"Announcing our Google Hispanic College Fund Scholars"
Google Student Blog
June 17, 2009

Congratulations to the following CAHSI students for being selected as Google Hispanic College Fund Scholars ... [more]

• Luis Ernesto Saumell, Florida International University
• Mario Ernesto Consuegra, Florida International University
• Ramon Jesus Gonzalez, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
• Ricardo Portillo, University of Texas, El Paso

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Hispanic Engineer & Information Technology Online
Jul 21, 2009

A University of Texas, El Paso (UTEP) professor was one of 22 honorees named recently by President Barack Obama for their efforts to mentor minorities who are studying science and engineering ... [more]

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Congratulations to the following CAHSI students, who were selected to attend the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, funded by Google 2009 Grace Hopper Student Scholarship ...

Aida Gandara, University of Texas, El Paso
Arely Mendez, University of Texas, El Paso
Maria Ordonez, University of Texas, El Paso

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"PRESIDENT HONORS OUTSTANDING EARLY-CAREER SCIENTISTS"
Washington, D.C. - Office of the Press Secretary
July 9, 2009

President Obama today named 100 beginning researchers as recipients of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on young professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers ... [more]

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By Christine Willard Heinrichs
Contributing Editor, Diversity/Careers in Engineering & Information Technology
June/July 2009

Being both a woman and Hispanic can make it difficult for an IT pro to fit in, even with really great qualifications. Professional women as a group are nearly all white and non-Hispanic. Hispanics in technical fields are nearly all men. So what’s a Latina to do? ... [more]

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Congratulations to the following individuals!

> Dr. John Fernandez has recently been promoted to Full Professor at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
> Desh Ranjan was named Chair at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.

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Juan Hernandez (CAR/ASQ) is a computer scientist working in the field of software verification and validation (V&V). Juan develops software tools, analyzes code using third-party applications, and develops Web applications that support LLNL's software quality activities. He works in multidisciplinary teams with other computer scientists and physicists and is also an American Society of Quality (ASQ) certified software quality engineer.

The Lab's national security mission greatly appeals to Juan, who spent seven years in the U.S. Army, both in active duty and in the reserves, and later completed a six-month U.S. Army officer training program in Augusta, Ga. "I really enjoy the fact that the work I do is part of a larger effort that benefits national security," Juan said. "The Lab is a unique place to work, in terms of its computer science and software quality projects. The software developed here is more specialized than what you find in most companies. It's designed to solve a specific problem or to study natural behavior, and the software quality practices must also be tailored as such."

The specialized nature of the Lab's work is also what Juan finds most challenging. "I devote a lot of time to keeping current on new technologies and processes that are being used outside the Lab and figuring out a way to apply them to my job," he said. "Process improvement is always high on our list of priorities, so I look at ways to improve our software quality engineering practices. Sometimes we do this by trial and error. What works well in the commercial world may not work well here at the Lab."

Juan's work continues to inspire and challenge him, even 18 years after it first captured his interest as a student at UC Santa Barbara. "I took a software quality class as part of my degree work in advanced mathematics. I enjoyed it so much, I knew right away it was the area I wanted to pursue as a career."

A month before receiving his degree, Juan was offered a position as a software quality engineer at Xerox Corporation in Palo Alto, Calif. "I honed my software quality engineering skills during the five years I spent at Xerox. I worked with several scientists at Palo Alto Research Center, the birthplace of the mouse and graphical user interface."

After Xerox, Juan worked for several Internet start-up companies before deciding to return to a job in research and development. In May 2001, he attended an LLNL career fair, interviewed, and was hired as a computer scientist working in software quality engineering.

Juan offers sound advice for anyone interested in pursuing a career in V&V and/or software quality assurance: Arm yourself with strong technical training and practice thinking outside the box. "Anyone interested in this field would benefit from having a background in software development, as well as a strong desire for quality and an attention to detail," he said. "Being creative also helps. Sometimes you need to use several approaches to find the right solution to a problem."

In the future, Juan would like to continue working in the software quality field, although he hasn't ruled out the possibility of teaching. "It's really important to me to encourage more Hispanic students to pursue an education in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)," he said. "The number of Hispanics studying in these areas is very low compared to students of other ethnic backgrounds."

This passion is one Juan has cultivated for many years. While working at Xerox, he became an active member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and attended several conferences to promote science and engineering among Hispanic college students. In the last seven years at LLNL, he has represented the Laboratory at many outreach events, career fairs, and educational workshops, where he offers underrepresented students and parents a look at the work being done at LLNL. Juan's efforts seem to be paying off, especially for those closest to his heart his family. His oldest son is studying computer graphics at Chico State, and his youngest son is a double major in computer science and mathematics at UC Santa Barbara.

Juan is also active in the LLNL's Amigos Unidos Employee Affinity Group and has taught onsite Spanish classes through Livermore Lab Employee Services Association.

Article from LLNL's publication "Newsline".

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Martha Béjar, corporate vice president for the Communications Sector at Microsoft, was selected as the recipient of the prestigious Visionary Award by LISTA (Latinos in Information Sciences and Technology Association) for her continuous work in the technology field and for the company’s commitment to Hispanics and technology.
 
"I am honored to be part of the group of successful Hispanic professionals who compose the LISTA Awards' list of achievers," Béjar said. "At Microsoft, we are very proud to be the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions and we are committed to help Latinos realize their full potential.  We hope that people see us as visionaries in the area of developing and executing programs that address the needs of Hispanics in the U.S."
 
LISTA participated with Microsoft as part of the company’s Vida Digital Latina program to bridge the gap between Latinos and technology.  Through this program, Microsoft conducted a series of educational workshops for Hispanic professionals and families to learn about technology and to apply it to their everyday lives.  This visionary approach from Microsoft empowered hundreds of Latinos with the right technology tools to help them organize their lives, protect their children online and increase their productivity.
 
As corporate vice president for the Communications Sector at Microsoft, Martha Béjar is responsible for setting Microsoft’s strategy for and driving the sales and marketing of Microsoft solutions and services for telecommunications, hosting, and media and entertainment companies.
 
"We are very proud to grant the Visionary Award to Ms. Béjar and to Microsoft,” said Jose A. Marquez-Leon, president and CEO of LISTA National."Ms. Béjar has worked tirelessly to promote innovation and motivate Hispanics to succeed in technology, and she is truly a pioneer and a visionary in the area of technology and communications."
 
Martha holds a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from the University of Miami and an MBA from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. She also is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University Business School.
 
With a highly successful telecommunications and technology track record, Martha has demonstrated her ability to drive and support innovation.  She has an amazing track record of leadership and results with not one, but two global technology companies.  She is also a role model for both Latinos and for women in the technology field.
 
Annually the LISTA Awards honor Latinos in IT for their contributions to educational opportunities, promotion of professional and personal growth, and reinforcement of the vital role of U.S. Hispanics in the IT industry.
 
About Latino in Information Sciences and Technology Association (LISTA)
 
LISTA www.a-lista.org promotes the utilization of the technology sectors for the empowerment of the Latino community. We are an organization that is committed to bringing various elements of Technology under one central hub to facilitate our partners, members and the community with the leverage and education they need to succeed in a highly advanced technologically driven society.
 
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft www.microsoft.com is the worldwide leader in software,services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

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My name is Miguel Alonso Jr. I am currently an Assistant Professor in Engineering at Miami Dade College in Miami, FL. I have recently joined the CAHSI team and will be assisting with the various advocate initiatives for CAHSI, including this monthly newsletter. The CAHSI-Student Advocate model for interaction and student identification is currently being discussed. Information regarding the structure of the model and the reporting/documentation system will be made available in the coming weeks. However, there are several deadlines fast approaching and we should not let them go to waste!
 
This issue outlines the upcoming deadlines for some of the scholarships and fellowships to promote and recruit for. I look forward to working with all of you. If you have any questions, please contact me at: malonso1@mdc.edu

 
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Upcoming Deadlines:
Google Scholarship Program: March 15th, 2009 URL: http://scholarships.hispanicfund.org/google
SIBHI Summer Research:  March 16th, 2009 URL: http://sibhi.secs.oakland.edu/
UTA Summer Research: March 20th, 2009 URL: http://ranger.uta.edu/~reu
AMALTHEA Summer Research Experience: March 30th, 2009 URL: http://cygnus.fit.edu/amalthea/index.php
WISE Fellowship Program:  March 31st, 2009 URL: http://www.truststc.org/wise/apply

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Dr. Ann Gates, Associate Vice President of Research at The University of Texas at El Paso has been named a plenary speaker for the 2009 Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference.

The conference, which includes a full technical program including papers, panels, workshops, posters, Birds-of-a-Feather sessions, a doctoral consortium and a robotics completion, will take place April 1-4, 2009 at the Portland Oregon Marriott Downtown Waterfront.

Gates is one of five plenary speakers who will give plenary talks in line with the conference theme of “Intellect, Initiative, Insight and Innovation”.

“I was surprised and honored to be asked to be a plenary speaker,” said Gates. “I will be talking about how diverse thought and experiences are important elements of innovation and the ways in which interdisciplinary teams promote this diversity. If I can inspire a few students to influence computing research by contributing to their unique perspectives, I will leave the conference happy.”

Before becoming Associate Vice President of Research, Gates served as Chair of the Department of Computer Science. She earned both her undergraduate and master’s degrees from UTEP and has long been a leading researcher at UTEP. She directs both the National Science Foundation-funded Cyber-ShARE Center of Excellence and the Computing Alliance for Hispanic-Serving Institutions, an NSF-funded consortium focused on the recruitment, retention and advancement of Hispanics in computing.

The Tapia Celebration is organized by the Coalition to Diversify Computing (CDC) and sponsored by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) in cooperation with the Computing Research Association (CRA) and the IEEE Computer Society (IEEE-CS).

The conference honors the significant contributions of Dr. Richard A. Tapia, University Professor and Maxfield-Oshman Professor in Engineering in the Department of Computational and Applied Mathematics and Director of the Center for Excellence and Equity in Education at Rice University.

For more information on the 2009 Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference visit http://tapiaconference.org/2009.

Article came from UTEP's College of Engineering News, click here for original article.

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I'm pleased to announce that Irene Hernandez Roberts is being recognized by the National Women of Color Technology Awards Conference (NWOC) as the "Technologist of the Year". The NWOC recognizes the significant accomplishments of minority women in the digital world. The "Technologist of the Year" is the most prestigious of these awards, and is given on a discretionary basis to the individual who best represents the event across all of the award categories.

Irene was selected by a panel of professionals and leaders in science, engineering and technology as an outstanding contributor to her field. She is a role model to a large pool of talented and accomplished minorities.

Irene will accept her award at the conference, which 2,000 high-level minority women in information technology, computer science, information science, bioinformatics, digital arts, and systems will attend. Their agenda will include topics such as diversity, the critical shortage of women in IT careers, technological innovation, and women-owned IT ventures. Please join me in congratulating Irene in this outstanding achievement!

Dr Irene Hernandez Roberts was recognized in the Fall 2008, "Women of Color Magazine".

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By T. Lynn Caldwell

BLACKSBURG, Va., September 22, 2008 -- Manuel A. Pérez-Quiñones, has been appointed to the new position of associate dean in residence and director for the office of diversity programs in The Virginia Tech Graduate School.

Pérez-Quiñones, an associate professor of computer science at the university, is the first to hold this new part-time position. Concurrently, he will continue to teach and research in a reduced capacity in the Department of Computer Science.

Read the complete article at Virginia News.

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