Lisa Brown – 2025 Penny Crane Award Recipient

Lisa Brown currently serves as Assistant Director for Teaching and Learning systems at the University of Rochester. She has been a dedicated member of the URochester community since 1996, building a long and impactful career in higher education IT with a clear focus on supporting the teaching and learning mission of the institution. Throughout her tenure, Lisa has partnered closely with faculty, students, and academic staff to design, support, and sustain technologies that enhance instruction, learning experiences, and academic success.

Lisa’s work has consistently emphasized customer service, collaboration, and thoughtful adoption of technology in the classroom and beyond. Lisa earned her doctorate in 2016 from the Warner School of Education at the University and added adjunct instructor to her professional roles. Teaching in this capacity has deepened her understanding of the needs and challenges faced by instructional staff and further informed her approach to supporting educational technology. By focusing on the needs of educators and learners, she has helped ensure that technology serves as an enabler of pedagogy rather than a barrier, reflecting a deep commitment to the academic mission of higher education.

Lisa began attending SIGUCCS in 1997 and has been a frequent volunteer and presenter over the years. Through the SIGUCCS conference and community, she has developed lasting professional relationships and friendships with IT colleagues from across the country.

One of her most meaningful early SIGUCCS experiences was chairing the 2013 conference, the organization’s 50th Anniversary celebration. Serving as Conference Chair alongside Program Co-Chair Laurie Fox strengthened a lasting friendship and professional partnership. That conference also introduced Lisa to many past Penny Crane Award recipients and deepened her understanding of the responsibility and impact of leadership within SIGUCCS.

Since joining the SIGUCCS Board in 2014 and being elected to the Executive Committee in 2017, Lisa has contributed more than a decade of sustained service and leadership to the organization. In these roles, she worked closely with Laurie and others to foster a welcoming, inclusive, and collaborative environment for colleagues across institutions, with a particular focus on ensuring the SIGUCCS conference is a supportive and engaging space for all participants.

Lisa’s comments:

I am deeply honored to receive the ACM SIGUCCS Penny Crane Award and to share this recognition alongside Laurie Fox. SIGUCCS has played a formative role in my professional growth, providing a community of colleagues, mentors, and friends who share a commitment to service and  collaboration. To be recognized together—and alongside past recipients whom I admire and respect—is especially meaningful. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to an organization that has given me so much over the years.

Laurie Fox – 2025 Penny Crane Award Recipient

Laurie Fox is Director of Educational Technology in Computing & Information Technology at SUNY Geneseo. Since 1995, she has led campus efforts to advance teaching and learning through desktop support and helpdesk operations, classroom technologies, LMS administration and instructional design, faculty training and development, and digital media services. In addition to her leadership, Laurie teaches business and productivity courses, reflecting her commitment to practical, learner‑centered use of technology.

A long‑standing contributor to SIGUCCS, Laurie has served on the Executive Committee (Information Director, Chair and Past Chair), served ACM’s SIG Governing Board as New SIG Advisor, and provided ongoing leadership for marketing, professional development, and the SIGUCCS Book Club. She is a frequent presenter and facilitator, sharing pragmatic approaches to service, communication, and leadership with colleagues across higher education. In recognition of sustained professional contributions, Laurie was named an ACM Senior Member in 2021.

Laurie’s collaboration with SIGUCCS volunteers has been a cornerstone of her service. She first partnered with Lisa Brown as Program Co‑Chair for the 2013 SIGUCCS 50th Anniversary Conference in Chicago. Laurie went on to chair two additional conference committees – Denver in 2016 and Chicago in 2023 – and most recently served as Program Co‑Chair for the 2025 ACM SIGUCCS Annual Conference in Denver, collaborating again with Conference Co‑Chair Lisa Brown. Throughout these roles, Laurie has prioritized creating welcoming environments where volunteers, presenters, and exhibitors can share effective practices and strengthen their communities of practice.

Laurie’s comments:

I’m really excited to receive the Penny Crane Award with Lisa Brown. Over many years, Lisa and I – and so many SIGUCCS volunteers – have worked hard to build a community that’s welcoming, inclusive, and genuinely supportive. This recognition isn’t just for us; it’s for everyone who’s pitched in. It shows what we can accomplish together through service.