Bloomington, IN – September 4, 2025 – The Center of Excellence for Women & Technology is proud to announce IU senior Anshu Roja Selvamani as the recipient of the Maureen Biggers Leadership Award for Equity and Technology for the 2025 academic year. Established in 2023 to honor Maureen Biggers’ 15 years of transformative leadership, this award recognizes students who have demonstrated a long-standing commitment to using technology skills in the service of academic and professional excellence, while advancing equity and inclusion in tech.
Roja Selvamani, a senior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a minor in Cognitive Science, has distinguished herself as a leader in advancing digital and technical equity for all. Her work centers on building inclusive, accessible tech education opportunities for underserved communities around the world.
As the founder of Binary Horizons, Anshu has led efforts to bridge the digital divide in countries like Namibia, Nigeria, and India through coding workshops, digital literacy training, and mentorship. In 2024, she launched Code Connect Namibia, a hands-on coding program for students in underserved communities where they designed tech solutions to address local challenges—many students having never written a line of code before. This initiative highlights her commitment to democratizing technology and empowering youth of all backgrounds to become tech creators.
She also led coding camps for women in Zambia, providing university-aged women with web development training, personal branding tools, and opportunities to pitch tech ideas. Through mentorship and technical instruction, the program has empowered young women to pursue careers in technology—directly aligning with the Center’s mission to eliminate barriers for women in tech.
Anshu’s work extends beyond program creation; she’s created change on a global scale, mentored aspiring tech entrepreneurs with limited access to resources, and received multiple awards recognizing her contributions to digital equity. Her current academic interests include artificial intelligence, human-centered design, and assistive technologies—fields she hopes to apply toward building inclusive platforms that connect students and mentors to co-develop AI-powered solutions for community challenges.
Her leadership, vision, and global impact reflect the legacy of Maureen Biggers, whose work was rooted in the belief that technology equity can transform lives and open doors to academic and professional opportunities for all.
The Maureen Biggers Leadership Award for Equity & Tech, funded through an endowed gift, awards $1,000 annually to a junior or senior undergraduate student who embodies equity, leadership, and technical competency. Special consideration is given to those affiliated with the Center or an IU program with a similar mission. The award aims to continue Maureen Biggers’ legacy by supporting future leaders who lower barriers to participation in academia and careers in the technology sector.
Anshu’s dedication to inclusion and innovation exemplifies the spirit of this award. As she looks ahead to graduation and beyond, we are excited to witness the continued impact she will make in building a more just and equitable tech landscape—locally and globally.
About the Maureen Biggers Leadership Award for Equity & Tech:
The Maureen Biggers Leadership Award for Equity & Tech was established in 2023 to honor the legacy of Maureen Biggers, founder and longtime director of the Center of Excellence for Women & Technology. The award supports junior or senior undergraduate students who have demonstrated a commitment to technology skills and competency in service of academic and professional excellence, with a focus on promoting equity in the tech industry.
About the Center of Excellence for Women & Technology:
The Indiana University Center of Excellence for Women & Technology serves as IU’s voice for women and technology, empowering students to build confidence, knowledge, and leadership in technology-related fields. The Center promotes the full leverage of technology in support of academic and professional excellence, fostering intellectual networks and interdisciplinary collaborations across the university.
For more information on the Maureen Biggers Leadership Award for Equity & Tech and the Center of Excellence for Women & Technology, please visit womenandtech.indiana.edu.