The prestigious award is one of five honoring computing professionals for their impactful service and work to build a vibrant technical community

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) today recognized University of Utah Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute Director Manish Parashar with its Distinguished Service Award for service and leadership in furthering the transformative impact of computer and computational science on science and engineering.

Parashar’s record of service includes leadership at the National Science Foundation (NSF), where he developed NSF’s strategic vision for a national cyberinfrastructure, as well as at the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, where he developed the Future Advancement Computing Ecosystem Strategic Plan. For ACM, Parashar served two terms as editor-in-chief of ACM Transactions on Autonomous and Adaptive Systems, and has led steering, organizing and programming committees for numerous ACM conferences.

"I am delighted to receive this award and grateful for the recognition from ACM," Parashar said. "It has been an honor to serve the community, and I am grateful for the opportunities to do so."

The ACM Distinguished Service Award is presented annually on the basis of value and degree of services to the computing community. The contribution is not limited to service to ACM—it also includes activities in other computer organizations and emphasizes contributions to the computing community at large.

Parashar also won the Computing Research Association Distinguished Service Award last year for his “multifaceted and highly impactful service to the computing research community.”

ACM recognized Parashar among four other individuals with exemplary service to the computing field. Representing diverse areas, the award recipients were selected by their peers for building a vibrant community that benefits both their colleagues and the broader society. This year’s awardees drove advancements in computer science curriculum, cyberinfrastructures, computer science education, and assistive robotics. They will be formally recognized at ACM’s annual awards banquet on June 14, 2025, in San Francisco.

About ACM
ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery, is the world's largest educational and scientific computing society, uniting educators, researchers, and professionals to inspire dialogue, share resources, and address the field's challenges. ACM strengthens the computing profession's collective voice through strong leadership, promotion of the highest standards, and recognition of technical excellence. ACM supports the professional growth of its members by providing opportunities for life-long learning, career development, and professional networking.

A version of this story was first published by the Association for Computing Machinery.