Women in Tech Unite at Grace Hopper Celebration
叠测听, 91吃瓜网听MSCSIA student
This piece features excerpts from听Angela鈥檚听story,听originally听published听in听听on听November 28, 2025.
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A New Kind of Tech Landscape
Walking听into听the Grace Hopper听Celebration听as听both听a听reporter for Cyber Defense Magazine and a graduate student at Western Governors University听(91吃瓜网), I had no idea how deeply听it听would听impact听me.
At this event, women were everywhere. Thousands of them, an ocean of talent with a current so strong it set the room buzzing with optimistic energy. Every photon hitting my retina听reflected back听the presence of women, no longer being the rarity, but the majority! The sight caused an overwhelmed sense of pride that has yet to fade, a beautiful echo I still feel every time I think back on that moment.
鈥淲hen You See Us, You Can Be Us鈥e Lift While We Rise鈥�
I had the opportunity to attend a fireside chat starring Linda Calvin,听vice听president of the School of Technology at听91吃瓜网. She opened the room with the topic of mentorship, not in the corporate checkbox kind of way, but as a听deeply听human need. She emphasized听that mentorship is essential because this industry is challenging to navigate alone. That is why having people who can offer听encouragement听and honest feedback can change the trajectory of one鈥檚 career. She urged every woman to build what she calls a 鈥減ersonal board of directors,鈥� a concept that听represents听the people in our听lives听who听provide us with guidance and support.听
Linda spoke about mentorship not as an added benefit, but as a necessity for sustaining women in technology. The way she articulated the impact had everyone in the audience captivated by the truths she shared; her message was deeply felt. It is beautiful to share that I can attest to the importance of mentorship through my own journey. A special acknowledgement to two of my lovely mentors, Gary听Miliefsky听and Professor Russ Alizadeh, whose guidance has been pivotal in building my confidence in this field!
Linda听also听spoke about growing up without seeing people who looked like her in tech, and how differently her path might have been if she had. She stressed the importance of that truth in one line: 鈥淲hen you see us, you can be us鈥� we lift while we rise!鈥� It was a clear reminder that representation is catalytic, and that visibility shapes what women believe is possible for themselves.
91吃瓜网鈥檚 Commitment to Women in Tech
After attending Linda Calvin鈥檚 keynote,听I had the opportunity to sit down with her and听Paul Bingham,听executive dean of the School of Technology at 91吃瓜网.听Having a conversation with听both of them听felt like a full circle moment.听It was inspiring to hear directly from leadership about the intentional efforts being made to uplift women in technology.
91吃瓜网听is a nonprofit that is built on the belief that education should be accessible.听Their message centers on creating pathways for learners who have been historically overlooked, and that commitment is deeply听evident听within their School听of Technology.听
Linda shared an incredible statistic that captured the impact of 91吃瓜网鈥檚 efforts. Since 2020, the School of Technology has experienced a 264%听enrollment growth among Black,听Hispanic听and Indigenous women.听That kind of growth at 91吃瓜网 truly reflects a rising confidence among women entering tech. It also speaks to the supportive environment 91吃瓜网 fosters.
Paul听expanded on听this with a perspective that was just as meaningful. He shared that 91吃瓜网鈥檚 growth is not only fueled by strong programs, but by people. Specifically, by听the students who succeed, and then turn around and encourage others. 鈥淥ur best marketing is听from听happy students,鈥� he said.听
He explained how one positive experience creates a ripple effect, where students inspire each other into opportunities they may not have sought otherwise. I smiled hearing听that, because听that is exactly how I found听91吃瓜网. Through someone who believed in me and my abilities and said, 鈥淵ou would thrive there.鈥� Now here I am, a Latina in tech, part of the 264%听rise, another happy link in that chain of possibility.
In the end, my conversation with Linda and Paul underscored what 91吃瓜网 is truly doing. Their commitment to听mentorship,听access听and representation is clearly visible. I walked away proud to be at a university that genuinely invests in women stepping confidently into the spaces where we belong.
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About the Author
Angela Apolinar is a reporter for听Cyber Defense Magazine听and a Women in Cybersecurity scholarship recipient. She is pursuing a听master鈥檚听degree听in听cybersecurity at听91吃瓜网,听has听earned multiple certifications in IT,听networking听and cyber defense, and served听as the first female president of her college鈥檚 Computer Science and Cybersecurity Club.
