Announcing Rendering History – The Women of ACM-W

We are delighted to announce the newly published book Rendering History: The Women of ACM-W, edited by Gloria Childress Townsend. Townsend was active with the ACM Women’s Council (ACM-W) for 17 years, having played leadership roles in the growth of ACM-W chapters, as well as founding the ACM Celebrations initiative. The book details the ACM-W’s 30-year history, starting from the organization’s maturation from a US-centric organization to a global leader in supporting the advancement of women in computer science. 

Rendering History is not just a historical account but a collection of personal journeys. It offers a comprehensive view of ACM-W’s initiatives and, more importantly, provides a platform for the women of ACM-W to share their personal narratives. These stories reveal their individual motivations, struggles, and triumphs in their transformative work, which has reshaped the computing landscape for women and young girls. 

Highlighted within the book are numerous inspiring accounts, including Sue Black’s journey overcoming adversity in two abusive homes to receiving recognition for her contributions to computing by both the late Queen of England and the current King. Kathy Kleiman details her pivotal role in helping rescue the wireless spectrum (now used by WiFi) from the (US) Federal Communications Commission’s plan to sell it. ACM Fellow Bhavani Thuraisingham writes about her birth in Sri Lanka, an arranged marriage to a man eight years her senior, and cutting-edge research in the integration of cyber security and machine learning.

We anticipate that Rendering History will be a captivating read, enriching and inspiring all who turn its pages.

---