NCWIT is delighted to announce Dr. Marian Croak as the 2026 Pioneer in Tech Award recipient for her groundbreaking technical contributions, visionary leadership, and enduring impact on communications technology and responsible innovation.
Marian is best known for her foundational work in advancing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology, which allows voice and video communication to travel over the internet rather than traditional telephone lines. Her innovations helped make internet-based communication reliable and scalable at a time when internet calling and video communication were still in their infancy. Today, these technologies power tools such as video conferencing, telehealth, remote work, and countless forms of digital connection worldwide.