3 Trailblazing Women Inducted Into Hillsborough Women's Hall of Fame

TAMPA, FL — After blazing trails in the fields of education, politics and community planning, three women were inducted into the Hillsborough County Women's Hall of Fame.

The Hillsborough County Friends of the Commission on the Status of Women held a ceremony to honor the newest members of the Hillsborough County Women's Hall of Fame. Three women — Fran Davin, Judy Genshaft and Margarit Gonzales — were celebrated for their significant contributions to Hillsborough County.

Davin is a pioneer in governmental and civic affairs as an environmental leader, early champion of women's rights and advocate for people with disabilities. She served on the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners and the Tampa City Council.

For 19 years, Genshaft served as president of the University of South Florida System, illustrating her status as a trailblazer, philanthropist and advocate for higher education and the Tampa Bay region.

Gonzalez is a consummate community leader, serving as co-founder and honorary chair of the Hispanic Professional Women's Association. The HPWA promotes the value of a higher education and actively creates scholarship opportunities for students pursuing academic and professional dreams.

The Women's Hall of Fame was created in 2011 by the Hillsborough County Commission on the Status of Women. The Women's Hall of Fame honors women who, through their lives and efforts, have made significant contributions to the improvement of life for women and all residents of Hillsborough County.

The Commission on the Status of Women is an advisory group that reports to the Board of County Commissioners. It studies issues pertaining to women, including discrimination, employment, education, day care and health care. The women-led group has addressed child sex trafficking, hunger, affordable housing, challenges faced by women military veterans, among other issues.

The Hillsborough County Women's Hall of Fame display can be viewed at the Arthenia L. Joyner University Area Community Library. Past inductees can be viewed on the online Women's Hall of Fame.