The University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) made history Saturday, Oct. 8 after Dr. Valerie Sheares Ashby was presented with the Technologist of the Year Award at the Women of Color in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Conference.
Dr. Ashby is the first college president to receive the top award at the annual Women of Color Gala. "Our incoming 2022 technologist of the year is a decorated scientist, educator, inventor, and a champion of STEM, diversity, and inclusion," said Mei Cai, the 2021 Technologist of the Year, during the traditional Passing of the Torch segment of the red carpet event.
"I am so honored to be saying congratulations to my successor," said newly retired Dr. Freeman Hrabowski in a video beamed into the gala. "Valerie, I just knew you were right for this award because you have been breaking barriers all of your life," he continued. "And when I think about your amazing work as a student at Chapel Hill, going away after becoming a polymer chemist as a research scientist in Germany, coming back, going through the ranks at your beloved alma mater, and then becoming chair of the department to do so many great things," he said.
After serving as the first Black female chair of the chemistry department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she moved over to Duke University and became the first Black woman dean of the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences. In August 2022, she took office as the first Black woman president of a research university in Maryland.
"It is an honor for me to lead this institution that not only articulates but embodies and models inclusive and excellence," Ashby said in her acceptance speech. "I'm just delighted to be your president. What an empowering conference theme: The Struggle. The Progress. The Future. I love the word struggle because our resumes typically only document and make visible the progress. It’s sometimes unimaginable that the people we admire have had any level of insecurity, missteps, or struggle.
"When I struggled as a student, I learned that I was called to teach," Ashby continued. "When I struggled with the weight of impostor syndrome, I learned I was called to encourage and empower graduate students and faculty. When I struggled to see myself represented in the Academy, I learned I was called to create pathways and opportunities for scholars of color to be recognized, visible, and valued. So, I'm grateful that struggle is the first word, but I stand here tonight grateful that it isn't the last."
The show kicked off with a performance by the Detroit Youth Choir before the welcome address by Lexi Hernandez, Ph.D., global head of diversity, equity, and inclusion workforce initiatives at Raytheon Technologies.
"As a Latina executive, I know how important it is to support each other, to support future generations, and show the world needs more women of color in STEM and leadership," she said.
Awards presented at the Women of Color STEM awards gala include technical categories such as innovation and IT leadership. Other categories are designated for career achievement, community service, corporate responsibility, professional achievement, and managerial leadership.
THE TECHNOLOGISTS OF THE YEAR TIMELINE
