Awards: Change Agent Awards

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS NOW CLOSED!

The Anita Borg Change Agent Awards celebrate the accomplishments of technical women from, and who work in, developing countries. These awards are designed to recognize up-and-coming leaders that impact or advance women’s participation in technology, while also internationally expanding the reach of the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing conference.

Three individual Awards will be given to women in computing that:

  1. Demonstrate leadership within their communities
  2. Expand opportunities and influence the careers of girls and women in technology
  3. Demonstrate impact on advancing women’s participation in technology
  4. Establish the desire to attend the conference
  5. Demonstrate financial need

Each award includes reimbursement of expenses up to $5,000. This includes travel expenses to/from the conference, hotel accommodations, full conference registration, the opportunity to participate in a conference session, and recognition in the printed program at the 2010 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Conference. Professional women of all ages and education levels are encouraged to apply. Please read the complete details about this award in order to nominate yourself or others for consideration.

Award Goals

The goals of the award are to:

  • Continue and build on Anita Borg’s vision of women as equal partners in the development and use of computing around the world. For more about Anita Borg, our award namesake, click here.
  • Recognize the accomplishments of international change agents*, increase their visibility, and establish them as role models for others beyond their existing spheres of influence
  • Provide a forum – the Grace Hopper Conference – in order to exchange ideas, identify opportunities and areas for improvement, discuss effective practices, and meet hundreds of other women who share in Anita’s vision. Selection Criteria
  • *A change agent is someone who either deliberately engages in social change, or whose work results in social, cultural or behavioral change. Scholarships will be given to change agents that support women as equal partners in the development and use of computing around the world.
  • Women of all ages and education levels are encouraged to apply, provided they can demonstrate their impact on advancing women’s participation in technology.
  • Applicants must articulate how their participation in the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women will support their work to promote active participation of women in information technology.
  • The award recipient will take part in the 2010 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Conference’s awards celebration on September 30, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Required Materials

Nomination requires the following and must be submitted electronically. Only completed submissions will be considered by the committee.

  • Introductory statement (Maximum 150 words) that summarize how the nominee satisfies the award criteria – provide an overview of the work, accomplishments, and country context.
  • Biography of the nominee. This is not to exceed one page.
  • Curriculum vitae or résumé that describes the nominee’s professional accomplishments.
  • Statement of merit between 1 – 2 pages that must be written by the nominator. The statement must address the following:
    • The specified candidacy requirements and goals
    • Address and elaborate on all areas of competency as described in the Introductory Statement section.
  • At least two letters of reference from professional contacts
  • A one-page proposed budget describing your needs. The proposal must include the following:
    • Travel, lodging, and registration expenses
    • Any other additional expenses you would have related to attending the conference such as child care or meals.

The biography, curriculum vitae or résumé, statement of merit, letters of reference, and proposed budget must be in PDF, Microsoft Word, or text document available for upload. You will also submit contact information on the same nomination form. You may be asked to provide additional information or clarify information at the request of the committee chairperson.

Key Deadlines:

  • The application deadline has passed and all award recipients have been notified
  • Award ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia on September 30, 2010.

Selection Committee

Dr. M. Suriya, Annamalai University, India, Chair

Sangeeta Gad, PREP Coordinator and Director for Recruitment and Retention, University of Houston

Zahara Khan, CEO, Sehat First

Dorcas Muthoni, CEO and founder, OPENWORLD LTD

Questions?

Please contact Christine Chiu – christinec at anitaborg dot org.

History

The Anita Borg Change Agent Awards program was generously established by Fran Allen, IBM Fellow, 2007 ACM A.M. Turing Award winner, and recipient of the 2006 ACM 2004 inaugural Anita Borg Technical Leadership Award. Fran is a current member of the Anita Borg Institute’s Advisory Committee.

Questions?

Contact us

Related Links

2010 RECIPIENTS

2009 Recipients

2008 Recipients

2007 Recipients

2006 Recipients

Anita Borg Change Agent Award Sponsors: Become a Program Sponsor