Deneen Hernandez had an early introduction to criminal justice as well as anatomy and physiology because babysitters were scarce. Her mother, a marshal for the Seneca Nation in New York, pursued a degree in criminal justice and had no choice but to take little Deneen with her to class. “I helped her study criminal justice, like constitutional law and Miranda rights,” says Hernandez, this year’s winner of the Professional of the Year Award.

When Kathleen Jolivette first joined The Boeing Company in the early 2000s, she had little in common with her fellow interns. By the time she arrived at Boeing, Jolivette had spent eight years in the U.S. Army, already started a family, and obtained her undergraduate degree. “I was in my late 30s.” says Jolivette. “I always joked about being the oldest.”

Dr. Wendy F. Smythe, Haida, never thought her career would veer into the world of public policy.