December 2008 News Release
Contact:
Amie Aldana
MentorNet
408.296.4405
info@mentornet.net
FOR RELEASE December 8, 2008
ROCKWELL COLLINS GRANT SUPPORTS OUTREACH EFFORTS FOR MENTORING FOR LATINAS IN COMPUTING
(San José, CA) – One of the fastest growing professional groups is Hispanic women in computing, doubling in the last seven years. Yet of nearly three million computer scientists employed in the U.S. last year, Hispanic women still represented less than 1%. One of the most successful ways to get students excited about engineering and scientific fields and to guide them to professional careers is to match them with mentors who already work for corporations.
Latinas in Computing, a grass-roots group, has teamed with MentorNet to build these relationships. Now, a new grant from Rockwell Collins will help them grow. For over ten years, MentorNet has used the web to match students at 120 colleges and universities with appropriate mentors at corporations, government labs and agencies who engage them one-on-one.
"We look forward to working with MentorNet to showcase the multitude of professional growth and development opportunities available for Hispanic women in our industry," said Karen Brown, director of Diversity for Rockwell Collins. "Supporting groups such as Latinas in the Computing reinforces our diversity strategy of building a workforce that represents a variety of people who have different backgrounds, beliefs, viewpoints, ideas, experiences and perspectives."
"MentorNet has a long record of success in guiding and retaining women and minorities in engineering and science through mentoring," noted David Porush, MentorNet CEO. "This generous grant from Rockwell-Collins enables us to reach Latinas and help them stay on track to careers in computing."
MentorNet's Latinas in Computing website provides direct access for Latinas students in computing sciences and engineering to participate in mentoring and networking, including opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and early career faculty to engage in one-on-one mentoring relationships with professionals in their fields.
With this grant, Rockwell Collins joins Texas Instruments, Sun Microsystems, and the Association for Women in Science in support of the program.
The portal is available on the Web at: www.MentorNet.net/LiC
About MentorNet - www.MentorNet.net
MentorNet, headquartered in San José, California, 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 advances individuals and society, and enhances engineering and 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 serves 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 IBM, Intel Foundation, Texas Instruments, Cisco Systems, 3M Foundation, Alcoa Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation.
About Rockwell Collins – www.rockwellcollins.com
Rockwell Collins (NYSE: COL) is a pioneer in the development and deployment of innovative communication and aviation electronic solutions for both commercial and government applications. Our expertise in flight deck avionics, cabin electronics, mission communications, information management, and simulation and training is delivered by 20,000 employees, and a global service and support network that crosses 27 countries.
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