Seminar Series | Disaggregating the Monolith:A case study of varied engineering and computing career orientations of Black women in Tech

Abstract

Diversifying the engineering workforce has been a national imperative for several decades. The increased participation of Black students in engineering is commonly identified as a crucial area for improvement. Yet, the rates of engineering degree completion are slowing for black women in particular. In 2015, less than one percent of all U.S. engineering bachelor's degrees were awarded to Black women. To support broadening participation efforts, JaniceHall’s research uses an anti-deficit approach to examine the career orientations and mobility patterns of Black women working in computing and engineering roles in the Tech industry. By characterizing the different career motivations, strategies, and points of transition in the careers of a diverse sample of Black women, Hall seeks to disaggregate the Black women engineering and computing career experiences—particularly as it relates to how and why they move into, around and out of roles in the tech industry. Using a qualitative multi-case study, Hall hopes to help normalize “non-traditional” career trajectories and inform the next generation of Black women interested in Tech on the different way(s) to approach and achieve career success and satisfaction in engineering and computing fields. In this seminar, she will discuss how her study findings can be leveraged for practitioners and industry leaders to help students and employees identify career orientations and then use that to inform career preparation and development that aligns with different engineering and computing career outlooks.

Biography

Janice Hall is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Engineering Education at Virginia Tech. She is broadly interested in diversity, equity and inclusion—particularly as it relates to the participation of historically underrepresented groups in engineering. Hall has aB.S. in Biological Engineering from Mississippi State University, an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Mississippi State University.

About the EED Seminar Series

Registration is required prior to each seminar. SP21 seminars will take place via remote video conferencing. A link and password to each seminar will be sent once you register. Each seminar will be held live and may be recorded for archival and marketing purposes. If you have questions regarding this seminar series, please contact Dr. David Delaine.