The 2019 Inspire Award for FSU Women of Distinction
The Inspire Award recognizes alumnae who have distinguished themselves as leaders within their industry and whose hard work and determination serve as an inspiration to current students and young alumni at Florida State University.
Four Florida State alumnae will be honored during the fourth annual presentation of The Inspire Awards at the Dr. Phillips Center on Thursday, March 28 at 6 p.m.
Join us to enjoy hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine while you network with fellow Florida State alumni and friends before the award presentation, then hear from a panel discussion featuring our award winners immediately after the awards ceremony.
The 2019 Inspire Awards are sponsored by the FSU Alumni Association, The Women for FSU, and the Seminole Club of Greater Orlando.
For more information about The Inspire Award, please contact Dawn Jennings, director of alumni programs and outreach, at dcjennings@fsu.edu.
Members, access your discounted tickets by entering your member number. Find your member number here.
Naomie Baptiste (B.S. ’06)
International Subcontract Program Manager, Lockheed Martin Corporation
Naomie Baptiste (B.S. ’06) is an international subcontract program manager at Lockheed Martin Corporation. She is responsible for leading major subcontractors in all cost, schedule and technical performance requirements that are levied on the subcontractor or the product family and is required to ensure performance and support of the contract milestones of the system.
Naomie graduated with a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Florida State University in 2006. As a student, she served on the executive board of the local chapter of the Society of Women Engineers and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). Naomie received the College of Engineering Humanitarian of the Year Award and represented the College of Engineering on Homecoming Court. Naomie maintains a close relationship with her alma mater, serving as a volunteer corporate recruiter and a mentor for undergraduate students.
Naomie received the 2015 USD Woman of Impact Graduate Student Award, 2018 NSBE Technical Excellence Ambassador Award for Lean Six Sigma Process Improvement and a 2019 BEYA Modern-Day Technology Leader. As a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) advocate, Naomie promotes civic engagement and encouragement for young women to pursue engineering as a first-choice profession.
Anne Hamilton (B.S. ’79)
Vice President of Global Travel, The Walt Disney Company
Anne Hamilton (B.S. ’79) is the vice president of global travel for The Walt Disney Company. In this role, Anne provides essential organizational and strategic leadership for her teams who serve the needs of traveling cast members on a global basis for The Walt Disney Company and its subsidiaries. Anne has been with Disney for 23 years; before leading the global travel team, she served most recently as vice president of resort sales and services for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.
Anne “grew up” in the hotel and hospitality industry, performing various roles in hotels owned by her father. Now a veteran of the travel industry, Anne has more than 40 years of experience. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the Florida State University Dedman School of Hospitality and an MBA from Stetson University.
Anne remains actively involved with Florida State University and currently serves on the FSU Foundation Board of Trustees. In recognition of her industry contributions, Anne has been named an American Society of Association Executives Fellow, Professional Convention Management Association Supplier of the Year, and honored as the Florida State University Dedman Hospitality School Alumnae of the Year. She is also a member of the FSU Alumni Association’s Circle of Gold.
Heather Pinder Rodriguez (B.A. ’95, B.S. ’95, J.D. ’98)
Circuit Judge, Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida
The Honorable Heather Pinder Rodriguez (B.A. ’95, B.S. ’95, J.D. ’98) is a Circuit Court Judge in the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, where she has served in the felony, family, domestic violence, and juvenile delinquency divisions. Before becoming a judge, Judge Rodriguez was senior counsel with Holland & Knight’s construction industry practice group and Board Certified in Construction Law. She was an active pro bono attorney and has served as president of the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association Board of Trustees. Judge Rodriguez was also recognized routinely as one of the leading construction lawyers in both the state of Florida and the nation.
Judge Rodriguez received a full academic scholarship to attend Florida State University as part of the undergraduate honors program and earned her bachelor’s degrees in Russian and International Affairs, graduating magna cum laude in 1995. She graduated from the FSU College of Law with honors in 1998. As a student, Judge Rodriguez was an active member and leader in many organizations, including Kappa Kappa Gamma, Panhellenic Executive Council, Order of Omega, Gold Key, Student Alumni Association, Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Beta Kappa, and Moot Court. She served as an Orientation Leader and she was a candidate for the Homecoming Court. Judge Rodriguez is a former member of the Seminole Torchbearers Board of Directors and she continues to serve her alma mater as a member of the College of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors.
As a student at Florida State, Judge Rodriguez received the Greek Woman of the Year and Seminole Leadership awards. In 2008, Judge Rodriguez received the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Pro Bono Service Award, which is awarded to one lawyer each year in recognition of exceptional contributions to those in need of legal service by the Florida Supreme Court.
Jennifer N. Hanson (B.S. ’01)
National Sales Director, Direct to Consumer Sales and Corporate Sponsorships for GolfNow
Jennifer N. Hanson (B.S. ’01) is the national sales director of direct to consumer sales & corporate sponsorships for GolfNow, a division of Golf Channel and part of NBC Sports Group. Jennifer has held sales and marketing roles in digital, television, radio, print, and previously owned an advertising agency which specialized in media planning, media buying, commercial/infomercial production, and digital/point of sale asset creation. Part of the GolfNow leadership team, Jennifer oversees the Revolution Golf product platform and Endemic Direct Response television business, plus affiliate and corporate partnerships.
Jennifer earned her bachelor’s degree from Florida State University in 2001. As a student, she was a freshman Torch Award recipient, social chair of Lady Spirithunters, president of Seminole Ambassadors, a University Ambassador, vice president for Kellum residence hall, and represented FSU on the National Residence Hall Council. Jennifer enjoys returning to campus as a Lady Spirithunter alumna, recruiting students during FSU career fairs, and guest lecturing for sports business classes at the University of Central Florida. She became an active part of the Seminole Club of Greater Orlando in 2008 and joined the club’s Board of Directors the same year, serving as the social chair and community service chair for a total of six years.
Jennifer is a leader in her community, having volunteered through her church, Junior League of Greater Orlando, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, Give Kids The World and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. She remains actively involved with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, having served on the board for the Levy Hughes Branch, was president of For the Benefit Of (FBO) and is currently chair of the board for the West Orange County Branch.
The Inspire Award recognizes alumnae who have distinguished themselves as leaders within their industry and whose hard work and determination serves as an inspiration to current students and young alumni at Florida State University.
Award Criteria
- A woman who has “shattered the glass ceiling” in her career
Demonstrated success in her profession
Risen “in the ranks” in her field or created her own exceptional opportunity
- A woman who has proven to be a mentor to others
Served as a volunteer or mentor in her profession
- A woman who has given of her time, talents and treasure back to FSU
Served on her college board or other FSU board
Demonstrated philanthropy to FSU
Volunteered to speak to classes or mentor students
- A woman who is a leader in her community
Served on community boards
Promoted or inspired others during her career
Past recipients of The Inspire Award
The 2018 Inspire Awards for FSU Women of Distinction
Three FSU Women of Distinction were honored during the third annual presentation of The Inspire Awards in Atlanta on Monday, June 11, 2018.
Dr. Loretta Jackson Brown (B.S.N. ’87)
Senior health communication specialist, Division of Emergency Operations at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Dr. Loretta Jackson Brown (B.S.N. ’87) is the senior health communication specialist in the Division of Emergency Operations at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She contributes to the agency’s global health security agenda by providing emergency risk communication training for various international countries and has responded to over 12 public health emergencies, including Ebola, Zika, and Flint water contamination.
Prior to joining CDC, Dr. Brown, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, served as Chief Nurse Executive for the 94th Aeromedical Staging Squadron at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, GA. A certified nephrology nurse, Dr. Brown has served as a volunteer leader with the American Nephrology Nurses’ Association for over 15 years, including Board of Directors member, Southeast Regional Vice President, and Leadership Development Chairperson. She is the recipient of the association’s 2011 Ron Brady Memorial Award for Excellence in Volunteer Leadership.
Dr. Brown is chair-elect of the Nole Nurse Alumni Group and serves on the Board of Directors for Dekalb Regional Healthcare System in Decatur, GA.
Julie Dunn Eichenberg (B.S. ’94)
Vice president of Brand Distribution, Turner Content Distribution
Julie Dunn Eichenberg (B.S. ’94) is the vice president of Brand Distribution at Turner Content Distribution, the domestic distribution and marketing arm of Turner. Eichenberg spent the past 21 years with Turner in a variety of roles within the distribution division and was previously employed by Convergys. Her career started as a leadership consultant for Gamma Phi Beta International Sorority.
Eichenberg graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing in 1994. As a student at FSU, Eichenberg was a member and leader of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, Gold Key, Student Alumni Association, Order of Omega, the Student Senate and founding member of Burning Spear. In addition, she was Panhellenic Association president and senior class secretary.
Eichenberg was named 1993 Sorority Woman of the Year and received the Seminole Leadership Award. She was selected in 1994 for Gold Key’s Hall of Fame. Eichenberg is the current chair of the FSU Foundation Board of Trustees and serves on the Seminole Torchbearers board. In 2017, Eichenberg was inducted into FSU’s Circle of Gold.
Joy Lynn Fields (B.S. ’86)
Owner, Joy Lynn, Inc.
Joy Lynn Fields (B.S. ’86) is the owner of Joy Lynn, Inc., a qualitative marketing research company.
Fields graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications from FSU in 1986. While at FSU, she served as President Pro Tempore of the Student Senate and was a member of Marilyn Young’s debate team, the Marching Chiefs and a Phi Mu.
Fields began her career in 1985 as an intern in the Media department of BBDO, one of the world’s largest advertising agencies. After some client side experience, she joined Pyramid in 1989, a brand strategy consulting firm, where she started a separate Research division of the company that after only 4 years, accounted for nearly half of the company’s revenues. In early 1993, at the age of 29, Joy Lynn became Pyramid's first Vice President and in 1994, a Senior Vice President.
Fields has received numerous awards including Enterprising Women Magazine’s 2013 Women of the Year, two Gold Stevie Awards (2014 and 2015) for Female Entrepreneur of the Year, and in 2017, Joy Lynn was named Gamechanger of the Year by ACQ5 Global Awards and Qualitative Market Research Company of the Year.