Chairs’ Message – Highlights from ACM-W in Women’s History Month
By ACM-W Chairs Rukiye Altin and Bushra Anjum
March is Women’s History Month – a time to celebrate the incredible contributions of women across history, from science and technology to activism and beyond!
2025 ACM-W Rising Star Award
We are delighted to announce Shin Hwei Tan, Gina Cody Research Chair at Concordia University, Canada, has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 ACM-W Rising Star Award. The ACM-W Rising Star Award recognises a woman whose early-career research has had a significant impact on the computing discipline. Heartfelt congratulations!
Interactive Q&A Video Series with ACM DEI
This Women’s History Month, ACM-W collaborated with ACM DEI to present an interactive Q&A video series featuring our student and professional chapter members. This initiative provided a fantastic opportunity for students to ask career-related questions and receive guidance from women in computing who have navigated various paths in the field. These videos were shared throughout March across ACM and ACM-W social media platforms.
Connecting with Our Community Across the Regions
This month, we also found opportunities to connect with our members across the regions.
North America – ACM-W at SIGCSE TS 2025: ACM-W met the computing education community at SIGCSE TS 2025. Our booth in the Exhibition Hall became a space for discussions, idea-sharing, and collaborations—all driven by our commitment to creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for women and gender-diverse individuals in computing. One of the most powerful moments of the conference was participating in the Birds of a Feather (BoF) session, inspired by the newly published book Rendering History: The Women of ACM-W. This session created an intimate space for women in computing to reflect on their journeys, share challenges, and discuss how we can continue to uplift and support each other in academia, industry, or leadership roles. Listening to former ACM-W Chairs Tracy Camp, Valerie Barr, and Jodi Tims speak about their experiences and work over the years was truly emotional. Their dedication, perseverance, and impact were evident in every story they shared. It was a reminder of how far women of ACM have come and how important it is to keep pushing forward, supporting one another, and ensuring the next generation of women in computing has even more opportunities to thrive.
Europe – ACM Celebration of Women in Computing at Kiel University: A special celebration took place in Germany at Kiel University, organized by the Kiel ACM-W Professional Chapter. The event, called “ACM Celebration of Women in Computing: Women’s Marathon / Frauen-Vortragsmarathon,” was held on March 7, 2025, a day before International Women’s Day. This year marked the third edition of the ACM Celebration of Women in Computing and the fourth edition of the Women’s Marathon, bringing together students, professors, and professionals to share their research and present their work. The celebration featured 47 talks on a single day across three parallel sessions. The event concluded with a spellbinding showcase of the Lighthouse Project, created by Computer Science students.
Asia: ACM-W Celebration 2025 at Air University Multan: In Pakistan, Air University Multan Campus hosted the ACM-W Celebration 2025, a two-day event filled with innovation, competitions, and mentorship. The event gathered students, professionals, and industry leaders to explore advancements in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. Day 1 featured intense competitions in speed programming and gaming, hands-on workshops on AI, IoT, and text recognition, and an inspiring mentorship session led by ACM-W Global Co-Chair Dr. Bushra Anjum. A job fair connected students with top tech companies, opening doors to exciting career opportunities. Day 2 focused on expert talks and a panel discussion on career challenges. Speakers shared valuable insights on cybersecurity, AI, and cloud computing, encouraging students to think about the future of technology. The event was an excellent opportunity for learning, networking, and growth, highlighting ACM-W’s mission to support women in computing and inspire the next generation of tech leaders. Here is a short collage video to give you a visual glimpse into the event.
Join Us in Building an Inclusive Future in Computing!
If you’re looking to start a chapter, collaborate with ACM-W, or contribute in any way, we encourage you to reach out! Your energy and dedication fuel our mission, and we look forward to growing our community together. Let’s continue working towards a more inclusive future in computing!
Rukiye and Bushra
ACM-W Co-Chairs