Awarded annually by the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs on the recommendation of the Directors of the Human Computer Interaction Master’s program to outstanding graduate students pursuing research or scholarship in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI.) Eligible recipients will be pursuing research in the area of accessibility of computer interfaces. Endowed in 2022, by the family of Carolyn Ruth MacLeod BSc/84, BCS/85.

Carolyn was an accomplished and dedicated Software Developer and her passion was ensuring the accessibility of computer Interfaces for people with disabilities.  She contributed significantly to the evolution of this technology both inside and outside IBM for the benefit of all.  Her positive energy and enthusiasm for life were contagious and she made everyone she encountered feel happy. Her cheerful, can-do attitude and bright smile will be missed by everyone she worked with at IBM and in the broader accessibility community.

Carolyn has been recognized by the W3C WAI-ARIA (Web Accessibility Initiative – Accessible Rich Internet Applications) group as an Honorary Editor of the ARIA Authoring Practices Guide and v1.2 of the guide is dedicated to her memory.

It is her family’s hope that this scholarship will strengthen her legacy and encourage others across all disciplines to enable people with disabilities to have equal access to computer systems and applications.