Nicki Washington Receives the 2025 ACM Frances E. Allen Award for Outstanding Mentoring
May 6, 2026
Nicki Washington is the recipient of the 2025 ACM Frances E. Allen Award for Outstanding Mentoring. She is recognized for exceptional commitment to diversifying the computing community at all education levels, demonstrating creativity and breadth in her approaches. Washington is the Cue Family Professor of the Practice of Computer Science and Professor of the Practice of Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies at Duke University.
"Broadening involvement in computing remains a tough challenge," said ACM President Yannis Ioannidis. "But our field is known for overcoming challenges with new innovations. Nicki Washington has been an outstanding innovator in finding new ways to attract and retain students from underrepresented communities. She fits perfectly the ACM Frances E. Allen Award’s guidelines of ‘a sustained record of contributions over many years.’ The countless students she has mentored are succeeding in academia, major corporations, and startups. Most importantly, they, in turn, are mentoring the next generation. Washington has imbued the idea that mentorship is a professional responsibility."
The ACM Frances E. Allen Award is presented biennially to an individual who has exemplified excellence and/or innovation in mentoring, with particular attention to recognition of individuals who have shown outstanding leadership in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in computing. The award is accompanied by a prize of $25,000 to the awardee and an additional $10,000 cash contribution to an approved charity of the awardee’s choice. Financial support is provided by Microsoft Research.