2026 Inductees Delaware Women's Hall of Fame
Mary C. Dennison (posthumously)
Mary C. Dennison was a Delaware educator and community leader whose career in public education spanned more than forty-three years. Born in Wilmington in 1896, she attended the Women's College of Delaware, now the University of Delaware, and later earned a Doctor of Education. She began her career teaching in Dover before returning to Wilmington, where she taught English at Wilmington High School and advanced into leadership roles as assistant principal at Bayard Junior High School and principal of Gray School beginning in 1944. At Gray School, she led one of Wilmington's largest elementary schools, serving more than 1,200 students, and guided the school through the early years of integration in 1954. Recognizing the lack of opportunities for girls, she helped lead the effort to establish the Girls Club of Wilmington in 1954. The club quickly grew, with 700 girls registering in its first week, and expanded to serve communities across Delaware as what is now Girls Inc. of Delaware. Dennison remained actively involved through board service and civic leadership. Her work helped shape institutions that continue to expand access, opportunity, and support for girls across the state.
Judie Drexler
For more than four decades, Judie Drexler has been a catalyst for positive change in Delaware, helping shape public policy and strengthening organizations dedicated to children, families, women, and underserved communities. From the early 1960s through the 1990s, she helped build stronger institutions, create opportunities for Delawareans, that had a lasting impact on justice, equality, and opportunity for all.
Judie is a consensus-builder and problem solver. Rather than simply advocating for change, she helped develop programs and organizations whose impact continues to benefit Delaware today. In the late 1960s, Judie helped lead an innovative effort to train minority women to operate childcare centers. The initiative expanded access to quality childcare and enabled more women to enter the workforce.
In 1975, she was named the first Director of Delaware’s newly created Division of Services to Children, Youth and Their Families. Charged with building a comprehensive statewide system of services for young people, she worked closely with public and private agencies to transform care for vulnerable children. Among her lasting accomplishments was the creation of group homes that are now foundational to the state’s juvenile justice systems.
Judie’s leadership: President of the Wilmington Section of the National Council of Jewish Women; Vice President of the YWCA of New Castle County and Chair of its Racial Justice Committee; President of the Christina Cultural Arts Center; President of Volunteers for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and a board member of the American Civil Liberties Union, Jewish Family Service, and the Delaware Bay Marine Institute; received the National Conference of Christian and Jew’s highest award for “building bridges of understanding between different cultural groups.”
After retiring to Florida with her husband, Dave, Judie settled into the role of grandparent and great grandparent while continuing her community commitment to service as a member of the Allocation Committee of the Admirals Cove Foundation, helping direct approximately $2 million in annual charitable grants.
Dr. LaVerne Harmon
Dr. LaVerne Harmon's career reflects the power of education to change lives. Since becoming president of Wilmington University in 2017, she has led the expansion of academic programs that prepare students in Delaware and around the world for careers in law, science, engineering, healthcare, public service, business and education.
Under her leadership, Wilmington University launched the Farnan School of Law, established the College of Sciences and Engineering, expanded initiatives tied to the nursing and healthcare pipeline, and strengthened its Brandywine presence, where the University purchased two additional buildings, completed a law building and added a Convocation Center. She also created the University's Leadership Institute, established the Student Accessibility Services Office and led the transition of WilmU Athletics from NAIA to NCAA Division II.
Dr. Harmon's leadership is rooted in deep institutional experience. Since joining Wilmington University in 1989, she has advanced from assistant to the president to president, with a distinguished progression of leadership roles that included dean of student affairs, vice president of student affairs, university vice president and executive vice president. Through each role, she has remained dedicated to the well-being and success of all students.
She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Wilmington University while working full-time and later earned her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, while also working full-time. In 2017, she became the first African American woman to lead a college or university in Delaware. Her own path reflects the opportunity she has worked to create for others.
Dr. Harmon is the author of “The Heart of Leardership: A Personal Reflection,” which places compassion at the center of effective leadership. Proceeds support the Wilmington University Linda Thomas Scholarship, named in memory of her sister.
Terri Kelly
Terri Kelly is the former President and CEO of W.L. Gore & Associates, a multi-billion dollar privately held global Enterprise. Gore specializes in advanced materials used in a wide array of demanding applications from GORE-TEX® fabric to minimally invasive medical devices to electronic cables used in space exploration. Gore is as well known for its unique management philosophy and culture, as it is for its unique products.
Ms. Kelly joined Gore in 1983 after graduating summa cum laude from the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. In 2005, she became the President and CEO also serving as a director of the board, stepping down in 2018.
Terri has been a trustee of the University of Delaware Board since 2009 and currently serves as its Chair. She is also a trustee of the Alfred I. DuPont Charitable Trust, which provides oversight to the Nemours Foundation – one of the nation’s leading children’s health care systems.
Kelly serves on two public boards; United Rentals, the largest industrial rental equipment company in the world, and as Vice Chair of Netherlands based ASML, a manufacturer of highly complex lithography systems used in the production of advanced semiconductors.
Ms. Kelly was elected as a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2021 and received the Milestone award by the Delaware Business Times in 2024 as a CEO of the Year honoree. In 2014, Kelly was inducted into the University of Delaware Alumni Wall of Fame and also recognized as a “Women of Distinction” by the Girl Scouts.
Terri resides in Delaware with her husband, John, and their four children.