Issues of Diverse Backgrounds in Graduate School Joy

Issues of Diverse Backgrounds in Graduate School Joy W. Kamunyori University of Virginia 1

About Me Third year graduate student in CS n Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya n Undergraduate years at Vassar College, NY n Graduated in 2005; double major Computer Science and Economics n 2

How Am I Diverse? n Female Black International n UVa CS Dept: n n n Grad students: approx. 110 grad students; 18 women; approx. 60 international; 2 Black Faculty: 33 faculty members; 4 women No one “like me” 3

What Issues Have I Faced? Ignorance e. g. , my English, my education, my background, my hair, etc. n Loneliness n Socially n Professionally n 4

Coping n Look for friends and mentors outside your department n n Someone who “looks like you” and has gone through grad school Student organizations Grad cohort, Grace Hopper, Richard Tapia, etc. – Network! Don’t think about it too much n n Don’t polarize yourself; what do you have in common? Don’t take it personally; when faced with ignorance, educate 5

It’s Not That Serious Being different isn’t a bad thing n We’re all trying to make it through grad school n Don’t expect understanding, just respect n Create your own community - if you’re not getting what you need in your department, look elsewhere! n 6