Rhea, accepting the 2025 Edi Silverman Award
The 2025 Edi Silverman awardee goes to Rhea Williamson. Since 2003, the annual Edi Silverman Community Service Award has recognized a branch member who has made outstanding contributions to the community as well as the branch.
Rhea’s contributions range far and wide. She has served on the Sierra Gold Parks Foundation Board and the San Juan Ridge Taxpayers Association Board. She also has been a member of the North San Juan Fire Protection District Board, including as Treasurer. Due to her efforts, water tanks were installed in remote areas of the Ridge to protect occupants when fire strikes.
Her boundless energy and commitment to her community led her to join the San Juan Ridge Action Community Team, which successfully convinced the Nevada County Board to reinstate the bus line to the San Juan Ridge. Williamson was the lead for the West Sages Firewise Community. She provided pro bono support to entrepreneurs starting new businesses, and she hosted storytellers and musicians performing at the North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center.
Rhea Williamson with former colleague in chairing the Local Scholarship committee, Lisa Turlo
Regarding her Branch contribution, Williamson served as the Local Scholarship Committee Chair for the past three years. During that time, the Branch increased its annual scholarship awards from $20,000 to $79,000. Her enthusiasm and commitment to the AAUW mission of diversity, equity, and inclusion was apparent at the Branch’s March 2024 monthly program focused on LGBTQ+ where she shared her life story as a gay woman working in academia in the engineering field. She worked as a professor and a college administrator, mentoring LGBTQ+ students and fighting both overt and hidden discrimination along the way. Notes Lisa Turlo, current AAUW Local Scholarships Committee Co-Chair, “What stands out for me about Rhea is her utter fearlessness about standing up for what is right. Despite the personal and professional challenges, she manages to move through the world with grace and kindness.”
Current & Past Awardees
2025 Rhea Williamson
2024 Carolyn Feuille
2023 Robin Laverty-Reves
2022 Teri McConnell
2021 Deborah Cubberley
2020 Susie Monary-Wilson
2019 Stephanie Facchini
2018 Ann Shulse
2017 Francesca Erickson
2016 Melanie Heckel
2015 Martha Rees
2014 Bernadette Sylvester
2013 Stephanie Norton
2012 Shirley Zeff
2011 Sharon O’Hara
2010 Sue Miller
2009 Elaine Sierra
2008 Cheryl Morris
2007 Carolyn Standley
2006 Madelyn Helling
2005 Zaida Petievich
2004 Marion Becker
2003 Edi Silverman
Since 2003, our Branch has honored a member who has made a sustained, significant contribution to AAUW and the community. A committee headed by the current recipient makes the final selection based on the following criteria:
- Be a current member of AAUW-NC and a current resident of Nevada County
- Have made a significant contribution to the community through volunteer and professional activities that relate to the AAWU Mission
- Exhibit leadership qualities.