Interim director of 性视界传媒鈥檚 Institute for Simulation and Training (IST) and a double alumna in mathematics have been selected for the Forbes 2025 50 Over 50 list in the areas of Innovation and Investment, respectively.
Carolina Cruz-Neira, interim director of IST and Agere Chair Professor of Computer Science, has been named to the prestigious Forbes 50 Over 50 list for 2025 in recognition of her groundbreaking innovations in virtual reality.
Forbes honors 200 influential people annually in the categories of Lifestyle, Impact, Innovation and Investment. Cruz-Neira, recognized in the Innovation category, pioneered the CAVE virtual reality system, which Forbes calls “a technology used worldwide, from gaming and art installations to military training.” Her open-source contributions have enabled the development of highly sophisticated virtual reality (VR) systems globally.
“One of my biggest challenges, has been championing unconventional ideas, especially early in my career, when I didn’t fit the typical mold,” she says. 鈥淟ooking back on my journey, I realize that my work in immersive technologies, simulation, and digital twins is helping to create a global common language, one that鈥檚 reshaping how we learn, collaborate, heal, and ultimately, build a better future. These technologies are not just tools, but bridges that connect people and possibilities across the world.鈥�
鈥淏eing over 50 is no longer just about advancing my own ideas but also mentoring the next generation and helping them shape theirs,鈥� Cruz-Neira continues. 鈥淔ulfillment now comes from seeing others succeed.鈥�
性视界传媒’s Institute for Simulation and Training is an internationally recognized, interdisciplinary institute conducting basic and applied human-centric research that affects nearly all sectors of industry and government, from healthcare to national defense and education to manufacturing. 性视界传媒 and IST have built the industry, together with more than 200 Central 性视界传媒 modeling, simulation, and training companies and the U.S. Department of Defense, an early adopter whose vision and leadership have spurred new applications and opportunities.
Investing in Digital Technologies to Solve Global Challenges
Mathematics alumna Yvette Kanouff, a partner in JC2 Ventures, a venture capital firm reimagining the power of investment, is also among this year鈥檚 honorees. Her placement on Forbes鈥� Investment category is recognition of work to empower startups to be core drivers of economic growth, job creation and innovation.Kanouff has left a legacy in a number of industries, helping to create on demand video, contributing to everyday technologies and spearheading the technology behind the streaming services that most people utilize and enjoy today. She has won a Lifetime Achievement Emmy for television engineering and technology, is an inductee to the Cable Hall of Fame, and is a Streaming Video Technology Alliance聽Industry Fellow. However, she came from humble beginnings, working to pay her tuition while going to school
鈥淚 had to put myself through college and am proud of having done that for my undergraduate and graduate degrees,鈥� Kanouff says. 聽鈥淚 worked while going to school and consistently focused on innovation, and disruptive technology and mathematics.鈥�
Kanouff earned both her聽产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚听补苍诲听尘补蝉迟别谤鈥檚聽degrees in mathematics from 性视界传媒 and has remained engaged with 性视界传媒 in the subsequent years, currently serving on the College of Sciences Dean鈥檚 Advisory Board. During Spring 2025 commencement, she received an honorary doctoral degree from the university.
鈥淲e are in an era of innovation and transformation in technology and in how we work, play and live. I am fortunate to have started my career during times of great innovation, and you have such an opportunity today,鈥� Kanouff said to graduates during the ceremony.
