The College of Computing at Georgia Tech believes every voice is valuable in the computing conversation. Creating and supporting spaces that amplify marginalized groups is a priority for our community. We are excited to celebrate the contributions women and non-binary people make to computing. Connect with us at this year’s Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC), September 26 – 29 in Orlando, Florida.

We fervently believe in the benefits of inclusionary computing. Representation matters, so we take the opportunity to show our students what they could be.

About

The Grace Hopper Celebration is an event to honor Grace Hopper’s legacy and inspire future generations of women in tech. Dr. Anita Borg and Dr. Telle Whitney founded Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) in 1994. The AnitaB.org flagship event brings the research and career interests of women in computing to the forefront, and highlights the contributions of women to the tech world.

The Celebration results in collaborative proposals, networking, and mentoring for our attendees. GHC presenters are leaders in their respective fields who recognize the importance of diversity in tech. The Celebration also offers professional development through a variety of activities. Today, GHC is the world’s largest gathering of women technologists, where women from around the world learn, network, and celebrate their achievements.

Commitment to Inclusion in Computing

Bethany Maddox, M.Ed., director of Enrollment in Georgia Tech’s College of Computing, talks about the importance of inclusion and what the students stand to gain by traveling to the Grace Hopper Celebration.

Student Testimonials

I really enjoyed the community aspect of Grace Hopper. I met and talked with young women from different universities and attended sessions alongside them. We really built a tight bond. I still chat with those ladies even today. The career fair was one of the major highlights for me. We were interviewed by women and had the opportunity to speak with them about the companies they represented. That representation was surprising and very important. I feel like that experience, especially in tech roles, is not very common.

—Elizza Kaimachiande, CS undergraduate student

Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) is an all-around experience for women in computing. You leave feeling inspired. When I attended GHC 2022 & 2018, I took the opportunity to listen to talks by leading women, learn about other computing fields (such as Quantum Computing, AI Racial Bias, AI/ML in Healthcare), and get exposed to the GHC career fair. The keynote speeches were moving. I was inspired to continue creating inclusive spaces for others. As a student, the internship opportunities are invaluable. There were hundreds of companies and research labs recruiting and holding interviews. I secured my first internship at Intel as a freshman at GHC in 2018.

To sum it up: Awareness. Mindset. Opportunity.
You will exposed to so much, and it will uplift your journey.

— Marissa Sorkin, CS graduate student

Last year was my first time attending the Grace Hopper Celebration. Overall the experience was something that I will never forget. I met other young women who were interested in technology and attended fireside chats, and keynote talks surrounded by like-minded women.
I had the opportunity to talk with some companies and attend a few after-hour events with Kohl’s, Universal Studios, and Bank of America. I received multiple offers and landed my first internship as a software engineer with Bank of America because of the connections I made at GHC.

– Ade’jaa Mann, CS undergraduate student

OMSCS Graduate Student Recruiting

Martin Davis Jr., Ph.D
Director of OMSCS Admissions

The OMSCS program is currently in its 10th year. Nearly 10,000 students have graduated from the program. There are 12,734 students enrolled for the Fall 2023 semester. Five specializations and over 60 different courses are available to OMSCS students. Approximately 7,000 applications are received for the program each year. Admitted applicants can matriculate in either the Fall or the January semesters.

Georgia Tech’s Online Master of Science in Computer Science (OMSCS) was the first master’s program in CS to be offered by an accredited and premier university in an exclusively online format at a fraction of the cost of traditional, residential programs.  By design, the OMSCS program has the same course rigor as its on-campus counterpart.  Many of the OMSCS faculty also teach in the on-campus program.

The OMSCS program is currently in its 10th year. Nearly 10,000 students have graduated from the program. There are 12,734 students enrolled for the Fall 2023 semester. Five specializations and over 60 different courses are available to OMSCS students. Approximately 7,000 applications are received for the program each year. Admitted applicants can matriculate in either the Fall or the January semesters.

There are several benefits to There are several advantages and benefits to the OMSCS program:

Because there is no cap on enrollment, the Admissions Committee can accept applicants with non-traditional backgrounds. The Committee is looking for a reason to accept the applicant, not deny the applicant, i.e., has the applicant demonstrated an ability to perform rigorous graduate-level academic CS work?
Because of its admissions criteria, the program encourages applications from all academic and demographic backgrounds, and the acceptance rate is upwards of 80%.
The cost for the entire degree — not per year, not per semester — is approximately 7,000 USD.
No distinction or differentiation is made between foreign or domestic applicants except that the former must demonstrate English language competency, and English language versions of their transcripts must be submitted.  Since the program is 100% online, international students do not need a US visa to participate in the program.  (However, any international students who happen to be in the US while participating in the program must prove that they are legally allowed to reside in the US.)
The program is designed to be part-time, with a maximum of two courses per semester.  Nearly all our students work full-time or have other full-time obligations, so this part-time commitment is perfect for their lives.
The program has several people with whom students can connect and network with throughout their journey in the program.

GHC Spotlight: AI Literacy for Children

Noura Howell is an assistant professor in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts and a co-speaker at GHC on AI Literacy for Children.

“Children are growing up in a world increasingly shaped by AI systems. Our team, led by Dr. Sumita Sharma at the University of Oulu, Finland, runs workshops engaging children in understanding AI capabilities, critically considering AI ethics, and reimagining futures with fair and beneficial AI. Based on seminars in Finland, India, and the US, we offer reflections on diverse and inclusive AI education and imagination.”
Noura Howell, Assistant Professor, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts at Georgia Tech