The first regional celebration of Women in Computing, modeled after the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, brought together students, faculty, and technology leaders from across Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas (MINK) to discuss the role of women in today's computing and technology fields, share strategies for success, and explore issues common to women working in these fields. Specifically, the goal of the conference was to provide an opportunity for young women to explore opportunities in computing, to network with other women in academia, industry and government, and to create friendship among women in the region who share the same interest and passion for computing.
The conference is part of a nationwide effort to address the alarming decline of women pursuing computer science professions. This year's MINK WIC was a two day event, held on Friday, October 7, 2011, and Saturday, October 8, 2011. Those interested in attending future conferences are encouraged to check the MINK WIC website for details.
CSE undergraduate students Natasha Jahnke and undergraduate student Sarah Fanning attended the conference with Associate Professor LeenKiat Soh and Assistant Professor Anita Sarma. Professors Sarma and Soh hosted an information booth at the Career Fair during the conference, and met with dozens of female undergraduate and graduate students. They discussed the CSE graduate programs and projects specifically as well as women participating in graduate education in general. They also promoted CSE's Graduate Information Day, which was held on October 22, 2011.
Those interested in learning about the challenges and rewards of careers in computing or in broadening the representation of women in the field are encouraged to attend in the future. Undergraduate and graduate students with interests in computing and information technology are also encouraged to submit work in the appropriate categories. The MINK WIC's career fair, which attended by a diverse group of companies and organizations, would be of particular interest to these attendees. Faculty and technology leaders are encouraged to come meet and mentor the next generation of computing professionals.
More details at: http://minkcwic.acm.org/