Three ODU-Affiliated Local Leaders are YWCA Women of Distinction

March 02, 2017

Shelley Mishoe

Three Hampton Roads women with deep connections to Old Dominion University have been selected as 2017 Women of Distinction by the YWCA of South Hampton Roads.

Shelley Mishoe, who recently completed her tenure as dean of Old Dominion's College of Health Sciences, has been selected in the Medicine category. Mishoe served as the fourth dean for the college for five years, leaving her post at the end of 2016.

Vivian Paige, lecturer of accounting in the Strome College of Business and local writer and public speaker, is the honoree in the Communications category. Her blog, All Politics is Local, tackles a range of political and community issues.

And Kim Curtis '82, president and CEO of Tidewater Home Funding, Curtis is a strong supporter of her alma mater. She currently sits on the ODU Educational Foundation Board's Executive Committee as Vice Chair and the E.V. Williams Center for Real Estate, and is a founding member of ODU's Women's Initiative Network.

Winners of the YWCA of South Hampton Roads Women of Distinction will receive their awards at the 29th annual Women of Distinction Awards luncheon Thursday, April 27 at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott.

Each year, the organization recognizes and celebrates the achievements of 12 outstanding women. In choosing the recipients for the award, the selection committee takes into consideration the nominees' professional and civic achievements and how the nominees exemplify the values and mission of the YWCA.

The honorees must exhibit a dedication to the YWCA mission of eliminating racism and empowering women - promoting peace, justice, dignity and freedom.

Since 1989, hundreds of Hampton Roads community leaders have received the award from the YWCA of South Hampton Roads, including ODU-affiliated past winners Carolyn Rhodes, professor emeritus of women's studies; Betsy Duke, a 1983 ODU M.B.A. graduate and former member of the Board of Governors for the U.S. Federal Reserve; and Roseann Runte, Old Dominion University's seventh president.