March is Women’s History Month!

This year’s national theme is Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. This theme is meant to honor generations of women who throughout American history have used their intelligence, imagination, sense of wonder, and tenacity to make extraordinary contributions to the STEM fields.

As part of our Women’s History Month celebrations, the Women's Center and CWIT are partnering to showcase six talented women in engineering and IT fields at UMBC. The future of women’s history is being created as we speak and there is importance in sharing our lived stories now. We invite you to join us throughout the month of March to learn more about these women, their experiences, and their dreams.

Natalie Morningstar, T-SITE Scholar
Junior Computer Engineer major

Describe what sparked your interest STEM and the journey to choosing your major.
My interests in art, sciences and mathematics have always been with me, but the decision to choose a STEM major came somewhat recently. For a short time I studied Motion Picture Film at Brigham Young University, but due to unusual and tragic circumstances I became estranged from my parents and was forced to become fully independent. This interruption made it financially impossible for me to return to school for several years.

Remaining loyal to my passion for film, I worked for years so that I could position myself to work in a related field, such as post-production, and go back to school. In 2007 I started working full-time in post-production and from 2009-2012 I studied Digital Multimedia Production and Computer Science at Montgomery College.

While at Montgomery College I developed an interest for imaging science. Already having a background in art and film I found myself drawn to the science of images, which ultimately lead me to choose Computer Engineering as my major. Spring 2012 I applied for UMBC’s T-SITE scholarship (Transfer-Scholarship in Information Technology and Engineering), was selected and am now in my second semester here at UMBC.

Tell us about an internship, research experience or project that you are proud of.
I am currently employed by Video and Film Solutions, Inc. where I’ve learned how important both hardware and software knowledge are and their possible applications for the future. This summer I am excited to be interning with Ventura Solution, Inc. where I will learn to program in C, VHDL for FPGAs and study computer architecture. I’m looking into a summer research internship with Technicolor in 2014 or 2015.

Who are your role models in the engineering or IT field?
In 2009 I found a group of talented researchers online that were doing fun and thought provoking projects. The fellows from the Free Art and Technology Lab and their projects really inspired me to start learning how to program.

In 2010 I learned about Mary Somerville and Ada Lovelace from Dr. Betty Toole’s book Ada, The Enchantress of Numbers. Mary, born in 1780, was a self-taught painter, mathematician and wrote several academic interpretations and books. Dubbed the “Queen of Science,” she has been recognized for her unique ability to write like a painter and even coined the term “scientist.” Ada Lovelace, born in 1815, was also a mathematician and gifted poet. She worked with Charles Babbage and his Analytical Engine and her works discuss Bernoulli numbers. Later, her works were approved as the first computer program and in her honor the U.S. Department of Defense named a computer language after her (Toole). I love how both Mary and Ada were able to blend their artsy side with their analytic side and most of all they survived, as I like to say, as a single proton in a sea of electrons.

Explain your experience as a woman in a STEM major, including the challenges as well as the rewards.
I agree with Eric Schechter (Associate Professor at Vanderbilt University) when he said in his book Why do we Study Calculus? that “To a large extent, mathematics -- or any kind of abstract reasoning -- works by selectively suppressing information.” Time after time I am told that I think too literally, which really means I struggle to ‘suppress information.’ Some would say that this type of thinking is more common in women than men; regardless I’m working towards a balance.

My interests in art, sciences and mathematics I feel are somewhat genetic, but the lack of exposure to a career in STEM, both at home and in school, was a result of my gender. I am happy to see that resources are going into exposing more young students in school now and even companies like Mattel in 2010 made Computer Engineering Barbie!

I find understanding the material to be rewarding! If successful, I will become the first engineer in my family. The greatest reward I could have is leaving a legacy for posterity.

The Center for Women In Technology (CWIT) is dedicated to increasing the representation of women in the creation of technology in the engineering and information technology fields. CWIT efforts begin with nurturing a strong group of Scholars, grow to building community resources for other women in these majors, extend to fostering a healthy gender climate and TE pedagogy in College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT) departments, and finally expand into outreach efforts to increase interest in technical careers. A successful program for female-friendly engineering and information technology education at UMBC will help make UMBC a destination for women (and men) interested in technical careers and serve as a national model for other universities.

The UMBC Center for Women in Technology will hold its 3rd Annual CWIT Spring into Leadership event on Thursday evening, April 11, 2013 in the University Center Ballroom at UMBC. Space is limited and registration is required. Register online by Monday, April 8.

Schedule
   6:15-6:30 Check-in and Refreshments, UC 3rd floor
   6:30-7:00 Networking Activity, Dessert will be served!
   7:10-7:30 Keynote Speaker's Story: Tina Kuhn, Northrop Grumman Corporation
   7:30-7:45 Discussion Activity and Q&A with Ms. Kuhn
   7:45-8:00 Wrap-Up & Evaluations

Keynote Speaker:

Ms. Tina Kuhn
Vice President, Security and Information Operations
Cyber Intelligence Division
Northrop Grumman Information Systems

Ms. Kuhn will share information about her career path and offer advice and wisdom based on her personal experiences as a successful technical leader.

Tina Kuhn is vice president of Security and Information Operations (S&IO) in the Cyber Solutions division of Northrop Grumman’s Information Systems sector. The S&IO business unit provides intelligence-related systems and services to U.S. government and international security customers. The organization’s focus is on full-spectrum cyber solutions that protect critical national systems and support the nation’s information dominance. S&IO also is a premier supplier and integrator of net-centric, next-generation signal processing solutions for specialized customers. Ms. Kuhn brings more than 25 years of management experience to her current position. She joined Northrop Grumman from General Dynamics, where she served as vice president of its Intelligence Systems line of business, leading three business units that addressed the cyber and intelligence communities. Prior to that, she was the vice president/director of programs for the Intelligence and Information Solutions business unit for SAIC in Columbia MD. Ms. Kuhn began her career at General Electric and also held positions at GTE Corp. Ms. Kuhn has a bachelor’s degree in information systems management from the University of Maryland and also is a certified Program Management Professional.

The event is co-hosted by the Center for Women in Technology, CWIT Student Council, IS Council of Majors, SWE, ASME, and the WISE graduate student organization. Contact Dr. Susan Martin, Associate CWIT Director as susan at umbc.edu if you have any questions about the event or registering online.

The following full-time positions have been posted within the past week to UMBCworks. Login to your account (via the link in the Jobs & Internships topic in myUMBC) and find details and application instructions as well as hundreds of other job postings!

9257304 - EDI Representative - Stanley Black & Decker
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The following part-time positions have been posted within the past week to UMBCworks. Login to your account (via the link in the Jobs & Internships topic in myUMBC) and find details and application instructions as well as hundreds of other job postings!

9255858 - Sunday School Lead Teacher/Teachers - Kol HaLev Synagogue
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