Community, mentorship, and leadership across the DAC ecosystem

DAC Women in Technology (WIT) connects women across the DAC ecosystem to advance community, support professional development, and encourage leadership through networking, mentoring, and technical engagement. Our vision is to foster a thriving DAC community where women grow as innovators, mentors, and leaders.

Join the DAC WIT Community (external link)

Come network and inspire future generations to confidently follow and outpace the women leaders in our field.

For more information on women in technology events at DAC or to be part of DAC’s diversity and inclusion committee for 2027, please contact Michelle Clancy Fuller at Michelle.Clancy@Cayennecom.com.

DAC 2026 Women in Technology Committee

  • Abinaya Senthil, (NXP Semiconductors)

  • Elizabeth Stanley

  • Helen Li (Duke University)

  • Michelle Clancy Fuller (Cayenne Global)

  • Nanditha Rao (IBM)

  • Smadar Shulemzon (XSight Labs)

  • Sashi Obilisetty (CaretEDA)

  • Renu Mehra (Synopsys)

For more information on women in technology events at DAC, please contact Michelle Clancy Fuller at Michelle.Clancy@Cayennecom.com.

Marie R Pistilli Women in Electronic Design Achievement Award 2027

For more than two decades, the Marie R. Pistilli Women in Electronic Design Achievement Award, named for the former organizer of DAC who passed away in 2015, has been honoring those individuals who have helped advance the profile of women in the electronics industry and made significant overall contributions.  Nominations are now being accepted for the 2027 Marie R. Pistilli Electronic Design Award. 

The award honors a person in the semiconductor-related industry or academia for his or her support and advancement of women in the related industries. Nominees may hail from technical or non-technical backgrounds and must be individuals who have made notable contributions to advancing the profile of women in Engineering or Electronic Design. Past recipients have played key roles in creating, launching, or managing products that involved contributions from women or created opportunities for women in the industry. Some have been leaders within a company or organization helping to raise the awareness of women, while others have been mentors or role models for successful women in technology. Nominations are eligible for three years from date of submission.  

Nomination Submission Deadline: April 2027

Submit a Nomination

2026 Marie R. Pistilli Women in Electronic Design Achievement Award Winner

Helen Li

The Marie R. Pistilli Women in Electronic Design Award is a prestigious annual honor that recognizes individuals who have visibly helped to advance women in electronic design. The award is named for the late Marie R. Pistilli, former organizer of DAC, who placed a high value on equality, diversity, and acceptance.

Hai “Helen” Li is Marie Foote Reel E’46 Distinguished Professor and Department Chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. Her current research focuses on neuromorphic computing systems, deep-learning acceleration and security, memory design and architecture, and high-performance and energy-efficient computing systems. She is a Fellow of AAAS, ACM, IEEE and NAI.

Past Recipients of the Marie R. Pistilli Award

  • 63rd DAC, 2026 - Helen li, Duke University

  • 62nd DAC, 2025 - Marilyn Wolf, University of Nebraska Lincoln

  • 61st DAC, 2024 - Sashi Obilisetty, Synopsys

  • 60th DAC, 2023 - X. Sharon Hu, University of Notre Dame

  • 59th DAC, 2022 - Michelle Clancy-Fuller, Cayenne Global

  • 58th DAC, 2021 - Renu Mehra, Synopsys

  • 57th DAC, 2020 - Alessandra Nardi, PhD, Cadence

  • 56th DAC, 2019 - Iris Bahar, Brown University 

  • 55th DAC, 2018 - Anne Cirkel, Mentor, a Siemens Business

  • 54th DAC, 2017 - Janet Olson, Synopsys, Inc. 

  • 53rd DAC, 2016 - Soha Hassoun, Tufts University

  • 52nd DAC, 2015 - Margaret Martonosi, Princeton University

  • 51st DAC, 2014 - Diana Marculescu, Carnegie Mellon University

  • 50th DAC, 2013 - Nanette Collins, Nanette V. Collins Marketing, and Public Relations

  • 49th DAC, 2012 - Dr. Belle W. Y. Wei, San Jose State University

  • 48th DAC, 2011 - Limor Fix, Intel Corp.

  • 47th DAC, 2010 - Mar Hershenson, Magma Design Automation, Inc.

  • 46th DAC, 2009 - Telle Whitney, Anita Borg Institute

  • 45th DAC, 2008 - Louise Trevillyan, IBM Research Center

  • 44th DAC, 2007 - Jan Willis, Cadence Design Systems, Inc.

  • 43rd DAC, 2006 - Ellen Yoffa, IBM

  • 42nd DAC, 2005 - Kathryn Kranen, Jasper Design Automation, Inc.

  • 41st DAC, 2004 - Mary Jane Irwin, Pennsylvania State University

  • 40th DAC, 2003 - Karen Bartleson, Synopsys, Inc.

  • 39th DAC, 2002 - Ann Rincon, AMI Semiconductor

  • 38th DAC, 2001 - Deidre Hanford, Synopsys, Inc.

  • 37th DAC, 2000 - Penny Herscher, Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (previously)

Marie R. Pistilli Award Steering Committee

  • Ann Mutschler - Semi Engineering

  • Abinaya Senthil - NXP Semiconductors

  • Harry Foster - Siemens

  • Nanditha Rao - IBM

  • Sashi Obilisetty - CaretEDA

  • Michelle Clancy Fuller - Cayenne Global