now reimbursed for shipping breastmilk when they travel. Sam not only secured this for servicewomen, but civilian women who are employees of the DoD. Sam has differentiated herself by her persistence and relentlessness to see this policy changed.

Federal Issue Campaign

Sarah Butts, Director of Public Policy, National Association of Social Workers

For advocating for student loan debt relief on behalf of the social work profession, including exacting changes to the PSLF program.

State Issue Campaign

Adjoa B. Asamoah, Principal/CEO, ABA Consulting LLC

For leading the groundbreaking CROWN Act movement on behalf of the CROWN Coalition she co-created and spearheading the legislative victory to codify the nation’s first Office on African American Affairs.

Women Serving Women Campaign

Women’s Initiative Team, United States Air Force consisting of Megan Biles, Alea Nadeem, Noel “Christy” Nolta, Mary O’Brien, Jessica Ruttenber and Samantha Sliney

The Women's Initiatives Team has demolished legacy and antiquated policy barriers to women's service, increasing readiness, recruitment and retention of women in the service.

Controversial Issue Campaign

Melissa Hemphill, Major, Instructor USAFA, Department of the Air Force

For her work on the CADET Act and her ability to change through law what others said could not be done.

NEW Campaign Using Innovation

Government Relations Team at YMCA consisting of Kelly Kennai, Kelsey McKim and Derek Summerville

For their work on Youth Advocacy Day on the Hill to introduce 220 youth to federal policymaking, YMCA advocacy efforts, careers in public policy, and more.

NEW Communications in an Advocacy Campaign

Nicole Patton, Manager of State Government Relations, National Down Syndrome Society

For her innovative use of social media to educate the public on Down syndrome and the inequalities people with disabilities experience.

NEW Volunteer Advocate

Megan Biles, Major, Department of the U.S. Air Force Women's Initiatives Team

For her work on the Air Force's Women’s Initiative Team resulting in several bills passed removing barriers for women in the military.

Lifetime Achievement presented by The Bryce Harlow Foundation

Gina Adams, Corporate Vice President for Government and Regulatory Affairs at FedEx

Gina was honored for her outstanding, lengthy career as a very successful and effective lobbyist, as well as her strong contributions to the profession and community spanning her career. Gina has significant accomplishments in promoting education and the arts, and demonstrable actions of going “above and beyond,” giving back to others in the community—particularly women and even those outside her industry.

Please help us congratulate these everyday advocates doing extraordinary things by sharing this news post on social media #EIA2022 @WGRDC.