Citation
"For being the embodiment of ACM and her nearly quarter-century of tireless devotion to its causes. She epitomizes ACM's strength, dedication, and professionalism, and has given unstintingly of her time and talents with a perspective and judgment that is unmatched."

Pat Ryan, ACM's Chief Operating Officer, has been with ACM nearly a quarter of a century. She has gained a mastery of nearly all headquarters procedures, systems and operations, including much that is technical. Pat has been a tireless advocate for ACM, and has been the steady, leading icon for staff and volunteers. Pat has maintained quality relationships with volunteers and staff alike, and is known, throughout the ACM, as a straight shooter and a person who puts ACM and the needs of its members first. She started her career at ACM as a part-time employee, and worked her way up the corporate ladder under the tutelage of a number of top ACM volunteer and staff leaders. Those who have worked closely with Pat over the past decade have seen her blossom into a true leader, one capable of managing day-to-day details as well as looking forward and seeing the larger picture of what ACM can be.

Pat Ryan has rubbed shoulders with some of ACM's best and brightest minds, and the depth of her knowledge of ACM and her business savvy impresses all who come into contact with her. Pat has always asked the right questions and the hard questions. She knows how to get answers, and she has the conviction to do things differently when it means the possibility of better member service and society performance. Pat deserves much credit for the strides that have been made in ACM's centerpiece product, the ACM Digital Library. She has been instrumental in changing certain modes of operation in order to achieve better quality, faster turnaround time, and an overall better user experience. Pat truly is a force to be reckoned with. There is probably no ACM challenge that Pat has not successfully addressed. Her wealth of knowledge of the workings of ACM together with her unbridled enthusiasm have helped to make ACM the truly great and prestigious organization it is today.