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Vinod Dham, Padma Chebrolu receive top UC alumni honors
The honorees will be recognized in April 2026.
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Anushka Pathak - Thu, 12, Feb 2026
- 13:12 EST
- 29
Padma Chebrolu and Vinod Dham / Courtesy: University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati (UC) Alumni Association has awarded top alumni honors to Indian Americans Vinod K. Dham and Padma Chebrolu as part of its 2026 Alumni Week celebration.
Dham will receive the William Howard Taft Medal for Notable Achievement, while Chebrolu will receive the Marian A. Spencer Mosaic Award during an event on April 16.
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An engineer and entrepreneur known as the “Father of the Pentium Chip,” Dham earned his degree from UC’s College of Engineering and Applied Science in 1977. Over a 45-year career, he has led the development of semiconductor products and technologies.
During 16 years at Intel, he served as vice president of the Pentium Processor Division and general manager of the i486 Workgroup Computing Division, overseeing the Intel 386 compaction, i486, and Pentium Processor families and contributing to Intel’s growth as the largest semiconductor company.
He later served as COO at microprocessor startup NexGen and CEO of Silicon Spice, where he led the design of a VOIP chip. Dham co-founded IndoUS Venture Partners, an early-stage venture capital fund, and has mentored entrepreneurs as an angel investor, including efforts to develop a venture capital-driven startup ecosystem in India.
His recognitions include being named one of the top 25 executives in the computer industry, one of the top 100 most influential Asian Americans, and being featured at the Smithsonian among Indian Americans who have shaped America. He has also worked with India's NITI Aayog’s Frontier Tech Hub Expert Council on the Future of Semiconductors and received the Padma Bhushan award for contributions to science and engineering.
A heritage artist, filmmaker, author, corporate leader, and community advocate, Chebrolu graduated from UC’s College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services in 1992.
While at UC, she founded the Cultural Centre of India in Cincinnati and continues to serve as its artistic director. The center now operates globally, offering performances, workshops, residencies, and programs focused on heritage arts.
She worked at Procter & Gamble Co. for 30 years before retiring in 2025. Her filmmaking combines environmental education with cultural storytelling and has received more than 50 awards across 18 countries.
She has also received the Ohio Governor’s Award for Arts Education. Her academic credentials include an MEd from UC and an MBA from Stanford University.
“UC alumni demonstrate innovation and excellence in the widest range of disciplines while serving people around the world, and our 2026 honorees personify this institutional impact,” said Jennifer Heisey, UC’s chief alumni officer.
“Through their expertise, leadership, and passion for their work, they make the world a better place. In the process, they reflect alumni success at the highest level, and we’re proud to recognize them this April during Alumni Week,” she added.
The two, along with 16 other honorees, will also be depicted on a new mural to be painted on a building in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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