Women In Computing

Who we are

Through curriculum innovation, career access, and community building, faculty and staff in George Mason University's College of Engineering and Computing support students who identify as women and non-binary in computing degrees. From 2019 to 2024, as part of Gender Equality in Tech (GET) Cities, Break Through Tech has funded George Mason's inclusivity efforts in computing

PathfindHER: Navigating Success Together

The PathfindHER mentorship program matches new students with experienced upperclassmen who can offer academic-, university-, and career-related guidance. This program is designed for undergraduate women pursuing degrees in computer science (CS) and information sciences and technology (IST) in George Mason University's College of Engineering and Computing.

Participation is voluntary, with each upperclassmen mentor guiding a group of about 5 undergraduate students, including freshmen and/or transfer students, in CS or IST, for one semester. For further details, please refer to the program rules.

Are you interested in volunteering as a mentor or a mentee? Complete this form.

The program coordinator will contact you with your mentor/mentee pairing details at the beginning of the following fall or spring semester. (i.e., if you fill out the form in the middle of the spring or summer terms, you will be contacted at the beginning of the next fall semester. If you fill out the form in the middle of the fall semester, you will be contacted at the beginning of the next spring semester.) Upon receiving the pairing information, it will be the responsibility of both the mentor and mentee to maintain the relationship and fulfill their voluntary duties. Please note that the mentorship pairing will last for one semester only.

 

Sprinternship® Program 2024

The Sprinternship program is a series of career development workshops and a paid, three-week, mini-internship at a local tech company that offers women and other underrepresented groups studying computing a glimpse into careers in technology.

Applications for the May 10 - 31, 2024, Sprinternship are now closed. 

 

CEC PATH for Women

CEC Prosper Advance and Thrive Hub (PATH for Women) 

This 3D virtual world serves as an affinity space exclusively for undergraduate women studying CS or IST. It's designed as a remote place to provide resources and guidance throughout the undergraduate degree program at George Mason University. Our peer leaders, dedicated to fostering a community of women in technology, will hold weekly office hours in the CEC PATH for Women. Students are encouraged to drop in, ask questions, and seek assistance related to resources and support. Please note that while this space is intended for socializing and accessing resources, it is not a tutoring center or a lecture space. 

Before visiting the PATH for Women, please read the community guidelines: Community Guidelines 

To access the CEC PATH for Women, follow the instructions.  

 

Other efforts to support women in computing include:

  • Community-building events, both online and in person;

  • The development of a networked community of individuals who identify as women and non-binary—both peer-to-peer and student-to-professional—in the D.C. metropolitan area to support, engage, and motivate one another;

  • A summer program for first-year students designed to encourage interest in tech;

  • Attendance at the annual Grace Hopper Celebration, the largest gathering of women and non-binary technologists in the world; and,

  • Innovative introductory computer science class sequences.