Kicking Butt in Computer Science: Women in Computing at Carnegie Mellon University

Are women really kicking butt in computer science? National statistics show little progress in the participation of women in computing; this in spite of numerous studies, reports and recommendations on the topic. Some might say the reasons for the situation remain a mystery. However, at Carnegie Mellon University we do not believe that the situation is either so mysterious or such an intractable problem. Indeed, women are kicking butt in computer science in some cultures and environments. This book tells the Carnegie Mellon story, a positive story of how one school developed a culture and environment in which both women and men could thrive and be successful in computer science.

Carol Frieze, Ph.D. has worked on diversity issues in Carnegie Mellon's School of Computer Science (SCS) for the past 15 years. She is Director of Women@SCS and SCS4ALL, two professional faculty/student organizations (hosted by SCS), working to build community on campus, provide leadership opportunities, and to promote diversity in CS through outreach. She gained her doctorate in the fi eld of "Cultural Studies in Computer Science" from the School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University. Her thesis examined the role of culture and environment as determinants of women's participation in computer science. Her research interests focus on the culture of computing and broadening participation in computing fi elds. She designed and teaches a course on the "Images of Computing" which looks at the ways computing and computer science are represented and perceived in US popular culture and in other cultures and countries.

Jeria Quesenberry, Ph.D. has been a faculty member in Carnegie Mellon's Information Systems Program in the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences for the past 10 years. Her research interests are directed at the study of societal, cultural and organizational infl uences on the technology fi eld and its professionals. She earned a doctorate in Information Sciences and Technology from the Pennsylvania State University. Her thesis examined career values and motivations of women in the information technology (IT) workforce and the infl uence these factors have on their career selection and retention decisions.Before pursuing her graduate degree, Jeria worked as a systems integration consultant at Accenture for multiple federal government clients. She designs and teaches a variety of courses in the areas of: global systems, social informatics, strategic value of information systems, front-end web design and development, and project management.