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OFFICE OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JACQUELINE COLEMAN








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Gov. Beshear, Lt. Gov. Coleman, Kentucky Commission on Women Announce New Inductee to Kentucky Women Remembered Exhibit
  

*FRANKFORT, Ky. (Nov. 21, 2025)* – Thursday, Gov. Andy Beshear joined Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and the Kentucky Commission on Women (KCW) to induct a new member to the Kentucky Women Remembered exhibit. Kentucky Women Remembered is a portrait gallery honoring extraordinary Kentucky women throughout the history of the commonwealth.

“I have always known women to be incredible leaders. I am fortunate that I have been surrounded by strong women all throughout my personal and professional life,” said Gov. Beshear. “And today, I have the honor of announcing the newest inductee to the Kentucky Women Remembered exhibit – a woman who has touched the lives of many Kentuckians and stands as a true leader: Ouita Michel.”

Members of the KCW unanimously recommended Ouita Michel, of Lexington, to Gov. Beshear for his consideration to be added to the exhibit. Chef Ouita Michel has been nominated for eight James Beard awards who has been featured on the Food Network, the Cooking Channel, The New York Times and Southern Living. She, along with her husband Chris, owns eight restaurants in Kentucky. Her restaurants have purchased over $3 million in Kentucky dairy, meat, fruits and vegetables.

Ouita is extremely active in her community. She is a founding board member of Food Chain, a Lexington non-profit food incubator; board member of Hindman Settlement School, which is dedicated to enriching central Appalachian culture; and is a member of the Pritchard Committee for Academic Excellence, a statewide group working to improve education for Kentuckians.

“We are thrilled to add Ouita Michel to the Kentucky Women Remembered Hall of Fame,” said Lt. Gov. Coleman. “As a mom, I often think about what kind of a world I want to leave for my two daughters, Emma and Evelynne. That is why this exhibit is so important to me. As the highest elected woman in Kentucky, I believe it is my duty to not only elevate the voices of women, but to combat the hardships we face head on and to work hard to find solutions to those challenges.”

*Kentucky Women Remembered Online Exhibit*
The Kentucky Women Remembered exhibit began as a display at the 1978 Kentucky State Fair that included six portraits of women from various backgrounds as a campaign to bring attention to outstanding women who had made significant contributions to Kentucky’s history. In 1996, the exhibit found a permanent home in the northwest corner of the Kentucky State Capitol. With its closure earlier this year for renovations, the Commission partnered with the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives to catalog all portraits and brief biographies of each inductee. Lt. Gov. Coleman announced today that the virtual exhibit can now be found here [ [link removed] ].

“We are so excited that in the absence of the exhibit hanging in the State Capitol for visitors to walk by, that they are now available any time to anyone who wants to learn more about women's impact on the history of the Commonwealth,” said Lt. Gov. Coleman. “It is my hope that by showcasing the portraits and biographies online, even more people can learn about these amazing women, and that young girls in Kentucky will be inspired to follow in their footsteps.”

*About the Kentucky Commission on Women*
The Kentucky Commission on Women is dedicated to elevating the status of women and girls in the commonwealth, empowering them to overcome barriers to equity, and expanding opportunities to achieve their fullest potential.

In response to President John F. Kennedy’s creation of the President’s Commission on the Status of Women, Kentucky Gov. Edward T. Breathitt established a state commission in April 1964 to study and report on the status of Kentucky women. The findings demonstrated a pronounced need for a permanent agency to promote the improvement of women’s status. In November 1968, Gov. Louie Nunn signed an executive order establishing the Kentucky Commission on Women, and it became an official state agency through legislative action in 1970. The Kentucky Commission on Women became part of the Cabinet for General Government as an administrative body attached to the Governor’s Office in 1980.

In January 2008, Gov. Steve Beshear relocated the Kentucky Commission on Women to the state Capitol for the first time in its history and the Commission shared the same hall as the Kentucky Women Remembered Exhibit. In 2018, funding for the Commission on Women was eliminated.

When Gov. Andy Beshear was inaugurated in 2019, he asked Lt. Gov. Coleman to resurrect the Commission on Women, and the Governor has included funding for the commission in each of his budget proposals. Unfortunately, the General Assembly has not supported this funding in its final budget bills. Currently, there are 23 members of the Commission on Women plus Lt. Gov. Coleman, who serves as an ex-officio member. They represent a diverse mix of personal and professional backgrounds and hail from all parts of the commonwealth.

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