Cornell University: Student technologists show collective ‘force’ at women in computing conference

Of all the impactful moments she experienced while attending last month’s Grace Hopper Conference – an annual celebration of women in computing – Catherine Tom ’24 notes a serendipitous run-in on her first day.

“There were these three women from Amazon – one data scientist and two software engineers – and we just happened to strike up a conversation by the coffee table. What caught my attention was their backgrounds. They came from all corners of the world, and they were all in different stages of life, too,” said Tom, who majors in information science. “I could picture myself in their shoes, working on equally impactful technologies. And I was thinking that all of us here from Cornell, we all have that same chance.”

Tom was one of 60 students, faculty, and staff from the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science who made the trek to Orlando, Fla., for the Grace Hopper Conference, held Sept. 20 through 23 and named in honor of the pioneering mathematician and computer scientist.

“The Grace Hopper Conference is an unmatched showcase where women leaders in computing are elevated, celebrated, and motivated to continue transforming the field,” said LeeAnn Roberts, director of Cornell Bowers CIS’ Office of DEI. “At this year’s conference, our students experienced firsthand the collective force of women innovators across the tech industry and shared in honoring the pioneers who paved the way for them.”