2025 EDGE in Tech Athena Award winners promote inclusion in tech fields

The Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society and the Banatao Institute (CITRIS) at the University of California (UC) is excited to announce the 2025 recipients of the EDGE in Tech Athena Awards, recognized for their efforts to expand engagement with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

This year’s awards are given in five categories, with four individuals honored for executive, academic, early career and graduate student leadership and one organization celebrated for its next-generation engagement.

The recipients were nominated by peers and colleagues inspired by their work and efforts, and winners were selected through a competitive review process.

“It is incredibly important to recognize the people doing the difficult work of expanding access to essential tech fields,” said Jill Finlayson, managing director of the CITRIS Innovation Hub, the program that oversees the awards.

“Those who champion on-ramps into STEM, fair workplaces and welcoming cultures are critical to the development of innovative technologies and help ensure that new solutions will work well for everyone.”

The 2025 EDGE in Tech Athena Awards will be presented at a special ceremony on May 13 at the UC Berkeley headquarters of CITRIS and the Banatao Institute.

“We are proud to recognize these leaders who are transforming industry and academia for the better,” said Camille Crittenden, executive director of CITRIS and the Banatao Institute and co-founder of EDGE (Expanding Diversity and Gender Equity) in Tech at UC.

“U.S. competitiveness relies on nurturing innovation from the broadest population and the brightest minds. CITRIS is committed to opening opportunities for all and celebrating those who join us in this goal.”

The 2025 award winners are:

• Executive Leadership Award:
  Susan Lyne, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, BBG Ventures
• Academic Leadership Award:
  Isabel Montañez, Distinguished Professor and Chancellorʼs Leadership Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Davis; Director, UC Davis Institute of the Environment
• Early Career Leadership Award:
  Nadine Smith, Coding and Robotics Educator, ADvTECH
• Graduate Student Leadership Award:
  Zhe Fu, Doctoral Student in Transportation Engineering, UC Berkeley
• Next-generation Engagement Award:
  Technovation