NERCOMP Awards
The Mark Berman Community Outreach Award recognizes a person who demonstrates excellence in nurturing relationships and bringing people together within higher education, regardless of who they are, where they are in their career, or their personal or professional identity.
The Katie Vale Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a woman who demonstrates a passion for the role of technology in higher education and embodies the characteristics of an emerging leader.
2024 Award Winners
Mark Davis
Swarthmore CollegeThe selection committee felt Mark Davis best embodied the heart of the scholarship named for Mark Berman. Like Mark Berman, Mark Davis's personal, individual interactions with people are why he is so impactful to the higher education IT community. Mark has been an active NERCOMP contributor since at least 2018 when he began serving on the Program Committee. Mark's work has always been person-focused, often weaving together insights about technology and leadership with his expertise in EQ, Accessibility, and DEI. Mark's efforts helped envision, design, and build the NERCOMP Mentorship Program.
Alison Murray
University Of Massachusetts - BostonAlison has worked at UMass Boston for over a decade and has charted an impressive career trajectory - from desktop support to IT security. I have been so impressed by the way she has been self-motivated to learn, grow, and improve. As a woman working in a highly male-dominated field, she has had to carve her own path while serving as a mentor and role model for others and being a supportive colleague and community builder. Alison embodies the best of what we hope to see from all leaders in IT, not just women in IT.