[ACM-W] Fwd: AWIS and Latinas in Computing Partner to Provide Access to E-Mentoring

[Bettina Bair]

FYI.

MentorNet matches all types of students with mentors.  If you haven't tried
e-mentoring yet, sign up today at www.mentornet.net.

:-)
Bettina

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Lauren Ruth <laurenr at mentornet.net>
Date: Thu, Apr 10, 2008 at 7:02 AM
Subject: AWIS and Latinas in Computing Partner to Provide Access to
E-Mentoring
To: Bettina Bair <bair.41 at osu.edu>


News Release
FOR RELEASE APRIL 10, 2008

THE ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE AND LATINAS IN COMPUTING PARTNER TO
PROVIDE STUDENTS ACCESS TO E-MENTORING THROUGH MENTORNET

(Washington, DC, Palo Alto, and San Jose, CA) -- The Association for Women
in Science (AWIS) and Latinas in Computing (LiC) are partnering to expand
mentoring opportunities to Latina students and professional women in
computing via the e-mentoring network MentorNet.

According to the National Science Foundation, the number of U.S. Hispanic
women who earned bachelors degrees in computer science has more than doubled
since 1977 although their representation in the computing workforce
continues to be disproportionately low. In 2003, Latinas represented less
than 1 percent of the nearly 2 million employed in computer and information
sciences.

One of the key strategies LiC finds critical to increasing the numbers of
Latinas in computing related fields is mentoring.  Numerous studies have
shown that mentoring can provide women and other underrepresented minorities
with the guidance they need to succeed, particularly in fields in which they
are markedly underrepresented such as science and technology.  "Mentoring is
a wonderful growth experience for both the protege and the mentor," notes
Gilda Garreton, LiC's co-founder and a researcher at Sun Microsystems
Laboratories.

A winner of the Presidential Award for Excellence in STEM Mentoring, AWIS
promotes opportunities for development, growth, and support through role
models, peer mentoring, and individual and community partnerships." said
Janet Bandows Koster, Executive Director.  "This partnership is a natural
extension of our advocacy and expertise.  And, we're particularly pleased to
be able to work together through MentorNet, the premier gateway to
e-mentoring."

AWIS and MentorNet, another winner of the Presidential Award for Excellence
in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring, have been longtime
partners in enabling AWIS professional members to connect with
student-proteges as mentors, and student members to identify appropriate
mentors.  With a grant from Texas Instruments, MentorNet joined with LiC
earlier this year to build a Latinas in Computing portal into its mentoring
programs.

As a result of the new partnership, Latina community college, undergraduate,
and graduate students, postdocs, and untenured faculty in computing can join
AWIS and have free access to MentorNet to take advantage of the One-on-One
e-mentoring program.

For more information and to join AWIS, visit www.awis.org.



About AWIS

The Association for Women in Science (AWIS) is the premier advocate
organization for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics
(STEM). Founded in 1971, AWIS has consistently been in the forefront of
building pathways to advancement, better work place environments, and
positive educational experiences for women in STEM.  By breaking down
barriers and creating opportunities, AWIS ensures that women in these fields
can achieve their full potential.  AWIS is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
with chapters throughout the United States.  As a multi-disciplinary
organization, AWIS is able to leverage and mobilize action on common issues
facing women in STEM along the entire educational and career pipeline.


About LiC

Latinas in Computing (LiC), a community created by and for Latinas in
computing related fields, was established in 2006 with the help of the Anita
Borg Institute for Women in Technology (ABI), Latinas in Computing provides
Latinas in computing related fields with leadership and professional
development resources and opportunities to succeed in these fields.


About MentorNet - www.MentorNet.net <http://www.mentornet.net/>

MentorNet, headquartered in San Jose, California, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3)
organization working to further the progress of women and others
underrepresented in scientific and technical fields through the use of a
dynamic, technology-supported mentoring network.  MentorNet aims to advance
individuals and society, and enhance engineering and related sciences, by
promoting a diversified, expanded and talented global workforce.  In
partnership with colleges and universities, corporations, government labs
and agencies, and professional societies, MentorNet is international in
scope, serving students and professionals from all over the world.
 MentorNet was recognized in 2001 with the (U.S.) Presidential Award for
Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.  Major funding
is provided by IBM, Intel Foundation, Texas Instruments, Cisco Systems,
Hewlett Packard, AT&T, 3M Foundation, Alcoa Foundation, and the S. D.
Bechtel, Jr. Foundation.


Contacts:
Janet Bandows Koster
Executive Director, AWIS
202.326.8940
koster at awis.org

Carol Muller
Founder & CEO, MentorNet
408.296.4405
cbmuller at mentornet.net
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