U-M Faculty and Advocacy Group Honored for Diversity and Equity Efforts

Upcoming awards from the University of Michigan will celebrate contributions to women’s empowerment, diversity, and equity. Two faculty members and an advocacy group are set to receive honors at the ceremony. The U-M Academic Women’s Caucus will present the 2025 Sarah Goddard Power Award to Laura Balzano, an associate professor known for her impactful work for women. Additionally, Margo Schlanger will be recognized with the Carol Hollenshead Inspire Award for her efforts in promoting equity and social change.

The awards ceremony, administered by the Center for the Education of Women+ (CEW+), will take place on February 13 in the Hussey Room at the Michigan League. Girls Who Code, an advocacy group, will also receive recognition for its educational outreach.

Sarah Goddard Power Award

Laura Balzano, a notable figure in electrical engineering and computer science, has been pivotal in advancing women’s roles through her leadership and scholarship. A key member of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Committee for an Inclusive Department, she introduced a division Code of Conduct adopted in 2023. As the sole woman on the ECE Executive Committee, Balzano is a staunch advocate for underrepresented groups in engineering and mathematics. Her teaching includes courses on Digital Signal Processing and Machine Learning, where she integrates diversity-promoting modules and lectures on ethics and history.

Carol Hollenshead Inspire Award

This award, named after CEW+’s former director, honors sustained efforts toward gender, race, and social equity. Margo Schlanger, a professor of law, has significantly contributed to civil rights and prison reform. As the founder of the Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse, she has influenced policy and provided substantial legal expertise. Recently, she led the USDA’s Discrimination Financial Assistance Program, aiding over 43,000 individuals affected by discriminatory lending practices.

Girls Who Code, founded by doctoral students at Michigan Medicine, provides coding education to high school students, fostering an inclusive environment for learners of diverse backgrounds. The group’s efforts extend through club meetings and outreach events, teaching valuable programming skills to K-12 students.