Maria Thompson ('82) was the recipient of the 2025 Department of Computer Science Distinguished Alumni Award on October 23, 2025. With experience that includes technology, manufacturing and telecommunications, she has helped shape product development and innovation practices across industries and continents.
As global innovation process director at the ITW Innovation Center, Thompson leads innovation strategy across eight business segments. She began her career at AT&T Bell Laboratories, where she became an applied research supervisor. Following her time at AT&T Bell Laboratories, she served as senior director of innovation strategy at Motorola Solutions where her leadership earned her the CTO Leadership Award and the Women’s Business Council Outstanding Leadership Award.
Thompson earned her BS degree in computer science and statistics at Iowa State University before completing a Master's in math and computer science at the University of Waterloo, graduating with high honors and funded by AT&T Bell Laboratories. She's maintained close ties to Iowa State University, serving on the Technology Committee of the Iowa State University Foundation Board of Directors and funding the Innovation Maven Computer Science scholarship for women.
For more information about Maria Tompson and the other LAS award recipients, go to: https://alumni.las.iastate.edu/awards/las-alumni-awards/