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.

Topics

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

Topics

diversity

Break Through Tech

women in computing

Computer science; computing; School of Computing

College of Engineering and Computing

Volgenau; Diversity

information sciences and technology

Learn more about Break Through Tech's program and mission

“Women represent 57 percent of all bachelor’s recipients in the U.S. but only 19 percent of CS graduates,” said Sanjeev Setia, proposed School of Computing Division Dean. “For social equity and inclusion, it is imperative that we work towards gender parity in the technology sector.”

�� received a grant from Break Through Tech to propel more students who identify as women and non-binary into tech education—and ultimately tech careers—through curriculum innovation, career access, and community building.

The grant’s goal is to increase the number of these students graduating with a tech degree at Mason by 12.5 percentage points by 2026.

Mason’s Break Through Tech program will be directed by the Volgenau School of Engineering, the proposed School of Computing, and the Departments of Computer Science and Information Sciences and Technology.

The faculty working on this initiative seek to attract and retain women and underrepresented communities pursuing computing degrees and careers in tech in the D.C. metropolitan area.

Mason’s Break Through Tech program will include:

A summer program for rising first-year students designed to ignite interest in tech by teaching them how to code mission-driven, real-world applications;
A new, innovative introductory sequence of computing courses;
A paid, three-week mini-internship program called a “Sprinternship®” that gives first- and second-year students a resume credential and real-world experience to make them more competitive when applying for a paid summer tech internship;
A networked cohort of individuals who identify as women and non-binary—both peer-to-peer and student-to-professional—in the D.C. metro area to support, engage and motivate one another.

“We are very excited about the opportunities this grant provides for curriculum innovation and industry partnerships that will strengthen our ability to recruit, train, and incorporate more women as successful professionals to the computing disciplines,” said Ozlem Uzuner, chair of the Department of Information Sciences and Technology. “This project will have a lasting positive impact in terms of improving diversity in the workplace, and we are well-positioned to make our mark.”

Department of Computer Science Chair David Rosenblum echoes the importance of curriculum innovation. Notably, adjusting the introductory computing courses offered at Mason.

“An increasing number of institutions, most notably Harvey Mudd College, have experienced tremendous success in attracting female students into their computing programs, through innovations to the design and content of their introductory computing courses,” said Rosenblum. “At Mason, we will apply the best practices that have been established by these pioneering institutions while introducing homegrown innovations of our own.”

Huzefa Rangwala, a professor in the Department of Computer Science and principal investigator for the grant, said that in addition to revamping Mason’s introductory computing course, a free “bootcamp” will be offered over the Summer to prepare students for the course.

“By 2026, estimates are that the U.S. will only be producing 17 percent of the graduates needed to meet the nation’s tech workforce needs. This is a national problem,” said Rangwala.

Break Through Tech at Mason is purposefully working to ensure long-term tech success for the program participants through community building efforts. Volgenau School of Engineering’s Chief Diversity Officer Christopher Carr says Mason is taking a holistic approach.

“From our K-12 outreach, we will utilize structures like our Early Identification Program, which works with communities across the National Capital Region, with particular emphasis on those communities that have been historically oppressed and marginalized,” says Carr. “We will then ensure that all participants have support through not only mentorship and cohort development, but by intentional efforts to connect the participants to all that is Mason - from our student organizations to living-learning communities, and so much more.”