February 2008 News Release
Contact:
Terri Forman
Director of Partnerships
MentorNet
408.296.4405
info@mentornet.net
FOR RELEASE FEBRUARY 20, 2008
MENTORNET LAUNCHES LATINAS IN COMPUTING WEB PORTAL WITH TEXAS INSTRUMENTS GRANT
(San José, CA) – A recent grant from Texas Instruments is helping MentorNet, The E-Mentoring Network for Diversity in Engineering and Science, to launch a new project – a web portal for "Latinas in Computing." The portal provides direct access for Latinas studying or employed in computing sciences and engineering to participate in mentoring and networking, including opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, and early career faculty at organizations partnering with MentorNet to engage in one-on-one mentoring relationships with professionals in their fields.
A Latinas in Computing group was formed in 2006 as a result of a gathering at the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing sponsored by the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology, another MentorNet partnering organization. The group's purpose is to promote leadership and professional development among current and future generations of Latinas. One of the challenges identified was the lack of Latina mentors within the technical community. Patty Lopez, Imaging Scientist at Hewlett-Packard, said, "I had the opportunity to chat with Carol Muller, CEO of MentorNet, with whom I shared this challenge. Carol suggested that we develop a web portal for MentorNet to cultivate mentors and protégés within the Latinas in Computing community. Thanks to a prompt offer of support from Texas Instruments, MentorNet was able to complete this project very quickly!"
Arturo Sanchez, manager of workforce development at Texas Instruments, added, "We are delighted to support the Latinas in Computing web portal. It is an enhancement of our partnership relationship with MentorNet, and reaches out to an important community. At Texas Instruments, we believe a diverse workforce provides a competitive advantage. The web portal is one more way we can reach, and encourage, diverse new talent. We invite other corporate leaders to join us in this effort, and others like it."
Lopez adds, "The Latinas in Computing group believes that the MentorNet site will be a much needed resource for Latinas, so that we can explore the myths and misconceptions that people have about Latinas and those that we have about ourselves. We can understand where glass ceilings exist and why, and how to break through them or work around them. Only then can we change the mix, increase our representation and impact, and make the promise of a diverse workforce a reality."
"As a result of the web of partnering organizations interested in advancing excellence and diversity in engineering and science fields through mentoring, we're very pleased to be developing this new portal. It extends MentorNet as a gateway among diverse populations of engineers and scientists, as well as providing a way for industry leaders to connect with future employees. MentorNet's has a 10-year track record of retaining women and others underrepresented in engineering, science and related fields through e-mentoring programs and related best practices. As we step into MentorNet's second decade, the Latinas in Computing web portal is one more way we can ensure we have the talent for tomorrow," concludes Carol B. Muller, Founder and CEO of MentorNet.
The portal is available on the web at: www.mentornet.net/lic
About MentorNet - www.MentorNet.net
Founded in 1997 and headquartered in San José, California, MentorNet is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization working to further the progress of women and others underrepresented in scientific and technical fields through the use of a dynamic, technology-supported mentoring network. MentorNet aims to advance individuals and society and enhance engineering and related sciences by promoting a diversified, expanded, and talented global workforce. In partnership with colleges and universities, corporations, government labs and agencies, and professional societies, MentorNet is international in scope, serving students and professionals from all over the world. MentorNet was recognized in 2001 with the (U.S.) Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring. Major funding is provided by the National Science Foundation, IBM, Texas Instruments, Cisco Systems, Hewlett Packard, Intel Foundation, AT&T, 3M Foundation, Alcoa Foundation, and S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation.
About Texas Instruments - www.ti.com
Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) helps customers solve problems and develop new electronics that make the world smarter, healthier, safer, greener and more fun. A global semiconductor company, TI innovates through manufacturing, design and sales operations in more than 25 countries.
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