Building Community Across Borders: Inaugural North America Professional Chapter Summit
By Bettina Bair and Asegul Hulus
The ACM-W North America Professional Chapter Summit, a hybrid meeting hosted in Cleveland, Ohio, took place on June 2, 2025. It was a day of connection, collaboration, and celebration for leaders from Canada, the United States, and Mexico, creating a vibrant community of women for women in computing.
Leadership at the Forefront
The summit was run by experienced ACM-W leaders, including Jodi Tims, former ACM-W Global Chair, and Lindsay Jamison, ACM-W North America Regional Chair. The ACM-W Global Chapters Committee, led by Chair Bettina Bair alongside members Laura Dillon and Asegul Hulus, provided valuable insights and support throughout the day. Eleven chapters participated in this landmark event, representing a wide geographic area.
A Day of Connection and Learning
The summit focused on practical knowledge sharing and community building. Chapter leaders engaged in candid Q&A sessions about the realities of running professional chapters, covering everything from finances to event planning strategies. These discussions provided valuable insights for both established and prospective chapters.
Furthermore, the summit explored ACM resources and requirements, shared best practices, and collaboratively brainstormed solutions to common challenges. One particularly meaningful discussion centered on addressing barriers that women face in computing in their local contexts, including mental health challenges, migration, language barriers, and harmful stereotypes.
The summit resonated deeply with the chapter leaders who attended, as reflected in their testimonials:
Amanda Kauppila (Central Ohio ACM-W Chapter) described the experience as “Inspiring” and appreciated being able to “connect with others who are celebrating and advocating for women in tech from North America, including Mexico and Canada.” She also “learned about resources ACM-W provides to support local chapters, and …about how other chapters operate.”
Judith Guzman (CDMX ACM-W Chapter) and Sharanya Nalla (NYC ACM-W Chapter) also found meeting fellow chapter leaders inspiring. Sharanya added: “The energy and passion everyone brings to this mission is truly inspiring.” She also shared that it was “amazing to meet the ACM-W Professional Chapters core team at the Cleveland Summit! I really enjoyed learning about the history of ACM-W — how it all started, the challenges the teams have tackled over the years, and the inspiring stories shared by members from individual chapters.”
Malikeh Ehghaghi (Toronto ACM-W Chapter) found the event “very informative” as it provided “a lot of ideas on how to put together the member list and plan for its initiatives.”
Rachelle Hippler (OCWiC ACM-W Chapter) reflected on the importance of women supporting women: “I am excited to see so many dedicated women taking on this important work of creating professional chapters. I was reminded just the other day how important it is to have other women around you to support you during tough times at work. Just having someone to vent to is enough to help you feel that you are not alone. And, of course, we need each other to celebrate our successes, especially the ones that often get overlooked as too trivial to make the headlines. Keep up the hard work, ACM-W chapters!”
Laura Dillon (ACM-W Global Chapters Committee) highlighted the critical role experienced leaders play in ensuring the longevity of a cause by mentoring new leaders and passing on hard-won insights, strategies, and values. This intentional knowledge transfer “empowers fresh voices and builds continuity, resilience, and deeper impact over time.” She is “excited to see how seeds planted at the Summit will blossom in the years to come.”
Asegul “Ace” Hulus (ACM-W Global Chapters Committee) shared that although she joined the summit online, she felt like she was in the room with everyone. This highlights how hybrid meetings promote inclusivity, enabling those unable to attend in person to contribute to and benefit from the event.
Beyond the Meeting Room
The summit experience extended beyond formal sessions. The day before the official meeting, in-person participants built community connections by exploring Cleveland, including visits to the historic Hyatt at the Arcade and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. These informal moments of connection proved just as valuable as the summit itself, which provided a space for women to mutually understand faced challenges, creating a peaceful and fun environment for them to build meaningful relationships across borders.
Looking Forward
The North America Professional Chapter Summit is a testament to the growing strength and unity of the ACM-W professional chapter community. As these leaders return to their respective cities and chapters, they carry with them new knowledge and resources, as well as a renewed sense of connection to a larger mission.
The summit’s success demonstrates the power of bringing together passionate advocates for women in computing. Through shared experiences, collaborative problem-solving, and mutual support, these chapter leaders and representatives are building a stronger, more connected community that extends far beyond geographic boundaries.
As the ACM-W professional chapters network continues to grow, events like this summit serve as crucial points for maintaining the personal connections and shared vision that make the work possible and truly impactful.