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HCC’s Samir Saber honored as ‘Ally for AI of the Year’ by Women in AI

Jun 24, 2025

Samir Saber, dean of the Digital and Information Technology Center of Excellence and executive director of Workforce Technology at Houston Community College (HCC) Southwest, now known as Houston City College, has been recognized as “Ally for AI of the Year” by Women in AI.

The global nonprofit in the AI (Artificial Intelligence) and data fields recognized Saber alongside other award winners at the Women in AI Summit and Awards for North America earlier this month in Toronto. The event was attended by participants from academia, startups, public policy organizations and industry.

“Samir is among the exceptional leaders, builders and changemakers who are not only breaking barriers but also creating pathways for what’s next — including expanding roles for women in computer science,” said HCC Southwest College President Mike Webster, Ph.D. “We’re extremely proud of him and the outstanding team he leads in creating opportunities and pathways to success for students.”

With nearly 14 years at HCC, Saber brings a robust background that includes an Advanced Computer Security certificate from Stanford University, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management Information Systems from UT Dallas’ Naveen Jindal School of Management, a Master of Science in Information Assurance and Security from Capella University. He also holds Certified Information Systems Security Professional and Certified Cloud Security Professional industry certifications.

This year’s awards attracted over 250 nominations across a dozen categories and involved a rigorous review process led by an international panel. Women in AI was founded in 2016 in Paris and has grown into a global “do-tank” with more than 18,000 members across 150 countries. Its mission is to promote ethical AI by empowering women to become AI and data experts, innovators and leaders.

Saber helped HCC launch its pioneering Bachelor of Applied Technology in AI and Robotics degree — one of the nation’s first programs of its type at the community college level. Its graduates have since gone on to join leading companies, contributing to innovative work in the rapidly evolving AI field.