The computer science program at the Romain College of Business will partner with the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education and the Southwest Indiana STEM Resource Center to establish a local chapter of Girls Who Code. The nationwide program was established in New York City by Reshma Saujani, CEO and founder. Female interest and enrollment in computer science and engineering drops off dramatically after high school, and the organization's mission is to bridge the gender gap in technology. What started as a club with 20 girls has expanded to a network of more than 40,000 in all 50 states.
Dr. Srishti Srivastava, assistant professor of computer science, along with Mrs. Allison Grabert, Director of Southwest Indiana STEM Resource Center, and Stephanie M. Smith, Graduate Assistant, SwISTEM Resource Center, will be the facilitators for the program which will launch January 2018. Three computer science students, Emma Chamberlain, Haley Hodges, and Dana Tang, are helping Dr. Srivastava in developing the teaching materials. The program will roll out to middle school students initially, and then expand to the high schools. "We are very excited to already have 20 middle schoolers interested in participating," said Dr. Srivastava.
*info graphic from Girls Who Code website
“What we’re doing is working: most of our girls go on to major in computer science in college. When you teach girls to code or get them involved in STEM, they become change agents and can build apps, programs and movements to help tackle our country’s toughest problems,” CEO & Founder of Girls Who Code Reshma Saujani said. “We’re building a movement of women in STEM, hopefully enough women to really flood the gates.”
For more information about the Girls Who Code local chapter, contact Dr. Srivastava.
Published November 7, 2017.