A UC Riverside education scholar has been named the inaugural recipient of the Dáaiyah Bilal-Threats Visionary Award, honoring her work advancing equity and justice through technology.

Avriel Epps, an assistant professor in UCR’s School of Education, received the award from New  Rising Ventures—a nonprofit supporting social entrepreneurs—during its “Funders Shaping Democracy, AI & Media” event held Oct. 18 at The Gathering Spot LA during LA Tech Week.

Epps was recognized for her leadership, research, and advocacy at the intersection of technology, education, and social justice.

Epps’ scholarship centers on equitable applications of artificial intelligence and how emerging technologies can be designed to serve historically marginalized communities. She serves as executive director of AI4Abolition, a tech-for-justice organization that promotes the development and use of artificial intelligence to expand social justice. The group also works to eliminate harmful algorithmic and AI systems that reinforce inequity, surveillance, and incarceration.

The newly established award is named after Dáaiyah Bilal-Threats, a longtime New Rising Ventures board member who has spent more than two decades advancing equity in education and democracy. The award honors individuals whose work reflects her legacy of visionary leadership and transformative change.

New Rising Ventures is an affiliate of New Media Ventures. It identifies and supports early-stage social entrepreneurs building civic infrastructure and public interest technologies. The organization’s mission is to strengthen democracy by investing in innovators creating scalable, community-rooted solutions.