Two students from Drexel’s College of Computing & Informatics (CCI) have won scholarships through the Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) Network: Greater Philadelphia STEM Scholars Program.
One scholarship winner, Dina Gordon, BS software engineering ‘26, just completed her first year at CCI. Remarking on the role her education experience at Drexel has played in facilitating her learning journey, Dina explains, “Although I’ve only spent three quarters here at Drexel, I could not be more grateful to have the CCI community by my side. I have learned, grown and accomplished so much, all with the help of my professors, peer mentors and fellow students. I cannot wait to spend the next four years as a member of CCI and continue to learn and explore.”
The other winner, Jessica Jha, BS data science ‘23, will enter her fifth year at CCI in fall 2022. She serves on the eBoard for Drexel’s Women in Computing Society (WiCS), works as a teaching assistant, and is a CCI Dean’s Ambassador. She is also active in Alpha Omega Epsilon (a STEM sorority), Drexel’s chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and was the vice president for Drexel’s chapter of Prospanica (a national professional Hispanic organization) for the past two years. She’s held co-ops and internships at Johnson & Johnson, Lockheed Martin, Penn Medicine and Comcast, and, during her freshman year, researched aviation under CCI Professor Ellen Bass, PhD as part of the STAR Scholars Program. As a member of the Global Engagement Scholars Program, she participates in globally minded classes and cross-cultural experiences, such as studying abroad in South Korea in summer 2022 and volunteering at global virtual conferences.
Both Jha and Gordon were recognized during the closing ceremonies of the WICT Network: Greater Philadelphia Tech It Out (TIO) conference on June 2 in Philadelphia. The conference, which focuses on raising awareness about the vast opportunities for women in the tech industry, was well attended by Drexel CCI students who took part in networking sessions and heard talks by tech leaders. “I met incredible women from all around the country,” says BS in computer science student Anca Scarlat. “I'm currently working on nurturing these connections that I know will be very valuable in my future career.”
The WICT Network: Greater Philadelphia offers scholarships to members for The WICT Network’s global and local programs as well as other professional development programs. Established in 2010, the Scholarship program enables The WICT Network: Greater Philadelphia members to attend The WICT Network Leadership Conference, Executive Development Seminars (EDS), Mentoring Program, and more. To learn more, visit the WICT Network Greater Philadelphia’s website.