Alyssa Anzalone-Newman Award for Social Justice
Alyssa Anzalone-Newman lost her courageous 2.5-year battle with breast cancer in June 2022 at age 32. She was an extraordinary young woman, who passionately dedicated her brief life to social justice with a focus on women’s rights. In 2011, Alyssa graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a Bachelor of Arts with College Honors and a Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies major. And in 2016, she received her JD as a Dean’s Scholar from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and Certificate in Management from The Wharton School. Alyssa most recently worked as a Title IX Investigator at Columbia University in New York City, assisting student sexual violence victims. She previously worked as an Assistant Attorney General and Litigation Fellow for the Office of the New York State Attorney General. After law school, she became an Associate at the law firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP in New York City, after being a Summer Associate there, and a Legal Intern for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Trenton, NJ. Following Washington University, Alyssa worked as a Project Assistant in Sanctuary for Families’ Courtroom Advocates Project in New York City, assisting domestic violence victims. While in St. Louis, she volunteered as Fundraising Chair for the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) Relay for Life of Washington University; as a member of ACS’ High Plains Relay for Life Emerging Markets Taskforce; as a tutor at Lydia’s House, which supports domestic violence victims; as a Program Leader for Natural Ties, where students spend time with adults with special needs; and, as a Domestic Violence Courtroom Advocate in the St. Louis County Courthouse. While attending Washington University, she was a Teaching Associate for the “Law & Society” freshman political science seminar, a Peer Health Exchange Program Intern in New York City, and a Legal Services Intern for the Rachel Coalition, serving domestic violence victims in northern New Jersey. During her education and work, Alyssa repeatedly received special recognition, including: The Legal Aid Society’s 2018 Pro Bono Publico Award; the New York State Bar Association’s Empire State Counsel recognition of 50+ hours pro bono work; and, as a Penn Carey Law School’s Equal Justice Foundation Summer Fellow and the Toll Public Interest Center’s Excellence in Leadership Award. She was kind, considerate, generous, smart, and witty, and she enjoyed good conversation and debating about her passions, which often included social justice. She made a remarkable impression on everyone who met her by being a loving and caring person.
The Alyssa Anzalone-Newman Award for Social Justice honors a WGSS senior with a record of activism in exposing inequality, empowering disadvantaged communities, and fostering social change.
Amount of award: $250
Past Recipients of the Alyssa Anzalone-Newman Award
2018 - Jaime Swank and Mohammed Alshamsi
2019 - Nathaniel Bernstein and Jaime Swank
2020 - Emily Getzoff, Alia Nahra, and Jeri Wright
2021 - Siddhi Vora
2022 - Julia Birnbach and Gracie Kaul
2023 - Allison Ryan
2024 - Bristol Hough
Helen Power Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Award for Scholarship and Service
Helen Power graduated from the University of Chicago (1955) and earned a master's (1964) and doctoral degree (1966) in English from Washington University. She was a lecturer in the English department at Washington University and served as the Women and Gender Studies program's Coordinator for ten years. Helen's insight and passion for women's studies ensured that the program flourished and continues to do so. She played an important role in initiating the Stiritz Endowed Chair in Women and Gender Studies and assisted in raising funds for the matching grant to provide continued support and development of the program. As Coordinator, she negotiated with the administration for expanded resources, additional faculty, and recognition of the program's contributions to the university and to its students and faculty. Her work as a teacher has benefited students in the United States and abroad, where she taught courses in Iran and Afghanistan and with the University of Pittsburgh's Semester-at-Sea program. Helen Power has made critically important contributions to the Women and Gender Studies Program, to the lives of the students and faculty who have known her, and to Washington University. She has been an exemplary citizen of the University in her teaching, her collegiality, and her service.
This award is made annually to a Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies major. Candidates are nominated, on the basis of scholarly record and service, by program advisors. Selection is made by a committee within the Program. The award is presented annually at the graduating seniors' luncheon in May.
Amount of award: $500
Past Recipients of the Helen Power Award
2007 - Kristi Nigh
2008 - Shaina Goodman and Rachel Gartner
2009 - Paige Sweet
2010 - Lauren Weiss
2011 - Dan Woznica
2012 - Ashley Brosius
2013 - Trish Yeh and Laura Dietrich
2014 - Vinita Chaudhry and Louisa Kornblatt
2015 - Mackenzie Findlay and Lily Jacobi
2016 - Kara Skjoldager
2017 - Katie Chew
2018 - Olivia Beres and Carly Wolfer
2019 - Alyssa Hunt
2020 - Theaivin Yousef
2021 - Dahlia Lehman
2022 - Dani Sarraf
2023 - Ranen Miao and Emily Tack
2024 - Lily Coll and Sarah Rosen