Twelve Women Leaders Rewriting History in the U.S. and Montenegro

PODGORICA, Montenegro — In celebration of Women’s History Month, the U.S. Embassy in Montenegro honors twelve women who have significantly influenced society in the U.S. and Montenegro. This tribute features six outstanding women from each country, showcasing their exemplary leadership, strength, and resilience. Their contributions reflect a legacy that continues to inspire generations.

Among the honored Americans is Rosa Parks, a pivotal figure in the Civil Rights Movement, whose refusal to surrender her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama, on December 1, 1955, ignited the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The boycott lasted 381 days and culminated in a Supreme Court ruling that deemed public bus segregation unconstitutional. Parks, who co-founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development in 1987, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1999. A statue of her was unveiled in the U.S. Capitol in 2005, making her the first African American woman to receive this honor, symbolizing the ongoing struggle for equality.

Eugenie Anderson broke barriers in U.S. diplomacy as the first American woman ambassador. Appointed to Denmark in 1949 by President Harry S. Truman, she later became the first female head of a diplomatic mission in a Soviet bloc country when she served in Bulgaria in 1962. Anderson was instrumental in post-World War II peace efforts and engaged in significant diplomacy, including signing treaties for the U.S. and representing the country at the United Nations Security Council. Her legacy as a peace advocate and champion of people-to-people diplomacy continues to resonate.

Katherine Johnson, a remarkable mathematician, played an essential role in America’s space achievements. A prodigy, she graduated high school at 14 and went on to work for NASA. Johnson calculated flight trajectories for numerous missions, including Alan Shepard’s and John Glenn’s historic flights, and contributed to the Apollo 11 moon landing. In 2015, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, recognizing her groundbreaking work that has inspired countless women in STEM fields.

From Montenegro, Stana Tomašević Arnesen is celebrated as a revolutionary diplomat. Known as the “Proud Daughter of Unconquered Montenegro,” she joined the resistance against Italian occupiers during World War II, becoming the first female political commissar in Yugoslavia. Stana’s post-war career included becoming the first female ambassador from Yugoslavia, serving in Norway and Denmark. Her courage and commitment to freedom solidify her as a national icon.

These twelve women leaders, regardless of their geographic or cultural backgrounds, have demonstrated extraordinary tenacity and vision, shaping their respective societies in crucial ways. Their achievements serve as powerful reminders of the essential role women have played and continue to play in history, advocating for equality, justice, and progress. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we recognize their lasting impact and the paths they have paved for future leaders.