Arizona Trailblazers: Women Leading the Way

SUFFS is the Tony Award®-winning musical about the brilliant, passionate, and funny American women who fought tirelessly for the right to vote. Not only does the show highlight trailblazing women in our nation’s history, it was created by a modern-day trailblazer, Shaina Taub. Taub is the first woman ever to independently win Tony Awards for both Best Book and Best Score in the same season, and she also starred as Alice Paul in the show.  

In celebration of SUFFS coming to the ASU Gammage stage October 14–19, meet some of the trailblazing women who have shaped Arizona’s history:  

Sandra Day O’Connor  

Although born in El Paso, TX, Sandra Day O’Connor was raised on a ranch straddling the Arizona–New Mexico border. After graduating from Stanford, marrying, and beginning her career, O’Connor returned to the great state 48.  

She was a pioneer throughout her life. She became the first woman in the nation to serve as Senate Majority Leader in any state legislature when she was elected to the Arizona State Senate leadership in 1972. Then, in 1981, she made history again as the first woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court. She was also the first justice in 24 years with state court experience and the first in 32 years with lawmaking experience. After more than two decades of influential service and rulings, O'Connor retired from the Supreme Court.  

Her post-Supreme Court life was equally impactful. In 2006, Arizona State University named its law school after her; the first law school in the nation named for a living woman. Three years later, she founded iCivics, a digital education initiative promoting civics education for youth, and she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Though O’Connor retired from public life in 2018 and passed away in 2023, her legacy continues to inspire generations.  

Mary Costigan  

Mary Costigan broke gender barriers in broadcasting as Arizona’s first female radio announcer and only the second woman in the United States to receive a radio broadcasting license. She brought Flagstaff’s first radio station to life, operating what is now KUMA (originally KFXY). Costigan not only put Flagstaff on the map but paved the way for women in journalism and media.  

Sharlot Hall  

Poet, historian and Arizona’s first female public official, Sharlot Hall was appointed Territorial Historian in 1901. She dedicated her life to preserving Arizona’s history and advocating for women’s voices in the historical record.  

By 1927, Hall had arranged for her growing collection to be displayed in Arizona’s 1864 Governor’s Mansion. With the help of the Civil Works Administration, she later built a museum behind the mansion, now known as the Sharlot Hall Museum. Her work ensured that Arizona’s past would be preserved for generations. 

Kara Kalkbrenner  

Phoenix native Kara Kalkbrenner rose through the ranks from firefighter to fire engineer, captain, division chief, deputy chief and assistant chief—before breaking past barriers as the first woman to serve as Fire Chief of the Phoenix Fire Department.  

At the time of her appointment, only two other women in the nation led fire departments with more than 1,000 firefighters. Kalkbrenner’s tenure was marked by a focus on safety, innovation and inclusion. 

Rose Mofford  

Rose Mofford was no stranger to firsts. She became Arizona’s first female governor, first female Secretary of State and even the first female class president of Globe High School in Globe, AZ. Known for her bipartisan leadership, Mofford served more than 50 years in Arizona state government, shattering glass ceilings and paving the way for women in politics.  

Frances Willard Munds  

Frances Willard Munds was a key leader in the Arizona suffrage movement. As president of the Arizona Equal Suffrage Association, she was instrumental in securing women’s right to vote in Arizona in 1912—eight years before the 19th Amendment.  

Two years after, Munds was elected as a Yavapai County senator, making her the first female state senator in Arizona and only the second woman elected to a state legislature in the United States. During her two-year term, she served on the Land Committee and chaired the Committee on Education and Public Institutions.  

“I want the women to realize that they will have to make a concerted demand for the things they want, and not merely present a bill and ask someone to put it through for them. I want them to get into the battle themselves.” —Frances Willard Munds (April 24, 1915) 

Lori Piestewa  

Ever wondered how Piestewa Peak got its name? It honors Lori Piestewa, a U.S. Army soldier from Tuba City and a member of the Hopi tribe. While serving in the Iraq War in 2003, she became the first Native American woman to die in combat while serving in the U.S. military.  

Previously known as “Squaw Peak”—a term considered offensive—Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano led the effort to rename the mountain in Piestewa’s honor. The change was officially recognized on April 17, 2003, ensuring that her service and heritage are remembered with dignity.  

Sarah Herring Sorin  

Sarah Herring Sorin was Arizona’s first female attorney and the first woman to argue a case before the United States Supreme Court without male co-counsel. She is remembered for her fearless advocacy for women’s rights and her dedication to expanding opportunities for women in law.  

Jeri Williams  

Jeri Williams became the first female and only the second African American Police Chief for the Phoenix Police Department. Hired on in 2016, Williams had to consistently fight the perception that she was hired for good optics.   

“I had to show I didn’t get picked to be the Phoenix police chief because I was Black and female,” she said. “I got picked because I was the best person out of the pool of applicants—and I happen to be Black and female, which gives me a different perspective, a different lens.”  

Jen Welter  

Jen Welter made history as the first woman to serve as an NFL coach when she was hired by the Arizona Cardinals in 2015. Her trailblazing work has inspired countless women to pursue careers as players and coaches in professional football. She continues to advocate for gender equity in sports—and it all started right here in Arizona.  

Arizona has long been home to women who defy expectations, break barriers, and pave the way for future generations. From the courtroom to the capitol, the newsroom to the football field, these women remind us that courage and determination can shape history.  

As SUFFS takes the ASU Gammage stage October 14–19, we celebrate not only the suffragists who secured the right to vote but also the Arizona women who continue to make their voices heard and open doors for others. Their stories challenge us to keep pushing forward, keep fighting for progress, and keep making history—together.