At the 2025 Tapia Conference, CMD-IT recognized two outstanding individuals: Jeff Forbes and Kathy Waskom for their significant impact on the CMD-IT community.
Jeff Forbes:
CMD-IT extended its appreciation to Jeff Forbes for his significant impact on Broadening Participation in Computing programs while serving as the Lead Program Director for the Education and Workforce program at the National Science Foundation Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering from 2019 to 2025. His insights, advocacy, and continued community engagement helped to ensure the Tapia Conference remained a powerful platform for connection, inspiration, and progress for the CMD-IT community.
Kathy Waskom:
A special thank you was given to Kathy Waskom, who served as the Tapia Conference Volunteer Coordinator for more than ten years. Kathy’s dedication, organization, and compassion touched the lives of hundreds of student volunteers. The Student Volunteer program is a mutually beneficial program whereby local students have an opportunity to receive complimentary conference registration by providing a few hours of help each day of the conference. Kathy’s care and support for every student volunteer participant fostered a welcoming and encouraging environment that truly embodied the spirit of the Tapia community.
A Legacy of Impact
CMD-IT extends our appreciation to Jeff Forbes and Kathy Waskom for their impact on the CMD-IT community. Their contributions helped create a space where diverse voices were heard, opportunities were shared, and inspiration thrived.