Being a woman that is making great strides in her career as well as in the community is the qualification needed to be a recipient of the Ten Top Women award.
Madeline Iseli, vice president of advancement was the first woman that came to mind, and Mary Gaier, vice president of organizational development had to nominate her.
“Madeline was the first person who came to mind because her contributions are far reaching, varied and contribute to the quality of life for so many of us,” Gaier said in an email. “She is the most deserving award winner who represents the award so well because of the wide variety of contributions she has made to our region as well as to our college.”
When Iseli got the phone call letting her know that she was nominated for the award, she said was in a state of disbelief.
“I was so surprised that I shrieked, and I didn’t believe it. I kept asking the young woman on the phone if she was sure that she had the right person,” Iseli said. “I am very grateful, honored and humbled to be nominated, especially since the nomination came from Mary Gaier who is one of my dear colleagues.”
Iseli graduated from Colonel White, and now holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences and has a master’s in English.
Iseli’s career has been built on public service.
Before she began her career at Sinclair, Iseli worked in the district office for Congressman Tony Hall in which she served as the district director.
“I have been involved with the community, even before I started working at Sinclair. [It is all about] being connected to the community,” Iseli said. “That is largely what I do.”
She then became the executive director of Inventing Flight, a non-profit organization that worked to pass federal legislation to create the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park and to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Wright brother’s first flight.
“I worked on this bill becoming a law. The law was to create a national park that honors the Wright Brothers and Paul Laurence Dunbar. I would walk from the House of Representatives and then back to the Senate and then back to the House of Representatives,” Iseli said. “It finally got signed by President George Herbert Walker Bush back in 1991.”
At Sinclair, her role includes building a bridge between the community and Sinclair. She previously served as the chief of staff for the president’s office.
Iseli and her husband have three sons. The oldest is 22 and just graduated from Ohio University. The other two boys are 11 and 13 years old.
“I am the only woman in the house of four men,” she said. But I enjoy spending time with them.”
She is also a dedicated runner and runs 15 miles a week. She also enjoys reading, knitting and traveling.
“That is something that Mary Gaier and I have in common—we like to knit,” Iseli said. “Knitting allows me to let my brain wander and let my brain rest after a hard and stressful day. It is almost like meditation.”
As for the Ten Top Women awards, the Dayton Daily News presents the award every year to the ten top women in the Miami Valley.
“My first reaction was ‘oh my gosh,’ I just couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I’m very humbled, grateful and a little embarrassed because I am more of a behind the scenes type of person and it is very meaningful to be honored by someone that you hold in such high regard.”