A Mission to Produce High-Quality Technology Professionals

Many students dream of pursuing careers in technology-related fields. These dreams are sometimes denied because of a lack of finances, no mentorship, and irrelevant work experience. These barriers are inflated for women and persons of color, who are proportionally underrepresented in technology careers. The Information Technology Division at Coppin State University, a Historically Black College and University in Maryland, decided to reduce these barriers through philanthropic and experiential learning approaches. This session will highlight their approach for reducing the barriers and giving students a pathway to careers in technology, ultimately helping turn dreams of working in technology into a reality.