Grace Hopper’s legacy continues to draw women into CS

Rena Malai — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 18:31:17 +0000

Grace Hopper’s legacy continues to draw women into CS Rena Malai Fri, 10/22/2021 - 14:31

In This Story

Rear Admiral Grace Hopper began her computing career during World War II and is a renowned pioneer in the technology space. She received a Ph.D. in Mathematics and was the first woman to obtain the National Medal of Technology as an individual.

Her work helped open previously shut doors to women, making careers in computer science (CS) possible.

In honor of Hopper’s achievements, Break Through Tech Mason partners with the annual Grace Hopper’s Celebration (GHC) conference. This conference serves to pay tribute to Hopper’s mission while bringing together women in tech from diverse backgrounds to network, collaborate, and learn.

According to Mercadi Crawford, diversity associate in the Office of Diversity and Inclusive Learning (ODIL) at Mason’s College of Engineering and Computing, GCH is an opportunity to boost the number of women in CS.

“The conference is a way to bring women in CS together, and offer them access to presentations and meetings that are beneficial to their careers,” Crawford says. “The number of women in this field tends to be low, compared to males, so this is a way for women to feel connected, and to help female students feel more secure in pursuing a CS degree.”

Besides the networking and learning opportunities, Crawford says the goal of GHC is to empower women and help them feel successful.

“At Break Through Tech, we want to make sure women in this field, from students to professionals, have everything they need to be a success,” says Crawford. “This conference is an excellent way to meet women from around the world and for students to see the paths available to them.”

According to Shahnaz Kamberi, associate professor in Mason’s Department of Computer Science, this year’s GHC did not disappoint.

“Representation matters, and the conference delivered just that,” says Kamberi. “We heard from giants in the industry through keynote speeches. Best of all, we were immersed in an environment of belonging. Attendees got to network and join technical discussions on different tracks such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), data science, and human computer interaction.”

Andrea Motas, a computer science student at Mason, experienced the conference as inspirational and insightful.

“I got to hear from female speakers from diverse backgrounds and fields,” she says. “I also picked up some technical insights in things like good coding practices and AI.”

Even for those seasoned in the field, like Kamaljeet Sanghera, executive director at Mason’s Institute for Digital Innovation, the conference was a great learning opportunity, and a chance to see some old friends.

“I learned so much, and it was great to bump into old friends,” says Sanghera. “I am thrilled Mason students had the opportunity to attend the most inspiring and essential conference.”

“This conference is a must, at least once in your career!” says Kamberi.

For those interested in joining Break Through Tech Mason and attending next year’s GCH, email Mercadi Crawford: mcrawfo@gmu.edu

Topics

computer science

women in computing

diversity

computer information technology

Mason’s online master’s programs rise in U.S. News rankings

Melanie Balog — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 10:00:06 +0000

Mason’s online master’s programs rise in U.S. News rankings Melanie Balog Tue, 01/14/2020 - 05:00

��AV has some of the nation’s top online programs as evaluated by U.S. News & World Report in its just-released 2020 rankings, with seven programs in the top 50 and several making significant gains over last year.

Mason has seven programs ranked in the top 50 of U.S. News & World Report 2020 online program rankings. File photo/Creative Services

Mason’s special education master’s program is ranked 10th, up from 16th last year. Its business non-MBA master’s program in accounting is ranked 19th nationally, up from 39th last year and 56th in 2018, and the computer information technology master’s program, at No. 24, is ranked in the top 25 for the third consecutive year.

“Online programs are now mainstream,” said Michelle Marks, Mason’s vice president for academic innovation and new ventures. “Students across the country are increasingly choosing online. Rankings like these are indicators that Mason’s programs are strong, and we are on the right path.”

According to its website, U.S. News ranks programs in five general categories: student engagement, faculty credentials and training, services and technologies that allow students greater flexibility to take classes and labs from a distance, student excellence, and a survey of “high-ranking academic officials.”

Other highly ranked Mason master’s programs are industrial/systems engineering (12th and tied with the University of Virginia, Clemson and UCLA), education curriculum and instruction (9th), education administration (11th), education (48th), and engineering (65th).

“The rankings reflect the hard work of our faculty to develop programs that are of high quality and meet the needs of our students and prepare them for success in the classroom while also acquiring the skills for success in in some of the most important fields in education today,” said Mark Ginsberg, dean of Mason’s College of Education and Human Development.

The program making the biggest move is Mason’s online MBA, which is ranked 123rd of 335 programs evaluated after being unranked last year.

“The online option of our MBA is only in its second year, so it’s fantastic we jumped into the U.S. News rankings at No. 123,” said Maury Peiperl, dean of Mason’s School of Business. “Our online MBA offers an identical curriculum to our in-class MBA, which U.S. News ranks 32nd among part-time MBAs. There are many ways students can achieve their academic and professional goals. The rankings demonstrate our commitment, and that of our outstanding faculty and staff, to deliver high-quality programs in formats that are flexible and convenient.”