Developing an Innovation Leadership Team: Using Innovation to Develop the Next Generation of Digital

The US workforce faces a gross underrepresentation of women and minorities in the technology field and a cultural shift, with more than 3 million women leaving the workforce due to COVID-19. In fall 2020, Georgia State University's Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Online Education (CETLOE) launched an intern program seeking to create a larger and more significant impact in developing the digital literacy, professional, and leadership skillsets of Georgia State students, cultivating diverse students to become future tech leaders. In this panel presentation, members of CETLOE will share the decisions from the program structure to which internal partners could lead to the desired outcomes. Aligning with Georgia State's goal of graduating students who will compete and succeed in the 21st-century global workforce, CETLOE was intentional in creating an internship program that allowed students to develop professional and leadership skill sets in addition to their digital literacy skills. There will be a discussion about establishing campus partnerships with technology departments and career services to provide resources and support to the internship program. Insights will be given about engaging technology departments to demonstrate the value of hiring interns. There will be a discussion about the expected responsibilities of the interns that include their participation in real-world projects, collaborating with stakeholders, and presenting to project teams.