Current and future technological super-heroines converged on San Diego last week for the Qualcomm EmpowerHERment Summit. College of Computing Director of Career Development Ashley Rose Edgar addressed attendees Friday.    

The conference brought together female college students studying engineering with Qualcomm engineeers, STEM-focused non-profits, and university partners for a two-day summit at the company’s headquarters in San Diego. Students could attend technical and/or developmental workshops, listen to respected speakers, network with non-profits, and participate in a hackathon.

Rose Edgar spoke during the conference’s workshop series. Her focus was providing a framework to empower female students in technology to define and refine their career goals.

“A student may know she wants to become a computer scientist, but it is essential to analyze what that entails as a career path in relationship with one’s skills, interests, and values,” Rose Edgar said. “One may enjoy coding and have a penchant for it, though understanding the subtleties of the industry, and how to achieve personal success within this context is key for the job seeker.”

Rose Edgar’s work as career services director includes providing resources and programming to refine students’ career goals, academic goals, and leadership or job skills during and after their degree. The College’s support extends to multiple female student groups as well as sponsoring attendance at the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing for a sizable contingent of the College’s students.

“With existing disparities in the number of women in computing careers along with disproportionate pay gaps, female students can especially benefit from analyzing personal motivators and intentionally identifying how to overcome barriers or capitalize upon strengths,” she added. “It is a privilege and a personal passion to be able to engage in endeavors that seek to empower individuals like the brilliant and inspiring young women we are fortunate to support in the College of Computing.”