Illinois CS: Students— “Future”
Written by: Srushti Nerkar
Now that we’ve looked at the past and the present with women in computer science, it’s time to shift our focus into the future, focusing on students from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This school isn’t just known for their outstanding computer science curriculum, but also encourages students to take what they’ve learned in class and put it into action through their clubs and organizations. This approach not shows the real-world impact of their work, but also highlights the importance of applying academic concepts outside of the classroom. As we conclude Women’s History Month, we will highlight the accomplishments and insights of the women leading these groups and overall leading the way in shaping the future of computer science.
Meghna Jayaraj: Co-Director of Hack4Impact
Meghna discovered her passion for computer science in her senior year of high school. Faced with limited resources to learn how to code, she took the initiative to start a club alongside a friend and eventually chose to major in CS. At Hack4Impact, Meghna found a platform that not only challenged her but also expanded her understanding of her own capabilities in the tech field. She’s also particularly proud of the workshops Hack 4Impact has conducted in local schools. A standout moment for her was overhearing two girls talk about their excitement of learning new tech skills.
Ananya Rajagopal: President of Women in Computer Science
Ananya embarked on her tech journey from her roots in the Silicon Valley area. Despite her initial hesitations, her interest was sparked by an introductory CS course, particularly appreciating the project-based nature of the field and the learning process from mistakes. Inspired by her passionate family and friends in computer science, she was initially involved with the organization Girls Who Code, where she noticed the value of creating a supportive club environment. She noticed through her internships that there was a clear lack of female engineers on her teams, emphasizing the value of groups like WCS for support and shared experiences, wanting her to take a leadership role. Ananya is particularly proud of initiatives like Night of Networking and the Chicago Retreat, which allow for more accessible and less intimidating networking opportunities for women in CS.
Anantya Kasturi: Internal Outreach Chair of Project Code
Anantya started her tech journey with introductory classes in high school, leading her to major in Data Science + Information Science with a minor in CS. She enjoys tackling small projects in various programming languages, inspired by her dad, a software engineer in healthcare -a field she aims to go into. Anantya’s involvement in Project Code, a more individual-focused organization, stems from her desire to engage more people in data science projects. Currently, she’s working on a research project examining the security aspects of AI, specifically testing if platforms like Bard and ChatGPT can produce malicious code, highlighting the growing importance of AI safety.
Discussing Barriers with Women in Tech
These women have accomplished so much just as college students, but being women in tech there are many obstacles and hurdles to overcome. Meghna pointed out how tough it is to find female role models in tech and emphasizes the need of communities like WCS for giving women a support circle. She believes it’s important to chat about the obstacles women face in tech and share tips to get past them, especially tackling imposter syndrome. Ananya discussed that there’s always a lot of talk about gender diversity and not enough real action. She highlights the responsibility of those in senior positions to advocate for and support younger peers, a lesson she learned from a supportive manager during an internship. Anantya highlighted the need for job platforms to offer equal opportunities and emphasize the impact of showcasing women’s success stories in tech, inspired by speakers at GirlCon. She also stressed that CS is not just big tech, but that there are various subfields and it’s important to do research on what interests you.
Thank you for joining us in the past, present and future of women in computer science. We hoped you gained insight on what’s happened, what’s being done, and what’s to come in the future.
