Bonnie Mitchell honored as a 2024 Commonwealth Heroine

ASHLAND– On June 14, the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women hosted their annual Commonwealth Heroines celebration at the State House to recognize women from across the state making a difference in their communities. MCSW Chairwoman Dr. Sarah Glenn-Smith and other commission chairs were featured among the speakers at the event. Representative Jack Patrick Lewis was proud to nominate Bonnie Mitchell, former Dean of the Framingham State Library and Trustee and former Chair of the Ashland Public Library, to be recognized at this year’s ceremony.

Bonnie Mitchell has lived in Ashland for over 45 years, beginning her career at Framingham State University in 1982. She was appointed Library Director in 1998, and Dean of the Library in 2017. She was a member of the FSU Committee for Diversity and Inclusion, and served for 3 years as a First-Year Foundation Program facilitator, teaching life-long learning skills to freshmen. She served as the Librarian on four NEASC accreditation review committees for universities across New England. Always interested in promoting the arts and culture, Bonnie was a founding member of the Framingham State University Arts and Humanities Council, and served as Committee Chair for over 20 years. She also sat on the Ashland Cultural Council from 2009-2015, and in 2013 was a founding member of Arts! Ashland Alliance, Inc., sponsor of the annual Ashland Dragonfly Festival.

Since retiring from her position as Dean in 2020, Bonnie has maintained her connection to the University as a Dean of the Library Emerita, and by working with the current Library Dean to support a Friends of the Library organization. She enjoys tutoring and working with Literacy Unlimited in Framingham. She also helps organize an annual health clinic with Remote Area Medical Framingham/Ashland Community Host to provide free services to underserved populations. In January of this year, Bonnie was hired as the Outreach, Archives and Collections Manager at the Framingham History Center.

Rep. Lewis expressed gratitude for Bonnie Mitchell’s service to the community, saying, “Bonnie has made countless contributions to our community over the years. Through her service at Framingham State University, she has worked to bring out the best in our students, and her service in the arts and other initiatives have made an immense impact. Her welcoming spirit is felt in all her endeavors; wherever Bonnie is, everyone feels included. We are lucky to have her at the State House today to recognize all that she has done for Ashland, Framingham, and the entire MetroWest region.”

Bonnie Mitchell expressed appreciation for the award, saying, "I’m so grateful that Rep. Jack Lewis nominated me to be part of this year's class of Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women’s Commonwealth Heroines. The event was fantastic and I appreciate the time Rep. Lewis spent with me and my family to make this day of recognition so special. It's an honor to be included with such an active and inspiring group of women who devote so much of their time as volunteers in communities across the state.”

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