Jane Lee Hamman ’63

2023 Distinguished Alumni Award for Community Service

Jane Lee Hamman ’63 lives to advance freedom, knowledge, and justice for all people. She earned a Bachelor of Science in sociology and history from Carroll, where she was named to “Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges” and graduated magna cum laude. Hamman received a master’s degree in organization and public policy from Columbia University and Syracuse University. 

Hamman’s career included several positions with the United Way of Central New York, she served as the Executive Director of the Council on Child Abuse and Neglect of Columbia, South Carolina, and she worked for the Montana Legislative Fiscal Division and Montana Governor’s Office of Budget and Program Planning. She then established her company, Anretta, for governmental affairs contracting. As a registered state lobbyist, she represented traffic educators, acupuncturists, and naturopathic physicians before retiring again in 2019. 

Hamman deeply cares about volunteering. She was recognized as the Montanan of the Month in February of 2022 for her devotion to her community, state, and nation. She began volunteering in her youth with her parents which included work with Meals on Wheels and the Presbyterian Church in Manitowoc.  While at Carroll, she began supporting Reverend Dr. Martin Luther Jr. and the civil rights movement, going on to be one of the three March on Washington Chicago Committee leaders with Rev. Timuel D. Black and Lorne Cress.

Hamman has served in many positions in the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, including the National Board of Management, Montana State Society DAR, and Oro Fino Chapter.  As Montana State Regent from 2016-2019, she developed and distributed patriotic education boxes to 240 one-room and other small schools across the state.  For her support of the Montana Sons of the American Revolution, she was awarded the national Lydia Darragh Medal and Award in 2019.

Currently, Hamman serves on the Montana Board of Public Education. She was appointed in 2021 by Governor Greg Gianforte. Hamman writes a monthly VIEW column for The Boulder Monitor to educate and celebrate the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and governmental affairs.

Hamman’s community volunteer work has included being the Chair of the North Jefferson County Public Library District Board of Trustees, for which she received the Montana State Library 2019 Jane Lopp Trustee of the Year award, chief elections judge for the county, Retired Senior Volunteer Program coordinator, Family History Center Library assistant, and United Way allocations committee chair and trustee. She has been active in The United Methodist Church and continues as the Clancy United Methodist Church Finance & Stewardship Committee chair, Church Council member, and lay leader.

Hamman’s interests include her dogs, cats, and horses over the years, gardening, the Green Bay Packers, reading, governmental policy, and genealogy. Working to preserve and promote heritage and patriotism, she also is a member of the National Society of United States Daughters of 1812, the Heritage Foundation Founders Club, and the Glacier and Yellowstone National Park Foundations, and she is working to promote America 250 and July 4, 2026, semi quincentennial celebrations.