Women at CDM
In keeping with DePaul University's Vincentian tradition of making quality education accessible to all, DePaul CDM is committed to making our school a welcoming place for female students to learn.
DePaul CDM is a dynamic and supportive community of scholars and ppractitioners in all areas of technology. And women are a key part of our community's success. Women students comprise 25 % of CDM's student body . Student and faculty-led organizations and support groups such as HerCDM and ACM-W build support, mentorship and camaraderie among female computing students at DePaul.
For more information on opportunities for female students at DePaul, contact faculty advisors Lucia Dettori or Daniela Raicu.
ACM-W, Digital Divas and HerCDM, student organizations in CDM's School of Computing, were recently awarded a $500 grant by the National Center for Women & Information Technology and ReturnPath, Inc. to promote women in Computing and IT programs.
These students will organize and implement the first DePaul CDM Women in Computing Retreat. The retreat will be a day long series of networking opportunities and workshops designed to introduce the women of DePaul CDM to one another. By holding a retreat away from the classroom and weekday bustle, they hope to create an informal learning environment that encourages true bridge building amongst the female student body. Many are students who are pursuing their studies while working full time and find it difficult to juggle class, work, and family obligations in order to take advantage of the weekly meetings held by the organizations. These students are also at a disadvantage as they find it difficult to network with their fellow female students outside of class. New female graduate students are also at a disadvantage as they are less likely to interact with more senior graduate students to gain informal class advice.
The retreat will also be an opportunity to bridge the physical gap between the female in-class student body and our female online distance learning peers. Online learning students are encouraged to attend the weekend event if they are local or if they are able to travel to the event. Initial face to face meeting time may create student networks that can then survive and thrive across the digital realm.
HerCDM: HerCDM is an opportunity for women enrolled in CDM courses to build community through special events and programs. If you are a female student in introductory courses at CDM, HerCDM weekly meetings will give you opportunities to collaborate on work for your classes, chat, vent, network and (most importantly) eat free food! You'll also interact with a few women who have successfully progressed through programs and who are willing to share their experiences and resources with you. Contact Lucia Dettori for more information. Check out the HerCDM blog for the latest events.
DePaul ACM-W: DePaul ACM-W is a women's chapter of ACM at DePaul CDM. The DePaul chapter of ACM-W initiates and promotes opportunities for women in computer science that lead to academic success, career growth and personal enrichment. This student-led organization develops and sponsors programs of special interest to women associated with the DePaul University community. It also provides a supportive culture for the exchange of ideas, networking, and socializing. Membership for the CDM chapter is free, individual ACM student membership is optional. For more information check out the ACM-W website or contact Terry Steinbach.
Digital Divas: The mission of DePaul University's Digital Divas is to initiate and promote opportunities for women in computer science that lead to academic success, career growth and personal enrichment. The Divas Digital Divas sponsor programs that provide networking opportunities, host speakers from industry and mentor members in technical and communication skill enhancements. For more information check out the Digital Divas website or contact Terry Steinbach.
These national organizations provide valuable information on research, mentorship and professional development. Links to other women's organizations are listed by the
Ada Project, a clearinghouse for information and resources related to women in computing.
Committee on the Status of Women in Computing Research (CRA-W)
ResearcHers
MentorNet
For more information, contact Daniela Raicu.
The following organizations and corporations provide fellowships, scholarships and other forms of financial assistance to women students and researchers in technology:
American Association of University Women Fellowships
Clare Booth Luce Scholarship Program for Women in Science, Technology and Mathematics
Collaborative Research Experience for Undergraduates in Computer Science and Engineering (CREU)
Google Anita Borg Scholarship
Microsoft General Scholarships
Selected Professions Fellowships