{"692865":{"#nid":"692865","#data":{"type":"news","title":"GT Computing Students Find Community, Opportunity at Tapia Conference","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFor Georgia Tech computer science (CS) students\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/summerabramson\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESummer Abramson\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/cindy-muniz\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECindy Muniz\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/an1ka-reddy\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnika Gaddam\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, attending the ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference was about more than building resum\u00e9s or exploring careers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt was a chance to find community, encounter new ideas, and see a place for themselves in the future of computing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Sept. 16-18 conference at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta brought together students, researchers, educators, and industry professionals from across the country to advance diversity in computing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe College of Computing had a strong presence throughout the conference, with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/dean-vivek-sarkar\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVivek\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003ESarkar\u003C\/strong\u003E, John P. Imlay Jr. Dean of Computing\u003C\/a\u003E, delivering welcoming remarks at the opening session and several College faculty, researchers, and leaders participating in panels and other programming.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EUnprecedented student demand\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe College has funded students to attend Tapia for more than a decade, typically covering attendance for about eight graduate students. However, with Tapia in Atlanta this year, a record number of students sought registration support from the College.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo manage the demand, Associate Dean of Access and Advancement and Regents\u2019 Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/people\/dana-randall\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDana\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003ERandall\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E established the GT Computing Tapia Award. She led a small committee that reviewed 54 student applications and selected 17 for conference registration support.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOf course, we wish that the College could have covered registration for all of the students who applied,\u201d said Randall. \u201cTapia is an incredible opportunity for students to discover their community as they develop a richer understanding of where a career in computing can take them.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 17 GT Computing Tapia Award winners were joined by eight students from the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/omscs.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EOnline Master of Science in Computer Science\u003C\/a\u003E program, and about 10 student volunteers, for a GT Computing contingent of approximately 35 students.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EConnecting to community\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Abramson, a\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/degree-programs\/master-science-computer-science\u0022\u003ECS master\u2019s\u003C\/a\u003E student whose research focuses on inclusion in computing, the conference offered an opportunity to connect her academic interests with a broader community.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTapia was especially meaningful to me because much of my research focuses on inclusion in computing and on creating spaces where everyone feels welcome,\u201d Abramson said. \u201cAttending Tapia allowed me to network and to see how others in my field are working toward those goals.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut most of all, Tapia reinforced Abramson\u0027s sense of belonging.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe biggest lesson I learned from this conference is that there will always be a place for me at Tapia where I can be myself,\u201d she said. \u201cThe best way to carry that legacy forward is to create the same space for others in my own community.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Tapia experience provided Muniz, a second-year CS major, with an equally personal perspective.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a Latina student, Muniz said she remembered attending a first-year seminar in which the student panel didn\u2019t include anyone who looked like her. At Tapia, she found a diverse, supportive community focused on helping students succeed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTheir continued advocacy for diversity in the computing industry was inspiring,\u201d Muniz said, \u201cand they provided me with numerous resources so I can work toward my future.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMuniz made the most of these resources by participating in resume review sessions and speaking with recruiters. She also drew inspiration from a presentation by \u003Cstrong\u003EOmar\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003EFlorez\u003C\/strong\u003E, team lead for LatamGPT, a large language model for Latin America.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a bilingual student assistant, Muniz saw the potential for technology like LatamGPT to help address representation and information gaps for communities that may lack access to college application resources.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGaddam, a third-year CS major, also appreciated Tapia\u2019s emphasis on diversity in computing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe found the conference particularly relevant to her academic and professional interests. A session on the \u003Cem\u003EEvolution of Software Engineering with AI\u003C\/em\u003E directly connected to her coursework and internship experience, while a career panel featuring engineers from Meta and Netflix offered insight into career growth for people of color in technology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBeing in a room where most of the attendees and speakers didn\u0027t match the default image of who works in AI reinforced something I already believe,\u201d said Gaddam.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe industry needs more people who lead with empathy and intuition, not just technical throughput.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EGT Computing at Tapia\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe College\u2019s presence extended beyond student attendance. Along with Sarkar\u2019s opening remarks, faculty, researchers, and students also participated in conference programming.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.kamaubobb.com\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKamau\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003EBobb\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, senior director of\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/constellations.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Constellations Center for Computing Education\u003C\/a\u003E, co-headlined a session with data scientist and Tapia co-founder\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.anl.gov\/mcs\/article\/valerie-taylor-receives-distinguished-engineering-alumnialumnae-award-from-purdue\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EValerie\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003EThomas\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. The two discussed artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on underrepresented groups, which is the subject of Bobb\u2019s recent book, \u003Cem\u003EThe Bullwhip\u2019s Algorithm: Artificial Intelligence and America\u2019s Racial Caste System\u003C\/em\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAdditional programming contributions from the GT Computing community included:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e6a1e0a3d55e930522c61604e3c5c7a70\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/reeda-shimaz-huda-257b381b6\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EReeda Shimaz Huda\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a first-year\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/degree-programs\/phd-human-centered-computing\u0022\u003EPh.D. student in human-centered computing\u003C\/a\u003E, participated in a panel discussion titled \u003Cem\u003ECultivating Tomorrow\u2019s Innovators: The Transformative Power of Undergraduate Research\u003C\/em\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ef20efdd7b3ff2b081e4d8bbf2dcc5f66\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/alex-cabral-4282aa1a\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlex\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003ECabral\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a former postdoctoral fellow in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/kamoamoa.com\/\u0022\u003EKa Moamoa Lab at Georgia Tech\u003C\/a\u003E, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/profjosiah\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJosiah\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003EHester\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, an interactive computing associate professor, participated in a Birds of a Feather session titled \u003Cem\u003EImpact-Focused Research in Computing: Publishing, Career Paths, and Community-Building Without Losing Your Values.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGT Computing recently launched an award program to manage record student demand for registration scholarships for this year\u0027s Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference. More than 50 applications were submitted, and 17 were selected. In all, 35 GT Computing students participated in the conference.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The College of Computing recently launched an award program to manage record student demand for registration scholarships for this year\u0027s Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference."}],"uid":"32045","created_gmt":"2026-09-28 15:55:06","changed_gmt":"2026-09-28 16:01:33","author":"Ben Snedeker","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-09-28T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-09-28T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"681274":{"id":"681274","type":"image","title":"Regents Professor Dana Randall takes a selfie with a small group of students attending Tapia 2026 in Atlanta.","body":"\u003Cp\u003ERegents Professor Dana Randall (left) takes a selfie with a small group of students attending Tapia 2026 in Atlanta.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1790610921","gmt_created":"2026-09-28 15:55:21","changed":"1790610921","gmt_changed":"2026-09-28 15:55:21","alt":"Regents Professor Dana Randall takes a selfie with a small group of students attending Tapia 2026 in Atlanta.","file":{"fid":"265643","name":"Tapia-2026-groupie-selfie-1.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/09\/28\/Tapia-2026-groupie-selfie-1.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/09\/28\/Tapia-2026-groupie-selfie-1.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":156125,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/09\/28\/Tapia-2026-groupie-selfie-1.jpg?itok=fsyx_N5X"}},"681275":{"id":"681275","type":"image","title":"CS major Cindy Muniz with GT Computing Dean Vivek Sarkar at Tapia 2026 in Atlanta.","body":"\u003Cp\u003ECS major Cindy Muniz poses with GT Computing Dean Vivek Sarkar at Tapia 2026 in Atlanta.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1790611036","gmt_created":"2026-09-28 15:57:16","changed":"1790611036","gmt_changed":"2026-09-28 15:57:16","alt":"CS major Cindy Muniz with GT Computing Dean Vivek Sarkar at Tapia 2026 in Atlanta.","file":{"fid":"265644","name":"Cindy-Muniz-Dean-Sarkar-Tapia2026-2.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/09\/28\/Cindy-Muniz-Dean-Sarkar-Tapia2026-2.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/09\/28\/Cindy-Muniz-Dean-Sarkar-Tapia2026-2.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":152327,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/09\/28\/Cindy-Muniz-Dean-Sarkar-Tapia2026-2.jpeg?itok=LidVDWOC"}}},"media_ids":["681274","681275"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"606703","name":"Constellations Center"},{"id":"660374","name":"School of Computing Instruction"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"133","name":"Special Events and Guest Speakers"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"175368","name":"Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBen Snedeker\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESenior Communications Manager\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech College of Computing\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}