Tech council honors eight NM ‘wonder women’

Annual awards highlight STEM field achievements

The New Mexico Technology Council held its annual Women in Technology celebration Thursday morning, handing out awards to eight women from around the state for their achievements and efforts to inspire others.

The annual awards, now in their ninth year, aim to highlight the success of area women working in technology fields and to encourage others, particularly young women, to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math, said Lisa Adkins, council board member and former chair.

“We need to honor the amazing women involved in technology in our state and show young women the benefits of pursuing STEM education,” Adkins said. “It’s an inspirational event to recognize success and keep women engaged.”

This year’s ceremony had a “Wonder Women 2017” theme, with most of the event’s 300-plus participants sporting Wonder Woman T-shirts and capes, Adkins said.

Awards went to:

Sue Anne Athens, N.M. Department of Workforce Solutions chief information officer.

Cynthia de Lorenzi, chairman and

CEO of the nonprofit organizations Enable Women, Pray4, GetTech and Success in the City.

Meta Hirschl, senior software developer at the Adelante Development Center.

Kelly Hyde, CEO of the health-tech company Fidelity EHR.

Trish Lopez, founder and CEO of the

Albuquerque startup Teeniors.

Andrea Polli, University of New Mexico digital media professor and Mesa del Sol endowed chair.

Patricia Sullivan, New Mexico State

University College of Engineering associate dean for outreach and public service.

Nora Tocci, president of Contrast Inc.

“This year’s awardees have all demonstrated strong entrepreneurial spirit in their own work, while serving as incredible mentors to their peers and to younger generations of women,” said Technology Council President Nyika Allen.

Taos teacher Tracy Galligan and five female high-school students also received “Aspirations in Computing” awards, which the tech council provides each year in cooperation with the National Center for Women and Information Technology. Local film industry technician Elizabeth Kallman also won a $5,000 scholarship to pursue education in data science.