As part of National Women’s History Month, IU Indianapolis holds an annual recognition reception to honor exceptional women in the campus community. These award winners demonstrate leadership, achievement, advocacy, or service in support of gender equity, women’s empowerment, women’s history or cultures of inclusion.
At the 2023 awards ceremony, held on March 29, five of the 16 recipients were IU Indianapolis undergraduate and graduate students. Congratulations to: Rashi Dhenia, Rashi Tyagi, Karen DSouza, Kristina Johnson-Yates and Halide Namli-Kilic.
Rashi Tyagi
Purdue School of Science
“Being a brown woman, this award symbolizes breaking through the barriers and overcoming the challenges women of color face in the STEM field. Overall, this award is a testament to my passion for STEM and my commitment to creating a more diverse and inclusive environment in the field.”
Halide Namli-Kilic
Chief Resident, Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry
“As a woman and mom of a daughter, it is an enormous honor to receive such an inspiring award. It encourages us to take a closer look at the history of women’s contributions and to celebrate their accomplishments, whether in the fields of science, politics, literature or the arts.
Women’s History Month awards serve as an important reminder of the ongoing struggles for gender equality and the need to continue advocating for women’s rights.”
Kristina Johnson-Yates
PhD program, Urban Education Studies, School of Education
“This award, to me, means that the work I have done and aspire to continue doing matters. That the need to uplift girls and women holds rich history and endless potential and impact. It feels good to be recognized by an entity that shares values with mine in certain ways.”
Rashi Dhenia
School of Engineering and Technology
“Winning the Women’s History Month award has been an incredible honor and is particularly meaningful to me because it represents a milestone in my journey of advocating for gender equality and women’s rights.
I am grateful to be part of a community that celebrates the achievements of women and promotes gender equality. By shining a spotlight on the achievements of women, we can help create a more inclusive campus culture.”
