Sr. Lydia Peña, SL*: Lydia M. Peña, S.L., is an educator, art historian, author, community leader and fundraiser.  In 1955 she graduated from Loretto Heights College with a B.S. in Dietetics.  In addition, she holds a Master’s degree in Education and an M.A. and a PH.D in Art History. Sr. Peña started teaching at St. Mary’s Academy, where she taught Biology for seven years. She returned to her Alma Mater, Loretto Heights College , where she stayed  for the next twenty-three years teaching Art History and Art Appreciation. In 1988, she taught Art History at Regis University and was a faculty advisor in their University Without Walls program. She retired nineteen years later. All in all, Sister Peña served at educational institutions in Denver for forty-nine years. Sister Peña’s work in the civic community began in the late 1980s when she was invited to join the Women’s Forum of Colorado, a group that brings together women of significant and diverse accomplishments. In addition, some of the other community  work she had done includes serving  the City and County of Denver as Chair of the Cultural Affairs Commission, a member of the Blue Ribbon Committee for the Design of Denver International Airport, and the Steering Committee of Art for the Denver International Airport. Among the numerous awards Sister Lydia has received, the most recent is the Civis Princeps or First Citizen, Regis University’s highest honor.

SL = Sisters of Loretto