Women's History Month

March 3, 2021

Each year, Women's History Month celebrates women who have built, shaped, and improved the world in which we live. 

It began as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week.”

Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as “Women’s History Week.”

In 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress designated the entire month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month.”

Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” These proclamations celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields.

Join us in celebrating these notable women that play a significant role in [literally] moving all of us forward:

Nuria Fernandez, FTA Acting Administrator

After seven years serving as General Manager/CEO of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), Nuria I. Fernandez stepped down to join the Biden-Harris Administration at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). She was appointed to Deputy Administrator for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on January 21, 2021.

With more than 35 years of experience, Ms. Fernandez has made a name for herself as an inspiring leader in the transportation industry. At the VTA helm, she was responsible for 2,100 employees, delivering projects, programs, and transit services that provide mobility solutions for the people who live and work in Silicon Valley.

Ms. Fernandez served as Chair of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) from 2019-2020 while the industry was faced with the triple threat of a pandemic, a recession and grave unrest over racial injustices. As a first, her term was extended a year to continue her leadership with the national organization to advance advocacy, innovation, workforce development and membership growth.

Prior to leading VTA, Ms. Fernandez served in leadership positions at some of the busiest transit agencies in the nation, including Chief Operating Officer of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and Sr. Vice President of Design and Construction for the Chicago Transit Authority and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, consecutively. She also served as Commissioner for the Chicago Department of Aviation overseeing O’Hare and Midway Airports.

Born and raised in Panama City, Panama, Ms. Fernandez immigrated to the U.S. to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and Master of Business Administration.

Theresa “Terry” Garcia Crews, Regional Administrator, United States Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration-Region III

Terry Garcia Crews joined the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in February of 2015 as the Regional Administrator. She and her team oversee the Federal funding for Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Ms. Garcia Crews guides 28 professionals in two offices, Philadelphia and Washington, DC, who provide grant development and program management support to our community partners.

With executive leadership experience, Ms. Garcia Crews served as Chief Executive Officer for several transportation agencies. She managed Metro in Cincinnati, including a 356-bus fleet and a workforce of 828. She also led transit systems in Austin, Texas; Lexington, Kentucky; Poughkeepsie, New York; and Tucson, Arizona.

Prior to joining the public sector, her banking industry experience established a foundation for bottom line expectations and garnering a solid return on investment on projects and services. Additionally, as a national transportation consultant, she assisted clients nationwide and formulated strategic plans and public awareness programs. Ms. Garcia Crews' experience leading multi-dimensional organizations produced demonstrated results in achieving financial sustainability, improving service, effecting cultural change and fostering stakeholder support. 

Ms. Garcia Crews has a Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration and a Double Major in Finance and Marketing.

Leslie Richards, General Manager, SEPTA

Leslie S. Richards is the 11th General Manager of Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), where she oversees a budget of more than $2 billion and 9,500 employees As the sixth largest public transportation agency in the U.S., SEPTA operates across six transportation modes and has 2,800 vehicles in service, 285 subway and rail stations, 13,000 bus and trolley stops, and 150 routes.

Prior to joining SEPTA in 2020, Ms. Richards served as the first woman secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), one of the largest and most innovative transportation agencies in the U.S. A staunch advocate for women and diversity in transportation and government, Ms. Richards has been recognized for her leadership in the industry and commitment to public service.

Ms. Richards earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and urban studies from Brown University, and a master’s degree in regional planning from the University of Pennsylvania

Chellie Cameron, CEO, Philadelphia International Airport

Rochelle (“Chellie”) L. Cameron was appointed Chief Executive Officer in January 2016.  As CEO, Ms. Cameron serves as the City’s chief aviation representative in local, state, national and international affairs. She is responsible for the operation of the Airport System and directing the planning, development and administration of all activities of the City’s Division of Aviation, including both Philadelphia International Airport and Northeast Philadelphia Airport. She also oversees the management of airport personnel. As of June 30, 2020, there were approximately 792 Division of Aviation employees, 164 Police Department, 70 Fire Department, 19 Law Department and 24 Office of Fleet Management persons employed by the City's Division of Aviation. 

Before joining PHL, Ms. Cameron had 13 years' experience working for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA). Her experience also includes seven years as an active duty officer in the United States Air Force and one year as an Air Force civilian employee. She completed her military service in 1998 as an active duty Captain.

Ms. Cameron holds a B.A. degree in Political Science with a special concentration in economics and philosophy from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from Auburn University at Montgomery. She is a Certified Public Accountant in the Commonwealths of Pennsylvania and Virginia and a Certified Member of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE).

Yassmin Gramian, Secretary, PennDOT

Yassmin Gramian, PE, serves as the secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. She was confirmed unanimously by the Senate on May 27, 2020. As secretary, she oversees programs and policies affecting highways, urban and rural public transportation, airports, railroads, ports, and waterways. She manages PennDOT's annual budget of $9.5 billion, which is invested in all of Pennsylvania's approximately 120,000 miles of state and local highways and 32,000 state and local bridges. Under her leadership, PennDOT is directly responsible for nearly 40,000 miles of highway and roughly 25,400 bridges. She also has oversight of the state's 11.8 million vehicle registrations and 10.3 million driver's licenses and IDs.

Prior to joining PennDOT, Ms. Gramian served as a senior vice president and business development director for a leading international engineering firm. She was responsible for growth of the company's transportation and infrastructure sector in the Northeast Region.

Ms. Gramian earned master's and bachelor's degrees in civil engineering from the University of Michigan and completed the Tuck Management Training Program at Dartmouth College. 

Philadelphia City Councilwoman Cherelle Parker, Chair, DRPA

Councilwoman Cherelle L. Parker proudly serves the Ninth Council District in Philadelphia, which includes the northwest and northeast communities of East Mt. Airy, West Oak Lane, East Oak Lane, Olney, Lawncrest, Lawndale, Burholme and Oxford Circle.

Prior to her election to Council in November 2015, Ms. Parker served for 10 years as the State Representative for the 200th Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where she made history in September 2005 by becoming the youngest African-American woman ever elected.  As State Representative, she earned a reputation for being one of the most effective, politically savvy and proactive legislators in the region. She was twice elected by her Philadelphia colleagues to serve as chair of the Philadelphia Delegation to the House, and in 2013, she was also appointed vice chair/Democratic chair of the House Committee on School Safety.

Ms. Parker is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Lincoln University, where she earned a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in English Education, respectively.

Pennsylvania State Representative Martina White, SEPTA Board Member

Elected to her third full term in 2020, Martina White, a financial advisor and lifelong resident of Northeast Philadelphia, was first elected on March 24, 2015 in a special election to fill an open seat in the 170th District. She became the first new Republican elected in Philadelphia in 25 years. The 170th District includes the neighborhoods of Bustleton, Millbrook, Parkwood and Somerton.

Ms. White is the Secretary of the House Republican Caucus and currently serves on the Rules Committee and the Committee on Committees.

As a financial advisor, Ms. White, who lives in Parkwood, guided families and small business owners on how to best accomplish their financial goals. There, she saw the challenges of raising children, and dealing with the high cost of education and health care which helped inspire her to seek office to assist working families across the Commonwealth.

The first member of her immediate family to graduate from college, Ms. White received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Elizabethtown College.

City of Philadelphia Deputy Mayor for Intergovernmental Affairs Deborah Mahler, SEPTA Board Member

Deborah Mahler has held the post of Deputy Mayor for Intergovernmental Affairs for the City of Philadelphia since 2016.

Ms. Mahler served as Jim Kenney’s Chief of Staff on Philadelphia City Council during his twenty-three year tenure. A native Philadelphian and former teacher, Ms. Mahler has served on numerous state and municipal campaigns and previously served as a Democratic committee person in the 21st Ward.

Ms. Mahler is a graduate of Shippensburg University.

To learn more about women in transportation history - click here.

Give a shoutout in the comments below to the women that have helped to shape you!