Earlier today, at the Seaport Hotel in Boston, the Girls Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts honored Jennifer Tour Chayes, Distinguished Scientist and Managing Director of Microsoft Research New England with the 2011 Leading Women Award.
Jennifer co-founded the Microsoft Research New England lab in July 2008, which focuses on interdisciplinary work, integrating the more mathematical and algorithmic sciences with both the social sciences and aspects of the biomedical sciences. She leads a group of researchers at Microsoft Research New England who collaborate closely with the local academic community on applied projects in areas such as economics, social media, and health care, as well as more theoretical projects in areas such as mathematics and cryptography.
The Leading Women Award recognizes women leaders who serve as exemplary role models for today’s girls. Over 200 women have been honored by the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts with the Leading Women Award since 1992. This year’s award recipients include six leaders representing a broad professional spectrum:
Joanne Chang, Restaurateur, Flour Bakery and Myers + Chang
Jennifer Tour Chayes, Distinguished Scientist and Managing Director, Microsoft Research New England
Callie Crossley, Host of the “The Callie Crossley Show,” WGBH-FM, 89.7
Stacey Lucchino, Chairman of the Advisory Board Program in Education, Afterschool & Resiliency at McLean Hospital, Harvard
Helen Sayles, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Administration, Liberty Mutual Group
Maria Tedesco, Group Executive Vice President, Director of Business Banking at Citizens Financial Group
At Microsoft, we take an active approach to building community connections among women in the technology and business fields, in addition to encouraging aspiring youth to learn about emerging technology and career opportunities through support of a diverse range of programs hosted on our campus.
We partner closely with leading organizations including the Boston Chamber of Commerce Women’s Advisory Council, Center for Women & Enterprise, Graduate Women at MIT, Science Club for Girls, Society of Women Engineers, The Capital Network (TCN), The Commonwealth Institute (TCI), and Women Entrepreneurs in Science & Technology (WEST) to support a broad range of programs that advance women and female students.
Over the next few months we are hosting a number of marquee events including our Successful You Women’s Leadership Forum in partnership with MITX and The Commonwealth Institute and the WEST (Women Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology) Holiday Party.
We look forward to seeing many of you at these events and again congratulate Jennifer and her fellow award recipients on serving as outstanding role models for today’s young women.
