CMD-IT News Center
CMD-IT News Center

CMD-IT Recognized Jeff Forbes and Kathy Waskom for Their Dedication
At the 2025 Tapia Conference, CMD-IT recognizes two outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to the Tapia Conference for more than a decade: Jeff Forbes and Kathy Waskom.

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Indigenous Innovators in Computing
CMD-IT recognizes Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate Indigenous innovation, leadership, and resilience, and to acknowledge the ongoing contributions of Indigenous peoples in technology and society.

Tapia 2025 Generative AI Student Hackathon Winners
Tapia 2025 had its first Generative AI Student Hackathon, which was organized by a committee consisting of the following members: Matthew Dearing, (University of Illinois Chicago, Argonne National...

Tapia 2025 Student Poster Competition Winners
The Tapia Student Poster Competition is a major component of the Tapia Conference and provides undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to present their latest research results and...

Celebrating Global Diversity Awareness Month
Every September, CMD-IT recognizes Hispanic voices in computing—celebrating the contributions of students, researchers, educators, and professionals who are shaping the future of technology. At the Tapia Conference, this celebration takes on a special significance, bringing together members of the community for connection, inspiration, and growth.

LEAP Alliance: Computer Science Ph.D. Application Deadlines For Fall 2026 Admissions
What is the LEAP Alliance? The LEAP Alliance is focused on diversifying future leadership in the computing professoriate at research universities as a way to...

Join Us at Tapia 2026
CMD-IT is excited to announce the 2026 CMD-IT/ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference, taking place on September 16-18 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Celebrating Hispanic Voices in Computing at Tapia 2025
Every September, CMD-IT recognizes Hispanic voices in computing—celebrating the contributions of students, researchers, educators, and professionals who are shaping the future of technology. At the Tapia Conference, this celebration takes on a special significance, bringing together members of the community for connection, inspiration, and growth.

August is Black Business Month: Celebrating Black Innovators in Tech
August is Black Business Month—a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black entrepreneurs and professionals across every industry.
The Center for Minorities and People with Disabilities in IT (CMD-IT) highlights the Entrepreneurship in Computing panel at the 2025 Tapia Conference, scheduled for September 10-12 in Dallas, Texas.

Celebrating Disability Pride Month: Recognizing Innovators in Computing with Disabilities
July is Disability Pride Month, a time to recognize the strength and contributions of people with disabilities — including in the field of computing. This month not only commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990, but also serves as a reminder of the importance of accessibility, inclusion, and representation across all industries.

You Belong in AI: Why the Field Needs New Perspectives Now
AI is moving faster than our ability to govern it, explain it, or fully understand it. We’re optimizing for technical excellence—faster, cheaper, more precise—without first agreeing on what this technology is for, or who it truly serves.
Dr. Taylor is an Argonne Distinguished Fellow and director of the Mathematics and Computer Science Division at Argonne National Laboratory. She researches high-performance computing with a focus on performance analysis, modeling, and tuning of parallel scientific applications for energy efficiency.
Jennifer Tour Chayes Receives 2025 Richard A. Tapia Achievement Award for Scientific Scholarship, Civic Science, and Diversifying Computing
June 24, 2025 — Chicago, Illinois — The Center for Minorities and People with Disabilities in IT(CMD-IT) proudly announces that Jennifer Tour Chayes, Dean of the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society at the University of California, Berkeley, has been awarded the Richard A. Tapia Achievement Award for Scientific Scholarship, Civic Science, and Diversifying Computing.

CMD-IT Recognizes Pride Month: Honoring LGBTQ+ Communities in Computing
June is Pride Month, which provides an opportunity to highlight the achievements of LGBTQ+ individuals who are shaping the future of technology. CMD-IT honors the voices and contributions of LGBTQ+ professionals in tech who are breaking barriers and building pathways for the next generation.
Dr. Taylor is an Argonne Distinguished Fellow and director of the Mathematics and Computer Science Division at Argonne National Laboratory. She researches high-performance computing with a focus on performance analysis, modeling, and tuning of parallel scientific applications for energy efficiency.

Telle Whitney Launches New Book Rebooting Tech Culture
Telle Whitney Launches New Book Rebooting Tech Culture Renowned technology leader and diversity advocate Telle Whitney launched her highly anticipated book, Rebooting Tech Culture, on May 27, 2025.
Dr. Taylor is an Argonne Distinguished Fellow and director of the Mathematics and Computer Science Division at Argonne National Laboratory. She researches high-performance computing with a focus on performance analysis, modeling, and tuning of parallel scientific applications for energy efficiency.

Dr. Valerie E. Taylor: 2025 Campanile Excellence in Achievement Award Recipient
Throughout her career, Valerie E. Taylor Ph.D. ‘91 has been a path-breaking presence and role model for women in computer science, for underrepresented students, and for students and professionals in STEM.
Dr. Taylor is an Argonne Distinguished Fellow and director of the Mathematics and Computer Science Division at Argonne National Laboratory. She researches high-performance computing with a focus on performance analysis, modeling, and tuning of parallel scientific applications for energy efficiency.

National Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month: Honoring Innovators in Tech
Each May, we observe National Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, recognizing the cultural contributions and achievements of AAPI communities across the United States. In technology, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have been instrumental in advancing innovation.
As we honor this AAPI Heritage month, it’s important to spotlight a few AAPI trailblazers who are redefining what’s possible in the computing and tech industries.

Embracing Neurodiversity in Tech on Autism Acceptance Month
CMD-IT (Center for Minorities and People with Disabilities in IT) celebrates Black History Month and recognizes the contributions of Black who are driving innovations in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and using AI to drive innovations.

Women of Color in Computing: Celebrating Women’s History Month
CMD-IT (Center for Minorities and People with Disabilities in IT) celebrates Black History Month and recognizes the contributions of Black who are driving innovations in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and using AI to drive innovations.

Blacks Shaping AI: CMD-IT Celebrates Black Excellence in AI for Black History Month
CMD-IT (Center for Minorities and People with Disabilities in IT) celebrates Black History Month and recognizes the contributions of Black who are driving innovations in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and using AI to drive innovations.

National Mentoring Month
Join us Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM CST
Dr. Ann Quiroz Gates is the Vice Provost at the University of Texas at El Paso and holds the AT&T Distinguished Professorship. She has served in various leadership roles, including Chair of the Computer Science Department (2005-2008, 2012-2020) and Associate VP of Research and Sponsored Projects (2008-2012).