In a commendable recognition of efforts towards gender equity and diversity, two University of Michigan faculty members and an advocacy group are set to receive prestigious awards next month. These accolades highlight significant contributions in promoting inclusivity and equality within the academic community.
Laura Balzano, an associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science in the College of Engineering, and associate professor of statistics in LSA, has been selected as a recipient of the 2025 Sarah Goddard Power Award by U-M’s Academic Women’s Caucus. This award honors her impactful work in advancing the status of women through her academic and professional endeavors.
The awards are facilitated by the Center for the Education of Women+ (CEW+), which also oversees another prestigious honor set to be presented at the same ceremony, the Carol Hollenshead Inspire Award for Excellence in Promoting Equity and Social Change.
The ceremony, scheduled for February 13 from 3-5 p.m. in the Michigan League’s Hussey Room, will honor the advocacy group Girls Who Code and individual awardee Margo Schlanger, the Wade H. and Dores M. McCree Collegiate Professor of Law at the Law School.
Sarah Goddard Power Award
The Sarah Goddard Power Award, named after the late regent, is given to those who demonstrate leadership and scholarship that significantly benefits women. Alongside her teaching duties, Balzano is actively involved in promoting diversity and inclusion within her department, exemplified by her role on the Electrical and Computer Engineering Committee for an Inclusive Department, where she was pivotal in establishing a faculty-adopted Code of Conduct in 2023.
Balzano’s contributions extend to her teaching, where she has integrated diversity-focused materials into courses like Digital Signal Processing and Machine Learning, enhancing awareness of underrepresented minorities and addressing biases in algorithms.
Carol Hollenshead Inspire Award
The Carol Hollenshead Inspire Award, inspired by the 20-year legacy of the CEW+’s former director, recognizes individuals or groups dedicated to enhancing equity across various dimensions, including gender, race, and disability. Both awardees will present their insights during the February 13 ceremony.
Girls Who Code, led by doctoral students from Michigan Medicine, engages K-12 students by offering a platform to learn coding in an inclusive environment. The initiative promotes skill development and diversity in computer sciences.
Margo Schlanger’s work in constitutional law and civil rights has a profound impact. Her recent role as a senior adviser at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, overseeing a $2 billion discrimination financial assistance program, underscores her commitment to equity and justice.
