Virginia Outwin Boochever, who endowed the National Portrait Gallery's portrait competition, became one of the first female commissioned officers in the Navy WAVES, and was a volunteer at the gallery for 19 years bringing the museum experience to retirement homes. #Groundbreaker

Curator Emeritus Dr. Jane Walsh, Smithsonian's National Anthropological Archives, developed a specialty in pre-Columbian lapidary technology to better understand the technological advancements of ancient cultures. #Groundbreaker

Research Anthropologist Dr. Sabrina Sholts, Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, uses bones to study the effects of environmental contaminants on people in the past and present, and directs the Smithsonian Institution Bio-Imaging Research Center. #Groundbreaker

Curator of Oceanic Ethnology Dr. Adrienne Kaeppler, Smithsonian's National Anthropological Archives, is an expert on Tongan dance and was honored by the YWCA as a leading female scientist whose work increased the understanding of native cultures. #Groundbreaker

Curator of Linguistics Dr. Gabriela Pérez Báez, Smithsonian's National Anthropological Archives, works to preserve endangered languages and tries to retain the research of pre-Columbian Zapotec languages within the Mexican community. #Groundbreaker

Dr. Michèle Gates Moresi, Supervisory Curator of Collections, Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture, oversaw the acquisition of nearly 37,000 collection objects for the new museum. #Groundbreaker 

Phylogeneticist Dr. Beryl Simpson, formerly curator at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, received the 2010 José Cuatrecasas Medal for Excellence in Tropical Botany for her contributions to the field and 3 decades of mentoring future botanists. #Groundbreaker

Dr. E. Carmen Ramos, Deputy Chief Curator and Curator of Latino Art, Smithsonian American Art Museum, is tasked with expanding the museum’s collection of Latino art with an eye toward capturing the broad aesthetic and regional range of the field. #Groundbreaker

Director Lori Yarrish, Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum, led the museum during its 50th year to adopt a community-driven model increasing collaboration with D.C. Public Schools on issues such as sustainability and healthy eating. #Groundbreaker

Curator of African American History and Culture at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Fath Davis Ruffins, is a specialist in ethnic imagery in popular culture, the history of advertising, and the origins of ethnic museums on the National Mall. #Groundbreaker