Photo of Janet Rita Emerson  Bashen

Janet Rita Emerson Bashen

1957 - Present
Software Inventor
USA USA

Personal Information

Born: 1957

Country of Birth: USA

Nationality: USA

Ethnicity: Black

Education

University of Houston BS Legal Studies & government; Harvard University Women & Power: Leadership in a New World certificate; USC Doctor of Social Work 2023; Tulane University Law School Master of Jurisprudence, Labor & Employment Law; University of Houston Law Center 40 hours of Mediation training; Alabama A&M (did not graduate); Postgraduate work Rice University Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Administration

Professional Life

Field of Study: Software Inventor

Institution/Corporation: Bashen Corp; USC

Degrees & Memberships: PWc CEO's Diversity Initiative; Harvard University's Women's Leadership Board (2014); Board of Trustees for Stillman College; Board of Directors North Harris Montgomery County Community College District Foundation; Corporate Advisory Board of the National Association of Negro Business & Professional Women's Clubs, Inc; Board of Prep Program

Awards & Achievements

Awards: 2003 Pinnacle Award, Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce; 2004 Crystal Award, National Association of Negro business & Professional Women's Clubs, Inc; Black Inventors Hall of Fame

Achievements: software inventor who received patent for LinkLine (now Nalikah) a web-based EEO software app to assist with EEO investigations & claims tracking; 1st African-American woman in the US to hold a web-based software patent; is a motivational speaker & promotes an inclusive workplace

family moved to Huntsville, Alabama from Ohio when she was very young

attended segregated schools until the 5th grade in Huntsville

her mother was the 1st African-american er nurse in Huntsville

after graduation from the University of Houston worked for an insurance company handling EEO-related claims

1994 received a $5,000 loan from her mother & started Bashen Vorp to investigate discrimination claims filed by employees from her home

testified before the US House of Representatives in 2000 that civil rights & employee misconduct investigations should be exempt from the Fair Credit Reporting Act