Students Find Support and Inspiration at Fall Conferences
This fall, ICS students had opportunities to attend conferences focused on supporting and inspiring underserved communities in the technology industry. The opportunities were sponsored by the Office of Outreach, Access and Inclusion in the UC Irvine Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences (ICS).
TAPIA Conference
Ten ICS students attended the 2025 Tapia Conference September 10-12 in Dallas, Texas. The Tapia Conference goal is to bring together undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, researchers, and professionals in computing from all backgrounds and ethnicities to create communities that extend beyond the conference, obtain advice from and make contacts with computing leaders in academia and industry, and be inspired by great presentations and conversations with leaders.
“This conference reinforced the importance of community, innovation, and diverse perspectives in tech. Grateful for this experience and excited to apply what I learned!” said Chidera Okoroama, fourth-year student majoring in business information management. Okoroama said she appreciated the organization, amazing opportunities for networking, participating in hackathons, and enjoying fantastic food.
Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC)
Twenty-nine ICS students attended the Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) November 4-7 in Chicago, Illinois. Most ICS students were undergraduates and many are members of Women in Information and Computer Sciences (WICS). GHC is the world’s largest gathering of women in tech, bringing together thousands of women from across the globe to learn, network, and celebrate their achievements. Founded in 1994 by Dr. Anita Borg and Dr. Telle Whitney, GHC was created to honor the legacy of computing pioneer Grace Hopper and to amplify the research, career growth, and impact of women in tech.
“Beyond the workshops and networking, GHC also gave me a moment to reflect on my own journey. This year’s theme — ‘Unbound’ — really struck a chord with me. As an aspiring product and UX/UI designer, GHC reminded me of the limitless ways design can shape technology and empower people. Hearing from leaders who use empathy and creativity to drive innovation inspired me to keep pushing boundaries, building human-centered experiences that make tech more inclusive and accessible, and staying unbound in how I approach design and technology,” said Megan Sun, informatics student and internal vice president of WICS ICS chapter via LinkedIn.
“I’m incredibly grateful to my Women in Information and Computer Sciences (WICS UCI) club and ICS OAI for their support in making this experience possible. This conference left me feeling motivated, inspired, and excited to apply what I’ve learned to future opportunities,” said Arianna Gonzalez, ICS data science student via LinkedIn.
AfroTech Conference
Ten ICS students and members of Black in Tech attended the AfroTech Conference October 27-31 in Houston, Texas. The AfroTech Conference is an annual event at the intersection of technology, culture and innovation. While rooted in uplifting Black professionals in tech and beyond, AfroTech is a space where people of all backgrounds come together to celebrate Black excellence, share knowledge, spark innovation and build meaningful connections.
“We return to campus inspired, empowered, and committed to carrying this momentum forward. The conversations and connections we gained at AfroTech will continue to shape the work we do and the opportunities we aim to create for our community!” said members of Black in Tech via Instagram.
– Tonya Becerra