Lenore Blum, Distinguished Career Professor of Computer Science, was one of six women honored at the 2018 Women of Spirit Awards Gala April 5 at Carnegie Music Hall.

Established by Carlow University in 1993, the Women of Spirit Awards recognize outstanding women who exemplify the university's mission of providing access to under-represented groups and closing educational, socioeconomic and leadership gaps, particularly those that disproportionately affect women. 

Blum has long been a champion of greater representation of women in computer science. She helped transform the culture of Carnegie Mellon, creating the Women @ SCS program to provide support for women in what was once a male-dominated computer science program. CMU's School of Computer Science has since become a leader in gender diversity, with the last two incoming undergraduate computer science classes comprising nearly half women.

In addition to Blum, this year's honorees included Deborah Acklin, president and CEO of WQED; Diane Holder, UPMC executive vice president; Margaret Rosenzweig, associate professor of nursing at the University of Pittsburgh; Dr. Jeannette South-Paul, professor in the Pitt School of Medicine; and Teresa Sullivan, president of the University of Virginia.

Proceeds from the gala support need-based scholarships to Carlow students and summer career exploration workshops for high school girls, with scholarships for those from underrepresented populations.