The DAWN Executive Committee proudly announces the recipients of the 2024 Leadership and Rising Star Awards. We hope you will register for the DAWN Annual Awards Dinner to celebrate these incredible women. 

2024 Leadership Award Winner

Megan Romano, LPC, CAADC, NCC, Director of Counseling Services, Goldey-Beacom College

Megan Romano serves as the Director of Counseling at Goldey-Beacom College, where she leads efforts to provide holistic mental health services to students. In her role, Megan is deeply committed to fostering a supportive environment where students feel empowered to address their mental health needs with confidence and care. Her approach is centered around building trust, offering practical tools, and helping students tap into their inner resilience.

Megan’s expertise spans trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, and addiction counseling as a Licensed Professional Counselor with certifications in EMDR and advanced alcohol and drug counseling. Passionate about shaping the future of the counseling field, Megan also teaches in the college's master’s program, guiding the next generation of mental health professionals. Additionally, she has served as a subject matter expert for the National Counseling Exam, furthering her impact on counselor education and certification.

Currently, she is pursuing her MBA in Healthcare Administration, further enhancing her ability to bridge the gap between mental health services and organizational leadership.

Among her career highlights, Megan has been the founding Director of Counseling at Goldey-Beacom College, establishing the Mental Health and Wellness Center as part of the college’s strategic initiative. Prior to this, no such center existed at the institution. When she's not advocating for student wellness, Megan enjoys spending time outdoors with her dogs and relaxing at the Delaware beaches with her family.

Rising Star Award Winners

Amanda Lemmon, Director of Communication and Planning, Delaware Technical Community College

Amanda Lemmon is the director of communication and planning at Delaware Technical Community College, George Campus in Wilmington. Within days of graduating from Delaware Tech in 2012 with an Associate of Applied Science, Amanda began her career at the College as a student records technician at the George Campus. Two years later, she became an administrative assistant III before becoming assistant to the dean of instruction in 2016 and the assistant to the vice president of strategic communication and marketing in the Office of the President in 2018. Amanda has been serving in her current role at Delaware Tech since April 2022. As the director of communication and planning, she works closely with the vice president and campus director to manage campus operations and helps inform and direct strategic planning processes while overseeing the campus’ marketing division. She plans, coordinates, and provides administrative oversight for various events each year, including fundraising, community, employee, and student events. Amanda acts as an advocate for the College in the community and represents the George Campus on various committees and statewide councils. She is also a recipient of Delaware Tech’s Employee Excellence in Service Award. Amanda is driven by the desire to see students succeed and give back to the institution that has continually provided her with opportunities to learn and grow professionally.

In addition to her associate degree, Amanda earned a Bachelor of Science in Management and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Delaware. She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership at the University of Delaware.

Zoë Lockwood, Accounting Generalist, Goldey-Beacom College

Zoë Lockwood is an Accounting Generalist at Goldey-Beacom College. She specializes in maintaining student account accuracy and upholding the college’s general ledger. Zoë is responsible for educating employees and students alike on all there is to finances. She is a powerful force in the workplace and uses her cheerful outlook to encourage others to thrive, with a key focus on aiding as many students as possible. Zoë’s core inspirations are her parents Tonya and Chuck, as they are the definition of hard work pays off. In her free time, Zoë is an avid reader, loves to watch sporting events, and spend time with her family and friends.

Jasmine A. Passwaters, Senior Administrative Assistant, Delaware State University

Jasmine A. Passwaters is the Senior Administrative Assistant at the Early Childhood Innovation Center (ECIC), where she leads the support team and provides high-level administrative assistance to the ECIC leadership team. Her responsibilities include managing team operations, schedules, activities, and events to support the ECIC’s mission and programs.

Before joining the ECIC, Jasmine worked as the client services associate in the Office of Human Resources at Delaware State University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus on human resources management and a minor in communication studies from West Virginia University. Jasmine also earned a master’s degree in public administration from Delaware State University.

In 2022, Jasmine was inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success and became a member of DAWN.

Alaina V. Robinson, Policy Specialist, University of Delaware

Alaina V. Robinson is a dedicated public servant with experience in policy research, legislative advocacy, and education policy. Alaina currently works as a Policy Specialist at the Institute for Public Administration (IPA) in the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Delaware. She works with the education services team on policy research and public service projects at IPA. Alaina has presented her educational research and policy work with the Redding Consortium for Educational Equity at statewide and national conferences focused on education and public service. 

Previously, Alaina worked as a legislative fellow in the Washington, D.C. office of U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE). As a fellow, she worked on health policy and education policy on Capitol Hill. Alaina graduated Phi Beta Kappa and with high distinction from the University of Virginia with a bachelor's degree in political and social thought. She earned a master's degree in education policy at the University of Pennsylvania.

Alaina is an educational leader passionate about making a difference in her community. She is actively engaged in advocacy issues related to educational equity, civil rights, and civic engagement at both the local and state levels. As a native Delawarean, Alaina serves her community as the Vice President of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League Young Professionals, a Regional Selection Committee Member for the University of Virginia Jefferson Scholars Foundation, and a core member of the Civic Leadership Team of Network Delaware.

Courtney M. Rossi, Employee Relations and Training Specialist, Wilmington University

Courtney Rossi is an Employee Relations & Training Specialist at Wilmington University, bringing over 15 years of diverse Human Resources experience across various industries. She holds a Master of Science in Management with a concentration in Human Resources Management, along with a SHRM-CP certification. Courtney is deeply passionate about enhancing the employee experience, particularly in engagement and its influence on retention. With the last five years dedicated to higher education, she is eager to leverage her extensive background and fresh ideas to create a positive impact for employees and Wilmington University.