SOCORRO, N.M. – The New Mexico Technology Council has named Myrriah Tomar, Ph.D., a recipient of the 2022 Women in Technology Award. Dr. Tomar is the executive director of New Mexico Tech’s Office of Innovation Commercialization (OIC) and serves as a member of President Stephen G. Wells’ senior staff and cabinet. 

Dr. Tomar is also the third woman from New Mexico Tech in the past three years to receive this honor – Dr. Lorie Liebrock received this award in 2021 and Dr. Sharon Sessions received this award in 2020.

“The fact that three women from NMT received this honor highlights the wealth of knowledge that exists at NMT and, in turn, attracts talented women to our university,” Dr. Tomar said. “It also shows how NMT provides opportunities for women to excel and be the best version of themselves. I am honored and, at the same time, deeply humbled to be recognized among all the outstanding women who represent the best technology leaders in New Mexico.” 

“We are so proud that Dr. Tomar is among this year’s six esteemed honorees,” Dr. Wells said. “Dr. Tomar has made many contributions to New Mexico Tech, the state of New Mexico, and beyond.”

Dr. Tomar came to NMT last September from the State of New Mexico Economic Development Department, bringing her expertise in technology transfer and commercialization, industry startup research, and economic development. As executive director of the Office of Innovation Commercialization, she leads and manages New Mexico Tech's intellectual property, contributes to the university's economic development efforts, and is helping further develop NMT as an entrepreneurial university.

A native New Mexican, Dr. Tomar holds a bachelor of science in biochemistry from the University of New Mexico and a doctorate in molecular biology from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. She has held many professional memberships, including chair of the Research Collaborative Board, Catalyst Fund Limited Partner Advisory Committee, the U.S. Department of Energy's Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) State Committee, Los Alamos National Laboratory Tech Commercialization Advisory Board, and Bioscience Authority Center of Excellence. She currently serves on the Technology Research Collaborative and is a former chair of that organization. She also serves as a board member of the New Mexico Tech University Research Park Corp.

Each year, the New Mexico Technology Council recognizes a slate of women who represent a myriad of STEM industries and show an exemplary commitment to mentorship and community impact. Since 2009, the NMTC has honored more than 100 outstanding women in New Mexico. This year’s recipients were selected out of a pool of 27 applicants by a judging panel comprised of former Women in Technology Award winners. Applicants were evaluated based on four criteria: professional impact, volunteerism, mentorship, and entrepreneurialism. Dr. Tomar will receive the award Thursday, April 21, at a banquet in Albuquerque.