December 9, 2024 | By Nick Pfost, photo by Joseph Xu
The University of Michigan is honored to announce the creation of the Lynn A. Conway Memorial Scholarship Fund, celebrating the life and legacy of Professor Emerita Lynn A. Conway, a visionary computer scientist, electrical engineer, and leader in transgender rights advocacy.
While working at IBM in the 1960s, Conway invented generalized dynamic instruction handling, a breakthrough that transformed computer processor technology and laid the foundation for much of modern computing. She became a national leader for transgender visibility and advocacy, supporting transgender women and advocating for inclusive ethics in engineering—her public accolades including being recognized among “Stonewall 40 trans heroes” and by Time Magazine as one of “21 Transgender People Who Influenced American Culture.” Her advocacy for transgender visibility and equality has inspired countless individuals within STEM and beyond.
Conway passed away earlier this year at the age of 86. This endowed fund supports undergraduate Michigan Engineering students who are members of oSTEM (Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), continuing Conway’s legacy of excellence and inclusion in STEM.
To learn more or contribute, visit: https://giving.umich.edu/um/w/lynn-a.-conway-memorial-scholarship-fund-703207
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