Two Indian Americans — Vinod Dham and Padma Chebrolu are among the recipients of University of Cincinnati Alumni Association’s highest honors for UC alumni for 2026.
Dham, Chebrolu and 2 others will be recognized at the UC Alumni Celebration on April 16, as part of Alumni Week – April 13-18, according to a university release.
Acclaimed as the “Father of the Pentium Chip” for leading Intel’s iconic microprocessor brand from inception to worldwide success, Dham will receive the William Howard Taft Medal for Notable Achievement.
Dham has over 45 years’ experience in developing semiconductor products, technologies and venture capital. He was Vice President of Intel’s Pentium Processor Division and General Manager of the i486 Workgroup Computing Division.
During his 16 years at Intel, he led the Intel 386 compaction, i486, and Pentium Processor families, helping Intel become the largest company in the semiconductor industry.
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In recent years, Dham has been deeply involved in mentoring startup entrepreneurs as an angel investor — work that grew out of his pioneering efforts in India to develop a venture capital-driven startup ecosystem.
He is a founder of IndoUS Venture Partners, an early-stage venture capital fund. He was also CEO of Silicon Spice, a chip design startup; he led its design of a VOIP chip. Previously he had been COO at NexGen, a microprocessor design startup.
Dham has been named one of the top 25 executives in the computer industry and one of the top 100 most influential Asian Americans. He was recently highlighted at the Smithsonian among “the Indian Americans who have helped shape America.”
Chebrolu, an accomplished heritage artist, filmmaker, author, corporate leader, and community advocate whose career has lived at the intersection of business, arts education, community well-being, and environmental sustainability, will receive the Marian A. Spencer Mosaic Award.
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During her time at UC, she founded the Cultural Centre of India in Cincinnati, where she continues to serve as the Artistic Director. It has become a global institution and vibrant cornerstone of the community, offering performances, workshops, residencies and community programs that share heritage arts. She is the recipient of Ohio Governor’s Award for Arts Education.
Chebrolu’s work in filmmaking has received more than 50 awards from 18 countries, recognizing her unique skill in integrating environmental education and cultural storytelling. She worked at Procter & Gamble Co. for 30 years until her 2025 retirement.
Each year, the UC Alumni Association honors a select few of its more than 360,000 alumni based on their career accomplishments and contributions to the university and community.
“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.”