UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Six Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) students attended the annual Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing in Orlando, Florida, in late September to learn, network and celebrate the contributions women have made in the technology industry.
The Grace Hopper Celebration is the world’s largest gathering of women and nonbinary technologists, amassing over 30,000 students, professionals and researchers from 90 countries. Named after the late Rear Adm. Grace Hopper, a U.S. Navy reserve officer and pioneer for women in computing, the celebration recognizes the importance of diversity in tech and offers professional mentoring and development activities to women and nonbinary people of all ages.
“The impact that women are making in the field of technology is something to be celebrated,” said Nadya Sudarma, a senior studying information sciences and technology. “Especially during my senior year before going into the ‘real world’ I really wanted to celebrate this with a community of women in tech that would build me up and empower me to embrace this next stage in my life with confidence.”
The IST students were accompanied by Jocelyn Bennett Garraway, assistant dean of diversity, equity and inclusion at the college. Additionally, nine IST students participated in the conference’s virtual offerings.
"The Grace Hopper Celebration was a powerful, motivating and inspirational experience and opportunity for the women, men and nonbinary students, faculty, administrator, and corporate representatives who were in attendance,” said Bennett Garraway. “The participants benefited from the experiences and wisdom of women leaders in the field of technology who are continually paving the way for the advancement of women and nonbinary technologists.”
Throughout the four-day conference, students listened to a variety of keynote and featured speakers, networked with tech companies, and interacted with other students in community sessions and workshops.
“There was so much going on, in the best way possible,” Sudarma said. “Whatever your background or interests were in technology, there was something there for you.”
Anika Deshpande, a second-year student majoring in data sciences, especially appreciated the opportunity to interact with representatives from multiple companies during the networking sessions, which enabled her to candidly discuss and think closely about her future career options.
“There are so many different things that make up technology, and being able to explore a couple different paths I could go down was beneficial to me,” Deshpande said. “I had never been exposed to this kind of experience before, so seeing all the different things you could do [with a career] in tech was inspiring.”
Additionally, Deshpande drew on the skills and knowledge she’s learned at Penn State in her activities at the Grace Hopper Celebration.
“IST classes helped prepare me for a lot of the workshops and speaker events since most required having knowledge of topics like artificial intelligence or basic coding programs,” Deshpande said. “I never felt lost or behind during my workshops and I knew how to use the software we were working with.”
Minseo Kim, a second-year student majoring in human-centered design and development, found the conference to be an impactful way to connect with other like-minded students. For her, sharing stories and connecting with recruiters on a personal level was an invaluable experience.
“It is important to make connections with others and talk with people who have experienced what we are going through now,” Kim said. “I realized how many opportunities there were, and that each person has their own unique story. I was grateful to share my experiences and story with others.”
IST students can participate in experiential opportunities, including annual attendance at the Grace Hopper Celebration, thanks to generous support from corporate sponsors and the College of IST. These experiences provide students with the foundation and inspiration to confidently navigate their academic and professional careers.
For Sudarma, participating in the Grace Hopper Celebration has opened her eyes to a world of possibilities to pursue after she graduates.
“In a field as vast as technology, there are so many different opportunities for us as students to explore. Attending Grace Hopper and being able to talk to people across all different roles and industries give us the chance to widen our perspectives in a more tangible way,” Sudarma said. “It is incredibly inspiring to feel like you are represented in a group of well-respected technologists, and it serves as a reminder that we are capable of accomplishing the same things.”
IST students can learn more about experiential programs within the college, including the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, on the College of IST website.