BU Computer Science well represented at the Richard Tapia Conference and the Grace Hopper Celebration.
As part of our steadfast commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the realm of computing, the Boston University Department of Computer Science proudly served as an Academic Sponsor for both the Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference and the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing this past month.
Each year, the Department’s DEI committee diligently reviews applications from students across all programs who aspire to attend these esteemed conferences. This year witnessed an overwhelming response, with over 55 applications vying for sponsorship. The chosen recipients not only boasted impressive academic records, but also demonstrated an unwavering dedication to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the computing sphere.
Undergraduate students Ahmed Bullo, Ajani Hickling, Ines Santacruz Del Valle, Prathmesh Sonawane, and Daniel Wang, along with MS Candidate Abhishek Malakar, were the six students awarded sponsorship to attend the Richard Tapia Conference in Dallas, Texas, from September 13th to 15th, 2023. Throughout the event, these students engaged in enlightening discussions regarding the evolution of racial diversity in computing, participated in networking opportunities, attended workshops on job search strategies, and conducted informational interviews with esteemed corporate sponsors.
Meanwhile, undergraduate students Talia Chen, Mahek Hemani, Elaine Leiyoung, Macy So, and Tiffany Yu, alongside MS Candidates Gitika Jha, Dani Singhal, Smriti Suresh, and Shu Xing, journeyed to the Grace Hopper Celebration in Orlando, Florida, from September 23rd to 25th. Here, they had the privilege of hearing from prominent women and non-binary leaders in the computing domain, participating in workshops focused on gender equity in the workplace and broader field, and seizing the chance to interview for various job and internship opportunities with corporate sponsors.
Furthermore, the Department facilitated twelve virtual registrations for the Grace Hopper Celebration, enabling students to access talks, engage in virtual networking events, and partake in informative sessions remotely. Among the virtual attendees were Divyangna Bamalwa, Grace Dai, Tingyuan Cui, Nupur Divekar, Grace Elias, Inhye Kang, Karla Vasquez, and Jialin Yu, alongside MS Candidates Vedika Srivastava, Shivangi Shivangi, and Di Wang, and PhD Candidate Ludmila Glinskih.
In championing such initiatives, the Boston University Department of Computer Science underscores its unwavering dedication to nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment within the realm of computing, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued in shaping the future of technology.
The department thanks the members of the DEI Committee for their work on our student sponsorships and Chelsea Houlihan, Tiffany Wu and Natasha Patel for representing the department’s at the conference expos.