Six TechWomen Awarded Change Agent Scholarships, Will Participate inGrace Hopper Celebration
Anita Borg Institute Partners With Google, Huawei and NetApp to Host Six "TechWomen" From Middle East
PORTLAND, OR, Nov 10, 2011 (Menafn - MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) --The Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology announced todaythat Google, Huawei and NetApp are sponsoring scholarships for sixTechWomen alumnae for the 11th Grace Hopper Celebration of Women inComputing. As TechWomen Change Agent Scholars, these TechWomen areup-and-coming leaders who work to advance women's participation intechnology. During the conference, they will be recognized for theirefforts to help expand opportunities for and impact the careers ofgirls and women in technology in their home country, territory orregion, which will be held November 9-12, 2011, in Portland, Oregon.
TechWomen is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State's Bureauof Educational and Cultural Affairs, in partnership with theInstitute of International Education and the Anita Borg Institute forWomen and Technology.
Bringing the power of global business, technology, and educationtogether, TechWomen pairs women from the technology sector in theGreater San Francisco Bay Area with their counterparts in the MiddleEast and North Africa for a professional mentorship and exchangeprogram at leading technology companies. Using innovativetechnologies, cutting-edge content, and social networking tools,TechWomen fosters and develops the next generation of women leadersin the technology field by providing women and girls with the accessand opportunity needed to pursue technical careers.
"NetApp feels it is important for women to globally connect, shareideas, and create innovative ways for technology to enhance lives. Asa sponsor of the TechWomen Change Agent Scholars, NetApp supports theTechWomen program's vision to bring technical women frompredominantly Muslim countries to the Grace Hopper Celebration wherethey will meet and learn from others, bringing back valuable contactsand knowledge to the initiatives they are starting to encourage girlsand women to pursue tech careers in their region," said BrianPawlowski, CTO of NetApp.
John Roese, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Huawei NorthAmerica R&D stated, "As a key supplier of mobile networks in the MENAregion, we believe the TechWomen mentorship program brings valuableexperience to the region's future technologists. We are pleased tosupport the TechWomen Change Agent Scholars and help bring them tothe Grace Hopper Celebration, so that the mentees can learn from aglobal community of technical women and return home with an abilityto support local innovation."
About the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing The world'slargest gathering of women in computing in industry, academia, andgovernment, the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing is afour-day technical conference designed to bring the research andcareer interests of women in computing to the forefront. Co-presentedby the Anita Borg Institute and the Association for ComputingMachinery (ACM), the conference has expanded this year to now featuremore than 132 sessions (panels, workshops, technical papers, Ph.D.forum, new investigators, technical posters, a track on large scalecomputing, and "birds of a feather" sessions) across ten tracks,invited technical speakers, and the ACM Student Research Competition.
This year's conference theme, "What If...?", recognizes thatinnovation in technology arises from the question: "What if a cultureof technology that encourages participation and inquiry from adiverse workforce leads to greater levels of innovation?" More than3,000 women and men from over 30 countries in industry, academia, andgovernment are expected to attend this year's event. GHC providestechnical women with visibility, a sense of community, criticalsocial networks and mentoring relationships that improve femalerepresentation in the field.
For more information, go to www.gracehopper.org.
About the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology (ABI) TheAnita Borg Institute provides resources and programs to helpindustry, academia, and government recruit, retain, and develop womenleaders in high-tech fields, resulting in higher levels oftechnological innovation. Our programs serve high-tech women bycreating a community and providing tools to help them develop theircareers. ABI is a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 charitable organization.ABI Partners include: Google, HP, Microsoft, CA Technologies, Cisco,Facebook, First Republic Bank, IBM, Intel, Intuit, Lockheed Martin,Marvell, National Science Foundation, National Security Agency,NetApp, SAP, Symantec, Thomson Reuters, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich &Rosati, Amazon, Broadcom, Motorola Foundation, Raytheon, Salesforce,and Yahoo! For more information, visit http://www.anitaborg.org.
About the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) TheBureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S.Department of State fosters mutual understanding between the peopleof the United States and the people of other countries to promotefriendly and peaceful relations. ECA engages youth, students,educators, artists, athletes, and rising leaders in many fields inthe United States and more than 160 countries through academic,cultural, sports, and professional exchanges. Striving to reflect thediversity of the United States and global society, ECA programs,funding, and other activities encourage the involvement of Americanand international participants from traditionally underrepresentedgroups, including women, racial and ethnic minorities, and peoplewith disabilities. ECA exchange program alumni encompass over 1million people around the world, including more than 40 NobelLaureates and more than 320 current and former heads of state andgovernment. For more information, visit exchanges.state.gov.
About the Institute of International Education (IIE) The Instituteof International Education collaborates with universities,governments, non-governmental organizations and corporations todevelop and implement scholarship, exchange, and training programsthat educate and build leadership skills among students, scholars,and professionals worldwide. These include the prestigious Fulbrightand Humphrey Fellowship Programs and the International VisitorLeadership Program, administered on behalf of the U.S. Department ofState in partnership with other countries, as well as more than 250other initiatives that benefit over 26,000 men and women from 175countries each year. Through its West Coast Center (IIE/WCC) in SanFrancisco, IIE has extensive experience and success collaboratingwith the technology sector and local organizations, especially in theMENA region. For more information, visit www.iie.org.
Media Contacts:
Jerri Barrett
Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology
650-857-6095 office
408-204-7229 mobile
Email Contact
Talley Sergent
U.S. Department of State
202-632-6043 office
202-288-3124 mobile
Email Contact
SOURCE: Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology
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