On receiving an ACM Outstanding Service Award

By Jodi Tims, ACM-W Past Chair

A few weeks ago, I learned that I would be receiving the ACM Outstanding Service Award in recognition of my contributions to ACM-W, SIGCSE, and the ACM Educational Advisory Council.

I was both surprised and honored by this news. Service has been a part of my professional identity since the time I was an undergraduate mathematics student when my advisor/mentor took a few of his students to a Pennsylvania Teachers in Mathematics conference. We assisted him with his duties as registration chair and I witnessed firsthand how many dedicated volunteers were needed to organize a conference.

Years later, I was given the opportunity to have my first experience to contribute to an ACM-W event as a member of the organizing committee for the Ohio Celebration of Women in Computing (OCWiC). I participated in OCWiC for the several years, first as program chair, then general chair, then chair of the OCWiC advisory board. I came to deeply value the community of women from universities all over Ohio who made the event possible. At the same time, I had the opportunity to meet inspiring women from outside Ohio who attended OCWiC to be guest speakers or simply to bring their support – Tracy Camp, Maria Klawe, Lynn Stein, Gloria Townsend and others.

This expanding network resulted in more opportunities to serve. In 2012, I was asked to join ACM-W as the Celebrations Chair (thank you Gloria!) and met Valerie Barr, who was just stepping in as ACM-W Chair. Valerie and I developed a strong working relationship and had a shared vision to grow ACM-W globally. I became Vice Chair and then Chair of ACM-W and with the support of the full ACM-W leadership team was able to see much of our vision come to fruition. Now, in my role as Past Chair, I celebrate the continuation of this important work by the next generation of ACM-W Global volunteers led by Rukiye Altin. As I accept my award in a few weeks, I will continue to reflect upon the amazing community of women that I’m proud to have worked with over the years.

My wide professional network and the deep friendships I have developed over the years are constant reminders that investing in service pays dividends that last a lifetime. I thank all of them for their unwavering support and know that they, like me, will watch with excitement as ACM-W continues grow in its support, celebration and advocacy for women in computing.

The future of ACM-W is bright indeed!

Celebrating the power of professional networks and deep friendships. Left to right: Angela Guercio, Rachelle Hippler, Ellen Walker, myself, Valerie Cross, Alina Lazar, Shannon Whalen and Cindy Marling.

About the author: Jodi Tims, Program Manager for the Center for Inclusive Computing (Northeastern University), is a computing educator and Past Chair of ACM-W, the ACM Council on Women in Computing. She has led and supported international initiatives advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion across the computing community. In recognition of her sustained service and leadership, she recently received the ACM Outstanding Service Award.