Phyllis Breland '80, director of Opportunity Programs and ACCESS Pathways, was honored at the YWCA of the Mohawk Valley's Salute to Outstanding Women on April 3. The annual Salute celebrates and honors women who have made "exemplary contributions in their industry." Breland was recognized in the education category.
The YWCA award recognizes the contributions women make to bring about social and economic change, promote women's equality, serve as outstanding role models, work on behalf of women's issues and demonstrate exceptional leadership within their professions.
A 1980 graduate of Hamilton, Breland was a theatre major, class speaker and the first African-American woman inducted into Pentagon. After her graduation from Hamilton she served as the division director of the United Way for eight years before moving to Rochester. Breland was case manager, adoption specialist, the associate department director of elder services at Catholic Family Center before returning to Syracuse to become an educator for county health.
Breland returned to the Hill in 2001 and received a master of education in 2003 from American Intercontinental University. She is active as a member of the Alumni Council, Multicultural Alumni Relations Committee and Performing Arts committees. Breland was instrumental in planning the first Multicultural Reunion in 2007.
Hamilton president Joan Hinde Stewart was honored with the YWCA award in the education category in 2006; Vivyan Adair, the Elihu Root Associate Professor of Women's Studies, received it in 2005; and Judith Owens-Manley, associate director of community research for the Arthur Levitt Public Affairs Center received the award in the human services category in 2004.
The YWCA award recognizes the contributions women make to bring about social and economic change, promote women's equality, serve as outstanding role models, work on behalf of women's issues and demonstrate exceptional leadership within their professions.
A 1980 graduate of Hamilton, Breland was a theatre major, class speaker and the first African-American woman inducted into Pentagon. After her graduation from Hamilton she served as the division director of the United Way for eight years before moving to Rochester. Breland was case manager, adoption specialist, the associate department director of elder services at Catholic Family Center before returning to Syracuse to become an educator for county health.
Breland returned to the Hill in 2001 and received a master of education in 2003 from American Intercontinental University. She is active as a member of the Alumni Council, Multicultural Alumni Relations Committee and Performing Arts committees. Breland was instrumental in planning the first Multicultural Reunion in 2007.
Hamilton president Joan Hinde Stewart was honored with the YWCA award in the education category in 2006; Vivyan Adair, the Elihu Root Associate Professor of Women's Studies, received it in 2005; and Judith Owens-Manley, associate director of community research for the Arthur Levitt Public Affairs Center received the award in the human services category in 2004.
