In partnership with three other student organizations, the Capstone Minority Information Systems Society (CMISS) creates opportunities for underrepresented students in the tech industry through a Cultural Empowerment in Tech event.
Who: Capstone Minority Information Systems Society, the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers
What: A tech career fair
When: Tuesday, Feb.11, 5-8 p.m.
Where: UA Student Center Ballroom 3300
Debuting Fall 2024, this event brings together tech industry leaders from diverse backgrounds to provide professional connections and unique advice to UA students.
“It’s like a career fair,” said Anthony King, Capstone Minority Information Systems Society (CMISS) president and a senior majoring in management information systems. “You go up, you mingle, you talk with the company associates that come by, and if you establish that relationship, you’ll stay in contact.”
The event is open to all students regardless of major, classification, race, ethnicity, gender, or orientation. Students can expect to connect with companies such as Lumen, KPMG, Tektronik Industries, Autozone, Shipt, Epic, Parvata, Southern Company and more.
The event will not only provide networking opportunities but will also feature a panel of industry professionals ready to answer questions from students and offer their own experiences of succeeding in a field that often feels inaccessible to minority populations.
According to the Kapor Center for Equity in Tech, “Despite comprising 13% of the labor force, Black talent now represents just 4.4% of board roles, 3.7% of those in technical roles, and just 4.0% of those in executive leadership.”
Such a disparity in the workforce is one that this event works to remedy by creating direct access to the industry for students of diverse backgrounds.
King said he understood how difficult it can be for students to create connections with industry professionals.
“My background was a little bit different than most, so I had a hard time talking with other people,” King said. “When I started reaching out to different outreach groups and things of that nature, it transformed my life and my career.”
Through this outreach, King has found a company to move forward with after graduation. He and CMISS continue to facilitate opportunities for others to do the same.
To RSVP or learn more about the event or any of the host organizations, visit their UA mySource page here.
