women in computing

information sciences and technology

computer science

Computer science; computing; School of Computing

professional development

Tech Talent Investment Pipeline (TTIP)

Students

TTIP

Tech Talent Investment Program

Break Through Tech Sprinterns collaborate, build community during micro-internships

Teresa Donnellan — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 19:29:55 +0000

Break Through Tech Sprinterns collaborate, build community during micro-internships Teresa Donnellan Mon, 02/13/2023 - 14:29

During winter break, fifty-three George Mason students participated in three-week micro-internships via Break Through Tech DC’s Sprinternship program. Assigned to one of thirteen partner companies, each student worked on an assigned project and presented findings to supervisors. Partner companies included American Express, Bechtel Corporation, Booz Allen Hamilton, Commvault, Crown Castle, KPMG, Mastercard, Microsoft, Ticketmaster, and Verizon.

Sprinterns were able to glimpse the professional tech world, not only experiencing what it might be like to work at their assigned company but also hearing from professionals in various roles, allowing them to consider different tech and tech-adjacent roles. Three themes emerged from a survey of Mason’s 2023 Sprinterns: collaboration, collegiality, and community.

Collaboration is key.

Most Sprinterns remarked on the difference between individual classwork and the collaborative nature of professional work.

“I've never had like a collaborative project in a computer science class before,” said Wijdane Mifdal, a Sprintern at Crown Castle. “You know, they always like tell you all of your work is individual [in class].”

Part of collaborating is figuring out who’s doing which tasks. Grace Ollivant, a Sprintern at Booz Allen Hamilton, served as project manager for her ten-person team. She explained, “They were kind of letting us direct the project ourselves; so we had a few people on the engineering team, a few people on government, and a few people on operations.”

At the end of their micro-internships, each Sprintern group presented to upper-level management on their assigned project. Mifdal recalls the CEO of Crown Castle particularly complimenting her group’s smooth presentation. “He loved how we collaborated together,” she said, "It just went so perfectly, and then he himself told us to apply for summer [internships]. It was really cool.”

Collegiality is welcome.

Sprinterns were pleased by the friendliness and respect with which employees at their host companies approached them. Employees at each partner company helped Sprinterns approach and complete their projects. Davina Lim, a Sprintern at MasterCard, said, “They helped us a lot in the project. They were very open and let us ask them questions whenever we needed help.”

Such mentorship is crucial to the Sprintern experience. In addition to project guidance, most Sprinterns were able to hear from professionals in various roles throughout their assigned companies. Lim was able to attend information sessions with employees working in cybersecurity, data science, and product management. “It was good learning more about what they actually do,” she said.

Mifdal warmly remembers her supervisor at Crown Castle, who set up informational interviews for each Sprintern according to her interests. She was especially intrigued to learn about the different roles available for a software engineer, such as architecture designers working at the macro-level of a software project.

Moreover, several Sprinterns commented that their temporary colleagues were much less intimidating than a nervous student might imagine. Lim noted, “I was expecting it to be a little stricter, and I was a little intimidated at first. But everyone was really nice.” Mifdal said, “I wasn't expecting such a warm welcome like that.”

Community is built.

A sense of belonging in the tech industry is especially valuable for underrepresented students in computing. Collaboration and collegiality in the Sprinterns’ experiences fostered a strong sense of community among the Sprinterns, who were able to network with peers and professionals alike.

Topics

College of Engineering and Computing

Computer science; computing; School of Computing

Students

Mason group relishes conference for women in tech

Teresa Donnellan — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 17:05:29 +0000

Mason group relishes conference for women in tech Teresa Donnellan Thu, 10/06/2022 - 13:05

In This Story

Shahnaz Kamberi

Break Through Tech George Mason sent a group to the Grace Hopper conference from September 20 to September 23. Students learned, networked, and even secured interviews for internships and jobs.

“I couldn't have picked a better conference for my first!” says Nikita Alluri, a computer science major. “It was so inspiring to see so many women and nonbinary technologists of different backgrounds and identities gathered in one place to share a common interest: technology.”

AnitaB.org created the Grace Hopper Celebration in 1994. Named for Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, the conference “brings the research and career interests of women in computing to the forefront.”

As last year the conference was held virtually, Associate Professor of Computer Science Shahnaz Kamberi says attending in person this year made a world of difference. “The comradery and the connection was a great feeling. It was great to speak with other women and nonbinary members of the computer science industry, exchange ideas, connect via LinkedIn, etc.”

The conference featured talks on technology and the workplace, hands-on workshops, and an expo hall filled with booths from various organizations. Mason too had a booth at the expo, which Kamberi says was a useful place for Mason attendees to gather, share what they learned in different sessions, and receive visits from companies and prospective students interested in Mason.

Kamberi notes the utility of the in-person workshops. “These workshops were a great way to get some hands-on practice in areas that might not be my main field of research/experience. I was also able to take a lot away from the workshops to bring back to my students. I can replicate these workshops or bring what I learned from these workshops back to the classroom lecture; which is very beneficial to me since I can use these activities to further engage my students in the classroom.”

At the expo, Alluri spent much of her time visiting healthcare and finance companies. In addition, she enjoyed meeting other college students with similar interests.

“There was something for everyone,” she says, adding, “As a Junior, one of my main goals at this conference was to secure a summer internship. It was also extremely informative and exciting to learn what different companies are up to in terms of increasing accessibility and inclusivity.”

Dhaksha Kannan, a computer science student and Break Through Tech peer leader, gained valuable networking experience at the conference. She says, “The biggest thing that I took away from this conference is that you can always network, no matter where you are, what resources you have, [or] what skills you have.” She explains, “I literally met a recruiter while eating breakfast, secured a job interview while talking about how passionate I am about Mason, and made a ton of cool friends that come from everywhere!”

Topics

Information Sciences and Technology Department

New Mason IT grad says ‘just go for it’

Rena Malai — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 19:59:42 +0000

New Mason IT grad says ‘just go for it’ Rena Malai Mon, 04/25/2022 - 15:59

It was a friend’s serendipitous homework assignment that had Dania O Abu-Irshaid, upcoming George Mason graduate from the Department of Information Sciences and Technology, switch her undergrad work from pre-law to a STEM path.

She says she’s always had a natural knack for coding, and it’s something that’s always interested her. But when she helped a fellow Mason student with a Python coding exercise, that’s when it clicked.

“I was thinking about pre-law, but after taking a class in it, I didn’t feel like it suited me. I was undecided,” says Abu-Irshaid. “Then my friend was struggling with this homework assignment and I ended up finishing it for her in five minutes. She looked at me and said, this is what you should be doing.”

When Abu-Irshaid made the move to study IT, with a concentration in cybersecurity, that’s when things really picked up for her. As the oldest child in her family, she was relied on to be the tech savvy expert and help fix wifi routers in the house or explain internet nuances to her parents. Although she is the first female in her family to study and work in STEM, she’s confident of the opportunities coming her way.

After graduation, Abu-Irshaid will enter a ten weeklong internship with the Virginia Department of Elections, where she will work in the cybersecurity sector. She also sees potential for a corporate position with one of the big contenders—namely Walmart. As a resident advisor at Mason to freshman engineering students, Abu-Irshaid says some of her mentees good naturedly tease her about her Walmart aspirations to this day.

“I’m like, guys, Walmart isn’t just about celery and sticky buns, they have a corporate side,” she says. “But they’ll still ask me how Walmart’s going and what kind of merchandise I have.”

With a bright future ahead, she says she’ll miss her time at Mason, particularly the diverse community and her role as an advisor.

“I love the community and culture at Mason. There’s always something to do, and something to look forward to on campus. But I’ll hopefully be back, in some capacity,” says Abu-Irshaid.

Her message for future grads is to just go for it, whether it’s a job, course of study, or opportunity.

“It’s really as simple as that, and it’s what got me everywhere,” she says. “Just go to that club meeting, go to that class, ask your professor that question. You’re not going to get the results unless you go for it.”

Topics

Graduation

CEC 2022 graduates

Break Through Tech Sprinterns interned at top companies

Rena Malai — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 20:13:44 +0000

Break Through Tech Sprinterns interned at top companies Rena Malai Mon, 02/14/2022 - 15:13

In This Story

Shvetha Soundararajan

Sprinterns Nuseiba Al-Harazi, Thea Planas,
Shruti Sekar, Karen Pari Sejas, and Neha Acharya show their thanks while Sprinterning at Mastercard.

Most students look at winter break as a time to rest and catch up with family and friends.

But a select number of ��AV students used it to gain valuable professional experience through the Break Through Tech DC at George Mason Sprinternship program. Sprinternships, mini internships, took place January 2022 and ran about three weeks. Mason Sprinterns brought their tech talents to the table at top companies including Microsoft, Booz Allen Hamilton, Mastercard, and Verizon.

According to Shvetha Soundararajan, site lead for Break Through Tech DC at George Mason, the Sprinternship program is a wonderful opportunity for students to gain real-world experience, tech-industry resume credentials, and build professional networks.

“This was the first iteration of the Sprinternship program at Mason and 32 Sprinterns were a part of this cohort,” she says. “Some of our Sprinterns have already received return offers for summer internships. We are immensely proud of them.”

Sprintern Shruti Sekar, a computer science major at Mason, saw her experience at Mastercard as a useful introduction to learning how the work world works.

“It was actually the first opportunity for me to have an internship,” says Sekar. “I wanted real world experience and to learn collaboration, and how a company works in general.”

Neha Acharya, also a Mastercard Sprintern, saw her Sprinternship as opening up doors to bigger and better opportunities in the tech world.

“This was a great opportunity to gain experience and explore potential careers,” says Acharya, a sophomore studying information technology. “We had networking opportunities at Mastercard and were introduced to a wide variety of career options.”

General stereotypes around interning can project connotations of boring tasks and intimidating surroundings. For Iza Lazaneo, a Sprintern at Microsoft and a junior studying computer science, she was thrilled to find a welcoming environment, challenging projects, and plenty of support from seasoned colleagues.

“Everyone at Microsoft treated us (Sprinterns) extremely well,” she says. “We felt like part of the team.”

Sekar and Acharya were wrapped up in Mastercard’s collegial environment, and a setting where they felt comfortable asking questions.

“Everyone was super friendly,” says Sekar.

“It was extremely warm and welcoming,” adds Acharya. “The company values and initiatives really resonated with me.”

According to Sekar, students considering a Sprinternship in the future should just go for it, because it’s worth it and Sprinterns will be surrounded by supportive folks.

Acharya says students can use knowledge gained in classes and apply it to a Sprinternship, especially when it comes to coding. Bring your questions and jump in, she says.

Students nervous about Sprinternships shouldn’t be, says Lazaneo. She says any new experience can be stressful but a Sprinternship is well worth the work. A refresher course before beginning a Sprinternship can help ease nerves, especially if working with unfamiliar coding language.

The Sprinternship program is targeted towards women and students from underrepresented groups. For more information on Mason Sprinternships, visit Break Through Tech or email breakthroughtech@cs.gmu.edu.

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internships

College of Engineering and Computing

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

Kamaljeet Sanghera

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

computer information technology

Computer science student runs toward her goals

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 16:21:08 +0000

Computer science student runs toward her goals Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 09/03/2021 - 12:21

For long-distance runner and computer science student Caitlin Parra, software engineering is like a marathon. While programming came naturally to her from the beginning, what wasn’t always easy was the uphill climb against the stereotypes she faced as a female in computing.

Caitlin Parra joined the College of Engineering and Computing with a mission to learn and make a difference. Photo provided.

A computer science student with a focus on software engineering, Parra took her first programming class in high school. “It’s kind of funny, but I hated that class. Not because of the programming, I enjoyed it and realized I was good at it, but I was the only girl,” says Parra.

Her male classmates noticed, and they found ways to single her out. They would mock her work, tell her to drop the class, and didn’t recognize her accomplishments. “One of my classmates told me to quit and go work at McDonald’s. I think it was because I’m Hispanic and that’s an inaccurate stereotype, but it was hurtful,” says Parra.

But that didn’t stop her from succeeding. Near the end of her first programming class, students were tasked with designing a game, and a few of the games would be entered into a competition. Parra designed a Winnie the Pooh maze game that was selected, and she ended up winning the whole competition.

This success reinspired Parra’s goal to pursue computer science, despite her naysayers. With encouragement from her father, a Mason grad, she decided to follow in his footsteps. “My dad always pushed me to know what I wanted to do and to go after it,” says Parra.

At Mason, Parra sees more diverse representation in STEM. “When I came to Mason, I joined the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), and it was amazing to be surrounded by people like me,” she says.

She’s leaned on the classmates and friends she’s made in SHPE by sharing experiences with each other on the challenges they face in their respective fields.

“I get to hear about the challenges of civil engineers, mechanical engineers, information technology majors, and it’s great to know we aren’t alone when classes are difficult, we face stereotypes, or when balancing school, work, and family becomes hard,” says Parra.

Outside of Mason, Parra has also succeeded in finding opportunities at her dream company, Apple. She started working at one of their local retail stores, and this past summer she landed an opportunity in their career experience program that allows current employees to explore different aspects of Apple’s business. “I spent most of the summer remotely testing wireless charging devices. The experience validated my interest in automation and software, which I hope I can pursue full-time after graduating,” says Parra.

Even with her success, Parra knows the marathon isn’t over. There’s still work to be done on bringing more women into computing and engineering, she says, so that no other woman will face the barriers she did.

“What keeps me motivated when classes are hard or I feel alone in classes is my mission to make an impact. Everything I do is about making a difference,” says Parra.

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Mason Engineering student leads first cloud computing conference

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 17:59:53 +0000

Mason Engineering student leads first cloud computing conference Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 03/04/2021 - 12:59

Topics

information sciences and technology

Volgenau School of Engineering

In This Story

Kamaljeet Sanghera

Maya Chatterjee's internship at BAE Systems was one of the first times she was exposed to cloud computing. It sparked an interest in her that led her to start the first cloud computing conference at Mason. Photo provided.

In the summer of 2020, senior information technology major, accelerated master’s student, and student leader Maya Chatterjee realized someone needed to fill in the gaps for students on how cloud computing empowers nearly every aspect of engineering and technology.

President of Mason’s chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Chatterjee decided to tap into her network and partner with the Institute for Digital Innovation (IDIA) to create Mason’s first-ever one-day Patriot Cloud Conference.

“I was first exposed to cloud computing from the client perspective at my BAE Systems internship a few semesters back,” says Chatterjee. “And over the summer, I was interning with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and seeing cloud from the provider perspective. I was even more exposed to how the cloud can speed up so many business processes.”

Her internship experiences set her on a mission to ensure every engineering/technology student can learn cloud computing's foundational concepts. With this idea in mind, she established the first free-to-students virtual cloud computing conference at Mason to demonstrate the cloud’s capabilities.

“I contacted Kammy [Kamaljeet] Sanghera, associate professor and the interim director of IDIA, over the summer to see what she thought we could do, and she said we have to do a cloud conference,” says Chatterjee. Then they got to work.

Chatterjee contacted everyone in her network and worked with her SWE board members to get the word out. “I wanted to make sure to include a variety of different backgrounds in cloud computing,” she says. “But what I loved was that most of our speakers were women.”

Chatterjee first encountered SWE and the technology space in high school. Her mother, a SWE member herself and a Mason graduate from the master’s in information technology program, told her about a SWE event for high school students. “It opened my eyes, and I just stayed involved when I got to college. SWE is so important to me. It brought me so much.”

Since then, she has always looked for ways to get other women into STEM and show them possibilities for careers and education, and the Patriot Cloud Conference was a massive leap towards accomplishing her goal.

“Women sometimes get type-cast in the technology space. People limit us to the less-technical roles or project manager positions, and that isn’t right. We can do anything we set our mind to,” she says. And the women in the Patriot Cloud Conference exemplified this sentiment.

“It was a pleasure to work with Maya Chatterjee. She led her SWE team and volunteers, reached out to speakers, and prepared them from a dry run of the event to remind them about the areas of interest to the audience. She has excellent leadership and communication skills. Her passion for cloud computing drove the entire conference,” says Sanghera.

The feedback they received was remarkable, says Chatterjee. “We had around 350 participants total, and we got a variety of different reactions. Participants were all super ecstatic to find a free platform to learn about cloud computing fundamentals,” she says.

Chatterjee is graduating with her bachelor’s degree in information technology this May, and she will begin her accelerated master’s program in applied information technology full-time this fall. So, while she will not be the SWE leader as a graduate student, she hopes that the Patriot Cloud Conference will continue.

“The conference was designed to be for everyone, not just women and not just people specifically interested in cloud computing.” And she attributes the accessibility of the conference to its success. “People want to learn.”

Mason faculty design Break Through Tech Program

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 16:15:32 +0000

Mason faculty design Break Through Tech Program Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 03/04/2021 - 11:15

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