Help Support the Next Generation of Women in Tech

NextGen Tech Women is an effort organized by our friends Danny Brown, Geoff Livingston, Kami Watson Huyse, Allyson Kapin, and Julie Pippert. They are hoping to raise $25,000 between now and May 5, 2011 to support the next generation of women technologists. Can you (or your association) help?  Individual and corporate donations are welcomed.

The National Center for Women in Technology (NCWIT) is a coalition of over 250 prominent corporations, academic institutions, government agencies, and non-profits working to increase the participation of girls and women in computing and IT. The NCWIT’s Aspirations Award works to encourage women’s continued interest in computing, attract the attention and support of educational and corporate institutions, and emphasize the importance of women’s participation in computing and IT.  Awardees are selected for their demonstrated outstanding aptitude and interest in information technology/computing; solid leadership ability; good academic history; and plans for post-secondary education. In its fifth year now, the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing has grown to a combined national and affiliate program. The 35 young women chosen as national winners of the 2011 NCWIT award for aspirations in computing were selected from among more than 2,800 students, representing all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and overseas military bases. Here’s more info on recent awardees. Names to watch!!

NCWIT has attracted attention and support from education institutions. All of the following schools offer scholarships to recipients of the NCWIT award for aspirations in computing:

• University of California Berkeley
• University of California Santa Cruz
• University of Colorado at Boulder
• Colorado School of mines
• Harrison College
• University of Houston downtown
• Indiana University Bloomington
• IUPUI: Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
• University of Massachusetts Amherst
• University of Massachusetts Boston
• University of Massachusetts Lowell
• Notre dame
• Purdue University
• Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
• Rutgers University
• University of Texas at Austin
• Virginia Tech

Gender Diversity is important in computing because:

• …it expands the qualified employee pool: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that by 2018, there will be a total of nearly 1.4 million computing-related jobs in the U.S., up 22% from 2008. While that’s good news, the number of people graduating from college with computer or information sciences degrees has been decreasing steadily since 2004.
• …computing improves the bottom line. Tech companies with the highest representation of women in their senior management teams showed a higher return on equity than did those with fewer or no women in senior management.
• …it enhances innovation. When we bring a wider variety of people into IT, our innovation will be enhanced through the valuable contributions diverse perspectives bring.
• …it promotes equality. Having more people from different backgrounds participate in the creation of technology can help break down gender and racial economic inequalities.

Check out the NCWIT’s website and blog here.  They are also, of course, on Twitter, and on Facebook. Please follow, like, share, retweet at will and help spread this very important message.

Help the next generation of innovative young women fulfill their dreams to bring their leadership, drive, creativity, intelligence and skills into the workplace.