The University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing has named Edith Lawrence-Hilliard as the 2025 recipient of the Canary Savage Girardeau Award for Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. An advocate for health equity and a pillar of community engagement in the Madison community, Ms. Lawrence-Hilliard has dedicated decades to uplifting marginalized voices in health, education, and civic life.
She was formally honored during the School of Nursing’s Doctoral Hooding Ceremony on May 9, 2025. “Getting this award, to me, was confirmation that I am making a difference in the older adult community,” said Ms. Lawrence-Hilliard.
A Legacy of Service and Advocacy
A life-long resident of Madison, Ms. Lawrence-Hilliard’s life and work embody the spirit and values of the Canary Savage Girardeau Award. Her efforts have advanced equity across multiple platforms, including supporting African American youth, championing the rights of family caregivers, advocating for dementia research, and mentoring the next generation of health care professionals.
Within the School of Nursing, Ms. Lawrence-Hilliard plays an instrumental role in several key initiatives. She is a trusted advisor to the Center for Aging Research and Education (CARE), a dedicated participant and leader of the Community Advisors for Research Design and Strategy (CARDS) since 2016, and a committed volunteer with the Older Adult Telehealth Project, which provides nursing students with practical experience in communication, assessment, and telehealth skills while engaging with older adults. Students routinely cite her impact as transformative, offering insights into the lived experiences of aging, caregiving, and navigating the health care system.
Elevating the Caregiving Experience
Ms. Lawrence-Hilliard developed a personal understanding of the caregiving journey through caring for her mother living with dementia. These lived experiences fuel her desire to elevate the caregiver experience, and she has become deeply involved in dementia research and caregiver support. She has contributed to the UW–Madison Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention (WRAP) and the African Americans Fighting Alzheimer’s in Midlife (AA-FAIM) sub-study. She also performs with the Precious Memories Choir, which brings together people with dementia and their caregivers.
Her powerful voice and honest storytelling were integral to CARE’s development of an online resource for family caregivers, where she candidly shared the emotional, logistical, and cultural realities of caregiving. Her testimony resonated deeply with others navigating similar challenges.
Building Bridges Between Research and Community
Ms. Lawrence-Hilliard’s involvement with the CARDS makes her a vital link between research institutions and the community those researchers aim to serve. Through her leadership roles in the CARDS, she has advised countless research teams, ensuring that studies reflect community needs and realities. She has helped shape research protocols, reviewed onboarding materials for advisory boards, and coached new advisors, always with an eye toward inclusion and empowerment.
She also played a central role in organizing the UW and YOU Community Voices Conference. This event brings together community advisory board members and their guests to uplift community voices and encourage community engagement in research. They share their work and learn from one another to amplify a variety of voices and perspectives. Additionally, she serves as a liaison to a newly formed African American Community Advisory Board.
A Community Trailblazer
Outside the university, Ms. Lawrence-Hilliard’s impact is far-reaching. She is the longest-standing member of Women in Focus, a local organization that promotes educational excellence for children of color. She has served on the YWCA Board of Directors, the Dane County Minority Affairs Commission, and numerous other organizations focused on health, justice, and equity. Her advocacy spans from the Certified Nursing Assistants Program to cultural preservation efforts with the Wisconsin Historical Society.
In a testament to her contributions, the Goodman Community Center named a space in her honor: The Edith Lawrence-Hilliard Reception Lounge.
Honoring a Life of Impact
When asked about the importance of advocating for health equity in one’s community, Ms. Lawrence-Hilliard said, “It means being an advocate to ensure others are a part of the conversation and have a voice in equitable health care.” She has done just that, and more. Her service has been honored with a long list of accolades, including the YWCA Women of Distinction Award, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award, the Juneteenth Unsung Heroine Award, and the Meriter Spirit of Women Award. Those who know her emphasize that her influence goes far beyond any award. She is described as a source of “positive energy,” a “trailblazer,” and a “blessing” to work alongside.
For Lawrence-Hilliard, being able to give back to her community through volunteerism is one of her greatest privileges. Her ongoing work to uplift those around her exemplifies the values of the Canary Savage Girardeau Award: inclusion, advocacy, and lasting community impact. Her legacy continues to shape not only the School of Nursing, but the broader Madison community and beyond.