The Computer Science major has long been a source of contention for Stern students. Several years ago, the administration cut the major on the girls’ campus, citing poor attendance and low economy. In the past year or two, however, there’s been an ever-increasing push to incorporate more substance into the minor, and ultimately, with hopes to bring back the major. Hoping to demonstrate their interest and learn more about their chosen careers, four Stern clubs combined to host an Information Technology Panel featuring women in the field.
Attendance was robust, with around thirty students from Sy Syms, Physical Sciences, and even Humanities majors pooling in for the event. The panel itself was composed of an impressive array of women from varying careers, including Ms. Sarah Ganchrow, a technology analyst from Goldman Sachs, Ms. Lana Schoneman, a vice president at JP Morgan Chase, Ms. Joy Smith, a director at Novetta Corporations, and Mrs. Chavie Roth, a leader at NYLife insurance company.
Stern students’ main questions focused on the peculiarities of being a woman in a predominately male-saturated career and concern about the strength of Stern’s meager minor in the career market. Ms. Ganchrow mentioned the challenges she faced when she had been the only female in her office, but noted that her situation was an extreme case and that her current team consists primarily of women. Several panelists alluded to the benefits of being in a minority group in a culture of corporate diversity.
According to Mrs. Roth, “Now is a really good time to be a woman in technology… very different from when I first started out.” She advised that students “take hold of [that opportunity] and grab it but… you have to do the work.”
For Stern students interested in Computer Science careers, a strong commitment is necessary to make up for a paucity of classes. The panelists gamely offered their best tips for securing that coveted position. Ms. Smith advised students to demonstrate their potential by engaging in coding projects on the side. Ms. Schoneman acquainted students with a variety of educational websites such as Kaggle. Ms. Ganchrow, a SCW graduate herself, favorably compared Stern’s current minor with the major of a few years past and added that most of the skills she uses are experience-based rather than academic.
Though students welcomed the advice, the true highlight of the conversation came when panelists shared the reasons behind their own passions for Computer Science. Said Mrs. Roth, “the ability to see [a project] from beginning to end… it’s a great thing. It’s the best kind of thing to work on.”