Sana Odeh
سناء عودة
Born: Jerusalem, Palestine
Domain: Science & Medicine
Recognition: REGIONAL
Biography
Sana Odeh is a Palestinian-American computer scientist and educator who has become one of the most influential advocates for women in computing across the Arab world. A clinical professor of computer science at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University, she also serves as faculty liaison for global programs in computer science and is affiliated faculty at NYU Abu Dhabi. Odeh's central contribution lies in building institutions and communities that expand access to computer science education, particularly for women in the Middle East and North Africa. In 2012 she founded Arab Women in Computing (ArabWIC), which grew into a global network of more than six thousand technical women, including academics, students, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals, with chapters established in nineteen countries. Through ArabWIC and its international conferences, Odeh created one of the most significant platforms for Arab women in technology, fostering mentorship, research collaboration, and professional development. She has served as honorary chair of the organization's conferences and has been recognized internationally for her leadership in diversity and inclusion in computing. Her academic work at NYU has emphasized global computer science education, connecting students and faculty across the university's international campuses. She has been featured by initiatives documenting pioneering women in technology and is a frequent keynote speaker at conferences on computing and diversity. As a scholar and organizer of Palestinian origin, Odeh exemplifies the role of diaspora academics in shaping educational opportunity and representation, leaving a durable institutional legacy that connects Palestinian and Arab talent to the global computing community.
Why This Person Matters
A Palestinian-American computer scientist at NYU who founded Arab Women in Computing, building the largest network for Arab women in technology across nineteen countries.