OCTOBER 24, 2025

Amplifying Women in Innovation Fields | WIN Awards 2025

“Hope for tomorrow that makes sense today.” — Zerlina Jackson, WIN Rising Stars Judge, Digital Marketing Experience VP at New York Life

Last Friday, MFA Design for Social Innovation convened at the annual Women in Innovation (WIN) Awards. From students, to faculty, to alum, to staff – DSI was in the house!

Women in Innovation is more than just an event or awards ceremony, it matters to the DSI community as a practice of social design that prioritizes the platforming of women in innovation fields. WIN cultivates community to build access to capital and a future wherein women across innovation is not a dream, but a reality.

Amanda Ramos, DSI faculty of Global Guest Lecture and Fast Track, leads Women in Innovation and invited DSI students to attend the awards ceremony, of which DSI chair, Miya Osaki, was a judge.

The DSI connections go even deeper! 

• Lona Vincent, DSI thesis instructor and advisor, won the Movers and Makers award.
• Dani Lopez, a Global Guest Lecturer last year, and Mehera O’Brien, a Global Guest Lecturer this fall, were judges for the awards ceremony.
• Tammy Tibbetts, a Global Guest Lecturer this fall, won the Business to Community award. 
• Siri Betts-Sonstegard, former DSI faculty, was in attendance, and Siri collaborated with current DSI faculty, Sascha Mombartz, on redesigning the Pittsburgh International Airport.

Congratulations to Amanda, on another energizing event, and thank you for bringing the DSI community in.