The Association of Adventist Women (AAW) was begun as a committee of the Association of Adventist Forums (AAF) and grew into an independent, volunteer organization with its own identity. Incorporated in 1982 as an independent, not-for-profit entity, it has become a major source of encouragement for Adventist women both in North America and internationally.

The AAW has provided news of Adventist women found in no other Adventist publications, honored many women for their gifts and accomplishments through their Woman-of-the-Year Awards (WOYA), provided a stimulating annual conference, called attention to church leaders who promote church gender equality, and made bold recommendations for changes in the church to promote full use of members’ gifts.

The nine women who have led this volunteer organization are accomplished and professional women in their own right:

Josephine Griffin Benton 1980-1982	Betty Hogan Howard June 1982-Nov 1986	Nancy Eastman Marter Nov 1986-June 1990
Peggy Curtice Harris June 1990-Oct 1992	Elisabeth Appleton Wear Oct 1992-Oct 1994	Nancy Eastman Marter Oct 1994-Dec 1995
Betty Hogan Howard Jan 1995-Nov 1996	Alyce Thornton Kiesecker Pudewell Nov 1996-Oct 1999	Georgia Willey Hodgkin Oct 1999-Jan 2001
Patricia Clark Foster Jan 2001-Jan 2004	Verla Michel Kwiram Jan 2004-Oct 2008	Patricia Johnston Oct 2008-

1   First AAW National Conference "Focus on the Future"
Elisabeth Wear, Chair
Columbia Union College, Takoma Park, MD
Summer, 1983

2    "Women of Mission"
Kit Watts and Iris Yob, Coordinators
Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI
July, 1984

3    "Women's Voices, Women's Lives"
Ottilie Stafford, Coordinator with Sharon Wilson
Atlantic Union College, South Lancaster, MA
October, 1985

4    "Women of Courage"
Linda Halstead, Coordinator
Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
November, 1986

5    "Adventist Women and the Caring Church"
Pat Habada, Coordinator
Takoma Park, MD
October, 1987

6    "Adventist Women and Health: A Search for Balance"
Nancy Marter, Chair
Portland Adventist Hospital, Portland, OR
September, 1988

7    "Adventist Women and Relationships: Pursuing the Ideal"
Ethel Stewart, Chair
Altamonte Springs Hilton, Orlando, FL
October, 1989

8    First AAW International Conference "Nurturing in the '90s"
Stella Ramirez Greig and Edith Davis, Co-chairs
Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI
June, 1990

9    Second AAW International Conference "Women in Ministry"
Martha Hoffman, Chair
Marriott Hotel, Santa Clara, CA
July, 1991

10    "A Celebration for Women of Vision"
Nancy Marter, Chair
Washington, D.C.
October, 1992

11    "Partners in Ministry"
Helen Ward Thompson, Coordinator
Sea-Tac Airport, Seattle, WA
October, 1993

12    "Nurturing and Nourishing the Spirit"
Betty Howard, chair
Double Tree, National Airport, Arlington, VA
September/October, 1994

13    "Celebration of Diversity"
Sherri Craig, Coordinator
Southern College, Collegedale, TN
October, 1995

14    "Women at the Crossroads: Wisdom and Witness for the 21st Century"
Alyce Pudewell, Coordinator
Mission Inn, Riverside, CA
October 31 - November 3, 1996

15    "Adventist Women's Heritage; In Step with Pioneer Women"
Kit Watts, Tour Coordinator
Atlantic Union College, Tewksbury, MA
October, 1997

16    "Women for All Seasons"
Alyce Pudewell and Pat Foster, Coordinators
Wong-Kerlee International Convention Center, Loma Linda, CA
October 15-18, 1998

17    "Women of Passion: Celebrating the Past...Creating the Future"
Sherri Craig, Coordinator
Renaissance Hotel, Orlando Airport, Orlando, FL
October 7-10, 1999

18    "One Light, Many Reflections: Women Passing the Flame"
Nancy Lecourt and Bonnie Dwyer, Coordinators
Holiday Inn NE, Sacramento, CA
October 12-15, 2000

19    "Consecrating & Celebrating Women's Gifts"
Heide Ford & Penny Estes Wheeler, Coordinators
BWI Ramada Inn, Baltimore, MD/Washington DC
October 4-7, 2001

20    "Weavers of Wisdom: Women's Voices, Women's Lives"
Glenda Jolliffe and Helen Thompson, Coordinators
Double Tree Hotel — Columbia River, Portland, OR
October 17-20, 2002

21    "Women and Leadership: Change, Choice, Commitment"
Pat Foster, Coordinator
Wong-Kerlee International Convention Center, Loma Linda, CA
October 16-19, 2003

22    "The Woman Next to Me: Different Paths, Common Journey"
Stella Ramirez Greig and Patricia Stewart, Coordinators
Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI
October 14-17, 2004
Read more about the 22nd Conference of the AAW

23    "Love Enables Unity in Diversity: Include Me, Please."
Verla Kwiram and Carolyn Slepnikoff Lacy, Coordinators
Adam's Mark Hotel, St. Louis, MO
June 26-29, 2005

24    Globalization and the Adventist Woman
Carolyn Lacy and Verla Kwiram, Coordinators
Doubletree Hotel Seattle Airport, Seattle, WA
October 12-15, 2006

25    Adventist Women Moving Beyond Culture
Verla Kwiram, Carolyn Lacy, and Kay Rosburg, Co-chairs
Hilton Hotel, Silver Spring, Maryland
October 24-28, 2007

26    Celebrating Women Within
Sherri Craig, Coordinator
Hilton Hotel / Altamonte Springs, Orlando, Florida
October 9-12, 2008

27    The Dance of the Generations: This Adventist Life
Patricia Johnston and Nancy Lecourt, Co-chairs
Asilomar Conference Grounds; Pacific Grove, California
November 6-8, 2009