Dating back to the United States’ adoption of the Constitution in 1789, women have fought for an increase in representation in government, according to archives.com.  The work of many women including Mrs. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Miss Jeannette Rankin, and Miss Madeleine Albright has paved the way for others including Sacred Heart Greenwich alumna Ms. Karen Hendricks ’72, a Senior Advisor on Constituent Services and Outreach in the State Office of U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen.

Miss Rankin became the first woman to hold federal office in 1916 when elected in Montana to the U.S. House of Representatives.  She was very passionate about issues concerning women’s rights.  She introduced the first bill that, if passed, would have allowed women to gain citizenship independent of their husbands.  Miss Rankin was the only woman to vote on the resolution for the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote when ratified in 1920, according to rankinfoundation.org. 

In 1993, Mrs. Ginsburg became the second woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court.  She used her position to advocate for women’s rights as well as gender equality.  Justice Ginsburg wrote the court’s opinion in the United States v. Virginia case stating that women who met the qualifications had to be admitted to the Virginia Military Institute.  Additionally, along with former President Barack Obama, Justice Ginsburg worked on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to aid those who face pay discrimination in seeking pay equity under federal anti-discrimination laws, according to womenshistory.org.

Miss Albright was the first woman to serve as the U.S. Secretary of State after her appointment in 1997.  As Secretary of State, Miss Albright greatly influenced American diplomacy.  She promoted the growth of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) into former Soviet bloc countries as well as the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons in former Soviet republics, according to history.state.gov.  She also supported the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on Global Climate Change which works to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the goals of individual countries, according to unfccc.int.

As a Senior Advisor on Constituent Services and Outreach, Ms. Hendricks handles constituent casework, interacts with constituents across state and government agencies, represents Senator Van Hollen at community events, and coordinates outreach activities.  After receiving a Sacred Heart education, Ms. Hendricks received a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Holyoke College and a Law Degree from New York University School of Law.

In her profession, Ms. Hendricks helps constituents in a variety of ways.  She provides citizens of her district with health care coverage, Social Security disability benefits, and retirement benefits based on their needs.  She also organizes outreach events, including events that connect with the African American community.

Ms. Hendricks says that her Sacred Heart education allowed her to learn the importance of community service and helping others.  She has personal experience working with kids at the Carver Center and one night a week, she played basketball with them.  She also volunteered at a cerebral palsy center and an assisted living facility during her time at Sacred Heart.  Ms. Hendricks attributes her devotion to helping others in her career to the nuns at Sacred Heart.

“Their kindness, tenacity, spiritual guidance, and encouraging strong academic engagement resulted in my bringing these same skills to my career,” Ms. Hendricks said.  “Without the hope, social justice, and wisdom that I learned in my years as a student at Sacred Heart my career may have taken a different and unknown path.”

Featured Image by Giada Coviello ’24