From 2018 to 2019, the number of students from underrepresented groups who completed a Ph.D in computer science decreased by 13 percent.
“CMD-IT launched the FLIP Alliance program in 2017 to help increase the diversity of the future leadership in the professoriate in computing at research universities as a way to achieve diversity across the field,” said Valerie Taylor, CEO and President of the Center for Minorities and People with Disabilities in Information Technology (CMD-IT). “We are grateful for supporters like Google for helping to close the gap.”
Last year, together with Google Research, CMD-IT FLIP Alliance, established a competitive dissertation awards program.
Here’s what the Doctoral students shared about themselves, their aspirations and dreams for the future.
Alexander Moreno – Georgia Institute of Technology: Will pursue a postdoc in academia on methodology and theory for healthcare applications.
Amber Solomon – Georgia Institute of Technology: Planning to work as a research scientist.
Felix Gonda – Harvard University: Will work to solve problems in health care and neuroscience.
Michael Rivera – Carnegie Mellon University: Pursuing a postdoctoral position followed by a position as a university professor.
Gabriel Fierro – University of California, Berkeley: Pursuing a faculty position in a computer science department.
Wing Lam – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Hopes to better increase the participation of those with underrepresented backgrounds.
About CMD-IT
CMD-IT is the national Center for Minorities and People with Disabilities in Information Technology, focused on the following underrepresented groups: African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, and People with Disabilities. The center is composed of corporations, academic institutions, government agencies, and nonprofits.
To learn more about CMD-IT’s program, the FLIP Alliance, visit flipalliance.org. To schedule an interview with Valerie Taylor, CEO and President of CMD-IT, contact Ashley Small at 281-827-3419.
SOURCE Center for Minorities and People with Disabilities in Information Technology
