Join us at 3:00 pm CST for our open networking session!
STARS Celebration 2020 Conference Program
NOTE: ALL TIMES ARE IN CENTRAL TIME ZONE (GMT-5)
To connect to all sessions, visit https://cmdit-gradfair2020.vfairs.com/.
You must log in using the registration credentials you received via email from CMD-IT.
Featured sessions are viewable via our livestream.
Download the schedule at a glance (PDF)
Friday, November 6, 2020
10:00am – 10:15am
Welcome to STARS Celebration
Speakers:
Dr. Jamie Payton | Director, STARS Computing Corps, Temple University
Dr. Tiffany Barnes | Co-Director and Founder, STARS Computing Corps, North Carolina State University
10:15pm – 11:15am
Keynote: From Games to Medical Devices: The Problems We Choose to Solve Matter
Speaker: Dr. Evie Powell | Proprio Vision & Verge of Brilliance
Session Description: In my brief career I’ve experienced many aspects of tech industry; starting in grad school as a research fellow; moving to Seattle to start a professional career at Microsoft; starting my own company Verge of Brilliance and paving my own way for 3 years; and most recently working on an immersive solution for intraoperative spinal fusion procedures at at a now successful start up named Proprio. I’m far from done, and I’ve had my share of failures and successes, but one thing I’ve learned is that if we work on the problems that motivate and excite us, they can grow bigger and more exciting than ever expected.
11:15am – 11:30am
Break + Networking
11:30am – 12:15pm (Simultaneous):
Look for the Helpers: Creating and Maintaining a Culture of Advocacy/Activism in Computing + Tech
Speaker: Dr. Nicki Washington | Duke University
Session Description: The issues that systemically marginalized groups face in the computing+tech workforce are often equivalent to what they experience as students (undergraduate and graduate). Yet, there still are no successful efforts that have solved the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) issues in either industry or K-16 computing education. Successful advocacy/activism in computing+tech must be intentional and institutionalized at all levels. This talk discusses how to create and maintain a culture where allyship/advocacy/activism is not only celebrated, encouraged, and nurtured, but also expected.
What’s the Impact? How to Measure and Evaluate Your BPC Efforts
Speakers: Dr. Huifang Zuo | University of Chicago
Dr. Audrey Rorrer | University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Dr. Joseph Allen | Mooresville Graded School District
Session Description: Are you wondering if your efforts for diversity, equity, and inclusion are meeting your goals? This interactive workshop will provide an introduction to conducting quantitative research and evaluation for Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC). We’ll provide an introduction to human subjects research and ethics, critical theory that underlies interventions for BPC, and designing research studies and evaluation plans. We’ll also introduce the STARS BPC Research Toolkit, which includes guides for applying BPC research methodologies, a collection of BPC assessment instruments, and tools.
A Model for a Year-Round Enrichment Program to Broaden Participation in Computing
Speaker: Vida Winans | Illinois Institute of Technology
Session Description: The Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) Computer Discovery Program (CDP) was first offered as a summer computer camp for middle school girls in the summer of 2010 with an NSF BPC grant. Over the past 10 years the camp has developed into a year-round program that teaches computer science and related technology, creates a social network for the participants, and creates an affinity amongst its participants for STEM. The program draws from the greater Chicago area and predominantly serves girls of color. Students are invited to continue to return year after year to participate in the program. Curriculum is developed and leveled to provide constant challenge to returning students. Anecdotes from high school students who have participated in the program since middle school will be shared.
12:15pm – 12:45pm – Break + Networking
12:45pm – 1:35pm
Panel: Navigating the Career Landscape with STARS Alumni
Moderator: Kinnis Gosha | Morehouse College
Panelists:
Gyovanni Boston-Crompton | Bank of America
Veronica Catete | North Carolina State University
Katelyn Doran | Facebook Reality Labs
Samantha Finkelstein | Chase
Session Description: For this session, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with a panel comprising STARS alumni who have each celebrated their own triumphs in navigating the career landscape beyond their initial involvement with STARS. Having afforded various opportunities as faculty members, researchers, and industry leaders, our panelists come prepared to not only discuss the journey itself, but the unique role that their work with STARS has played in shaping their impact and efficacy through it all. Audience members will likewise have the opportunity to engage in a Q&A session with each of the panelists.
1:35pm – 1:45pm
Break + Networking
1:45pm – 2:30pm
From Start to Finish: Demystifying the Design & Implementation of Impactful BPC Initiatives
Speakers:
Dr. Jamie Payton | Temple University
Chelsea Zackey | Temple University
Tyler Powell | Temple University
Session Description: This session walks attendees through a systemic approach to the design and implementation of BPC initiatives. In this tutorial, we first provide a reusable framework that assists attendees with scaling the design of their BPC efforts within the context of their community, target audience, available resources, feasibility, accessibility, expected impact, and more. We follow up this discussion with demonstrations of interactive BPC activities they may consider piloting themselves, each of which uniquely scale to fit specific settings that attendees may identify with.
1:45pm – 2:30pm
You + CS for All: Partnerships and Practices to Advance K12 CS Education (Even in a Pandemic!)
Panelists:
Omar Ali | Northeast High School, School District of Philadelphia
Dr. Cheryl Seals | Auburn University
Mikaylah Gross | Eli Lilly
Session Description: The goal for this panel is to share insights on what makes for effective partnerships between K12 teachers, university faculty, and college students, and identify ways that undergraduate and graduate students can get involved in the CS for All movement, either by working with K12 students and teachers in K12 schools or through informal learning opportunities. Panelists include K12 teachers, university faculty, non-profit leaders, and college students who have been a part of a partnership that offers CS learning opportunities in K12. Panelists will be invited to share their experiences in K12 CS education and tips for effective partnerships. By then end of this discussion, we expect our audience to leave equipped with an enhanced understanding of the best practices and available resources that are currently being employed in the sector of K-12 computing education, even in the face of a pandemic!
1:45pm – 2:30pm
Lightning Talks: Sharing Your Research & Outreach Outcomes
Session Chair: Ben Rittenhouse | Temple University
Co-Host: David Cherry
- Student Engagement and Strategic Planning (a COVID School Year)
- Kelly Newbrough, Alex Bustamante, Christina Fail, Leah Abounader, Hollyn Saliga, Isabella Escobar and Ebe Randeree
- Middle School Robotics
- Melissa Davis, Kimberly Sapp and Ebe Randeree
- Summer Camps (A Three Year Journey)
- Alyssa Goosby, Katterin Soto, Luke Weaver, Kate Manning, Julia McLane, Kimberly Sapp, Ebe Randeree and Faye Jones
Breakout rooms Q & A
- Leadership in Tech: Sharing Transferable Skills
- Julia McLane, Cameron Chisolm, Isabella Escobar, Kate Manning, Devon Newton and Ebe Randeree
- Women Wednesdays and WISE: Partnering to Create Change
- Cameron Chisolm, Emily Logan, Leah Abounader, Hollyn Saliga and Ebe Randeree
- Building a Sustainable STARS Chapter: The Role of Alumni
- Kelly Newbrough and Ebe Randeree
2:40pm – 3:00pm
Closing + Awards Ceremony
Speakers:
Dr. Jamie Payton | Director, STARS Computing Corps, Temple University
Dr. Tiffany Barnes | Co-Director and Founder, STARS Computing Corps, North Carolina State University
3:00pm – 4:00pm
Optional Networking