What Is Grace Hopper Celebration?
Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) is the world’s largest gathering of women in tech, bringing together thousands of women from across the globe to learn, network, and celebrate their achievements. Founded in 1994 by Dr. Anita Borg and Dr. Telle Whitney, GHC was created to honor the legacy of computing pioneer Grace Hopper and to amplify the research, career growth, and impact of women in tech.
Who was Grace Hopper?
An important and influential pioneer in the history of tech, Rear Admiral Grace Hopper was one of the first women to receive a doctorate degree in mathematics. Her expertise allowed her to join the U.S. Naval Reserve during World War II to work on the Mark I computer. After the war, she remained in the U.S. Navy as a reserve officer, working with the more advanced Mark II and Mark III computers.
Hopper also helped create the first compiler for computer languages and was the first female recipient of the National Medal of Technology in 1991. In 2016, she was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her many contributions to the field of computing.
About AnitaB.org
AnitaB.org is a nonprofit social enterprise driving intersectional equity in the global technical workforce. AnitaB.org programs empower women in technical fields, guide the organizations that employ them, and support the academic institutions training the next generation. Founded in 1997 by our namesake, computer science visionary Anita Borg, and her co-founder and fellow computer scientist, Telle Whitney, AnitaB.org connects women in tech to the organizations, opportunities, and tools they need to advance, thrive, and transform the future of technology.
