The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and Microsoft Research announce the winners of the NCWIT Academic Alliance Seed Fund, which provides U.S. academic institutions with start-up funds to develop and implement initiatives that recruit and retain women in computing and technology fields of study. Since 2007, NCWIT and Microsoft Research have awarded $465,450 in funding to 39 universities and colleges over 10 funding rounds.  “We know to solve the world’s most difficult challenges we need diverse teams,” said Rane Johnson-Stempson Principal research Director At Microsoft Research. “This is why Microsoft is pleased to support the NCWIT Seed Fund to encourage more effective ways of recruitment and retention of women at college-level computing and technology programs.”  To read further and to read about the five institutional recipients, please visit http://www.virtual-strategy.com/2014/02/11/ncwit-and-microsoft-research-announce-winners-technology-higher-education-seed-fund-award .