Rosee Hansen has been named the recipient of the 2026 Madison “American Association of University Women” Chapter’s Founders Award.
After a long career as a licensed counselor by the State of South Dakota, Hansen retired to her hometown of Madison 12 years ago. She has also been a recovering alcoholic for 46 years and now uses experience from her career and personal struggles to help others in need. One of her efforts has been to establish a support group called Women Helping Women. Through this group, she helps those coping with addiction or living in a household where addiction has affected their lives, either financially, emotionally, or physically. Hansen also serves as an advocate for women (and men) in the Lake County Jail. In addition, she has established a group at Prairie View Apartments where older women can share ideas, establish boundaries, and find purpose in their life. She has seen women who lose their sense of identity as they age; by talking together as a group, these women can feel useful and valued once again.
Hansen will be honored at the AAUW meeting on Tuesday, March 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Gaylen’s Popcorn in Madison. The public is invited to attend, and refreshments will be provided.
Following the presentation, the featured speaker for the evening will be Jen Dreiske, Chief Operations Officer at South Dakota Voices for Peace and the inaugural Interfaith Chaplain at Augustana University. Her talk is titled Curiosity Is a Radical Act:
