Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame 2025 Induction Ceremony & Celebration
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025 | 2-4 p.m.
The War Memorial, Grosse Pointe Farms
It’s the highest honor a Michigan woman can achieve — induction into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame. Seven women will join this illustrious group of amazing women in 2025. Join us as we celebrate them and the trails they’ve blazed.
Our 2025 Contemporary Inductees
Sheri Jones
For more than 37 years, Sheri Jones has been the trusted voice of WLNS TV 6 in Lansing, earning a place in the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame, Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame, and NATAS Silver Circle. A fearless journalist and community leader, she has shone a light on critical issues from the opioid crisis to human trafficking, while organizing debates, telethons, and award-winning documentaries—including the Emmy-winning We Can Do It! A Celebration of Michigan Women. Beyond the newsroom, Jones is a global ambassador and humanitarian, leading projects from Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build to homebuilding in Kenya.
Diana Lewis
Beloved Detroit news anchor Diana Lewis brought warmth, integrity, and authenticity to WXYZ-TV from 1977 until her retirement in 2012, earning more than 20 Emmy Awards and the trust of an entire city. A trailblazer for women—especially Black women—in journalism, she broke barriers while remaining deeply rooted in community service, championing causes from domestic violence prevention to organ donation. From co-anchoring with her daughter to being honored in the Smithsonian’s Oprah Winfrey Gallery, Lewis’s career is marked by historic firsts, professional excellence, and a genuine connection with viewers that made her not just a broadcaster, but a Detroit icon.
Valerie Newman
Valerie Newman, a Wayne State University Law School graduate, has built a trailblazing legal career dedicated to justice and advocacy. After 23 years at the State Appellate Defender Office, she became the founding director of the Wayne County Conviction Integrity Unit, securing the release of 43 wrongfully convicted individuals. She has argued landmark cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, including Lafler v. Cooper, and led reforms to eyewitness identification and custodial interrogation practices. A respected educator at the University of Michigan and Detroit Mercy Law, Newman is a Michigan Lawyers Hall of Fame inductee whose integrity, skill, and compassion have transformed lives.
Marge Byington Potter
A transformative leader in business, public policy, and philanthropy, Marge Byington Potter revitalized Detroit’s Renaissance Zone, creating hundreds of jobs by redeveloping vacant industrial sites for automotive suppliers. She broke barriers as the first woman to chair the Kent County Board of Commissioners and advanced opportunities for women and girls through service with the Progressive Women’s Alliance and Girls Choral Academy. A champion of education, she and her late husband endowed a Grand Valley State University scholarship for Grand Rapids Public Schools graduates. Recognized among Michigan’s most influential women, Potter’s legacy blends economic revitalization, civic leadership, and lifelong community service.
Jacqueline Taylor, PhD.
A trailblazer in higher education, Dr. Jacqueline “Jackie” Taylor has spent more than five decades expanding access to learning, advancing women, and fostering global understanding. The first female vice president of Lansing Community College, she later helped unify three institutions into today’s Davenport University, pioneering online learning and launching groundbreaking study abroad programs. A servant leader, she has mentored dozens of women into presidencies and senior leadership roles, championed diversity and inclusion, and shaped civic life through extensive board service. Today, Taylor continues to inspire as a consultant and mentor, embodying integrity, vision, and a lifelong commitment to empowering others.
Our 2025 Historical Inductees
Doris Biscoe
A trailblazer for women and African Americans in broadcast journalism, Doris Biscoe became one of Detroit’s most respected reporters and anchors during her 27-year career at WXYZ-TV. Known for her grace, integrity, and tenacity, she produced award-winning documentaries, co-hosted the nationally syndicated literacy series Learn to Read, and created the beloved “Gift of Love” segment highlighting children in need of adoption. Biscoe broke barriers as a top-rated news anchor, role model, and mentor, earning numerous honors for her work and community service. Her legacy endures as a symbol of professionalism, representation, and the power of journalism to inspire change.
Kalamazoo Ladies’ Library Association
Founded in 1852, the Kalamazoo Ladies’ Library Association pioneered Michigan’s first subscription-based public library, inspiring dozens of women’s organizations statewide to expand access to books, education, and civic engagement. In 1879, they became the first women’s organization in the U.S. to design, fund, and build their own clubhouse, which is still in use today. For more than 170 years, the association has empowered women through leadership, literacy, and cultural programming, from distributing hundreds of children’s books annually to hosting community arts events. A catalyst for Michigan’s women’s club movement, the group remains a vibrant force for advancing women and preserving history.
Search the Hall of Fame
From civil rights icon Rosa Parks to comedic legend Lily Tomlin, the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame includes more than 300 women who’ve made their mark in their fields and on our state.
About the Hall of Fame
Find out about the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame nomination process and criteria. Our nominations are closed for this year, but get prepared to make a nomination for 2025.
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