We’re thrilled to announce that this year’s honoree for the ChIPs Hall of Fame award is our very own Co-founder and is our very own Co-founder and Board Emeritus, Michelle Lee. As the first woman to head the 200-year-old U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Michelle is a role model for women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics)-related careers, while also making diversity part of the conversation about the future of U.S. technological leadership around the globe.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Hall of Fame honorees, ChIPs established an award in 2013 to recognize the exceptional accomplishments of individuals who have contributed significantly to the areas of intellectual property, technology, law, and policy and have shown a demonstrated commitment to the ChIPs mission. Previous ChIPs Hall of Fame inductees have included US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and former US Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith.

After over 3½ years of dedicated public service in the D.C. area, Michelle is heading back to the West Coast. Please join ChIPs in bidding her a fond farewell and thanking her for the incredible work in D.C. by, among other things, advancing Intellectual Property rights both domestically and abroad and promoting the advancement of women and other minorities in IP. We hope to see you there!