Usha Rao is a recipient of the Association for Women in Science’s Zenith Award, a lifetime leadership and achievement award. She has also received the Distinguished Research Lectureship from the Association for Women Geoscientists, and the Bingham Mentoring Award from the Philadelphia chapter of AWIS, which is awarded to a “distinguished scientist who has significantly influenced the advancement of women in science”. Dr. Rao was selected by Pennsylvania Governor Wolf to participate in the "PA Women in STEM" video series. She serves as a writer and speaker on the environment, leadership, and mentoring for numerous US and international organizations, including the Chronicle of Higher Education, the Swiss National Science Foundation's PRIMA Program, the American Association for Environmental Engineering and Science, and Lab Manager magazine.
Dr. Rao's STEM teaching has been recognized with the Lindback Foundation's Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Medal for Distinguished University Teaching. She has also received three merit awards for "exceptional achievement in teaching" at Saint Joseph's University and was selected as a Most Valuable Professor (MVP) by the women's basketball team.
At Saint Joseph's, Dr. Rao co-developed the John P. McNulty Program for Leadership in Science and Mathematics, an initiative that has supported 130 emerging leaders since 2009. She also created the University’s first faculty development office, providing resources and mentoring to hundreds of faculty members, and served as its Founding Director. Dr. Rao’s board service includes the Ardmore Library of the Lower Merion Library System and the Frances M. Maguire Art Museum at the Barnes Foundation in Lower Merion.