Preeminent executives, visionaries, technologists and friends gathered on September 9th, 2003 at Stanford University to celebrate the life and vision of Institute for Women and Technology founder Dr. Anita Borg and to address the critical issues associated with the global development and proliferation of technology. Anita envisioned a positive future where women’s voices, ideas and spirits influence how and why technology is developed and the daylong Anita Borg Celebration honored that vision by providing a forum for technology thought leaders to work together to reshape the technology workforce to include the untapped and positive potential of women.
The Anita Borg Celebration began with a public memorial and was followed by lectures, discussions and panels. Over 300 people attended day’s event. Keynote speakers and panelists included: Judy Estrin, Chairman, Packet Design; Dr. William Wulf, President, National Academy of Engineering; Kara Swisher, Wall Street Journal; Rebecca Roberts, Public Radio International; Dr. Fran Allen, Fellow Emerita, IBM; Denise Brosseau, Founder, Forum for Women Entrepreneurs; and Dr. Maria Klawe, Dean, Engineering and Applied Science, Princeton University. A number of prominent organizations including Sally Ride’s Imaginary Lines, Girl Scouts of the USA, ACM-W, CRA-W, and MentorNet added to the day with informative and educational exhibits.
Later that evening Dr. Moira Gunn, host of NPR’s TechNation, served as master of ceremonies for more than 350 people at a Gala Banquet held at the Crowne Plaza Cabana in Palo Alto. Dawn Lepore, CIO and Vice Chair of Charles Schwab, delivered the keynote address.
Not only was the Anita Borg Celebration a fitting tribute to Anita’s life and vision it also served as a significant opportunity to cement her legacy. In commemoration of Anita the Institute Board of Trustees, Board of Advisors, staff, friends and family proudly and formally announced the renaming of the Institute for Women and Technology in her name
Anita Borg Celebration Program Committee
| General Chair: | Telle Whitney |
| Fund Raising: | Ellen Lapham, Nancy Levitt |
| Organizing Committee: | Kathy Richardson, Barbara Simons, Ruth Stergiou, Amy Pearl, Winfried Wilcke |
| Awards: | Kathy Richardson |
| Program: | Sally Ahnger |
| Exhibits: | Lisa Duncan |
| Communications: | Eric Mason |
| Web Support: | Annie Bedichek, Cindy Goral |
| Operations: | Shiva Ghaffari, Gloria Montano |
| Financial: | Shirley Edwards |
| Volunteer Organization: | Adrienne Renner |
| Banquet Organization: | Ellen Lapham, Nancy Levitt |
| Silent Auction: | Kathy Wheeler |
| Publicity: | Lynda Kaye, Laurie Stein |
Special thanks to the Anita Borg Celebration participants from:
ACM, ACM-W, Agilent Technologies, Apple Computer, AT&T, Cadence, University of California at Berkeley, University of California at Irvine, Catalyst, ChevronTexaco, Cisco Systems, University of Colorado at Boulder, Columbia University, Computer History Museum, ConnecTerra, Cornell University, CRA-W, DePauw University, Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, Georgia Tech, Girl Scouts of the USA, Google, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, iCarnegie, Sally Ride’s Imaginary Lines, Intel, Mango Communications, Math Science Network, MentorNet, Microsoft, MIT Media Lab, National Academy of Engineering, National Center for Women and IT, National Public Radio, National Science Foundation, PANW, Packet Design, PARC, Princeton University, Purdue University, Santa Clara University, University of San Francisco, Charles Schwab, Stanford University, Sun Microsystems, Texas A&M, UCLA, Wall Street Journal, Xerox