Diversity, Inclusion, and Societal Good

I firmly believe that part of my job is to improve my community and society at large. I believe that an academic community is stronger when a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives are represented. I believe that all people should have the opportunity to participate in, contribute to, and enhance the computer science community independent of their race, their gender, their socioeconomic status, the country of their birth, or anything else.

To this end, I participate in several activities. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments about any of them.

Mentoring: I am very proud to work with and mentor (in some small part) several fantastic students. I have also participated in many formal mentoring programs.

Maryam Bahrani (Columbia second-year) advised by Tim Roughgarden
Ben Berger (Tel Aviv University third-year) advised by Michal Feldman
EC Mentoring Workshop: 4 late undergraduate/early graduate students 2020
UW CSE Mentoring Program for Undergraduate Women (founder and mentor): 4 undergraduate women 2015-19

Women in Computer Science: I am a strong advocate for increasing the number of women in our field, as well as improving the environment.

Panelist at UW CSE's Women's Research Day 2018
Recipient of Google's Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship 2016, for women in computer science who have "exemplified leadership and demonstrated passion for increasing the involvement of women in computer science"
Co-organizer of UW Visit Days Women's Reception 2016 (co-founder)
Co-chair of UW CSE Visit Days Committee on Women's Interests 2015-16
Co-Chair of UW CSE Women's Organization 2015-16
Co-founder and Co-chair of Women in Math and Computer Science at Oberlin 2013-14

Diversity and Inclusion: I am involved in other efforts aimed at making computer science more inclusive to all.

Bits for Justice at Columbia 2020: fighting anti-Black racism
Active in the redesign of the UW Diversity & Inclusion Committee 2016
Co-founder of "diversity allies" in 2014: a moderated opt-in email list for sharing resources and news among allies
Secured funding and distributed travel grants for MD4SG and EC 2018, to 18 participants including from the African continent, by receiving both a Schmidt Futures Grant and an Institute for New Economic Thinking (INET), YSI Grant

Research: I also use my research to try and improve societal good, founding and organizing initiatives to facilitate the dissemination of research on these topics (MD4SG, EAAMO), speaking at and participating in conferences and workshops surrounding topics of societal impact (tutorials), and serving on program committees for such events (FORC, GCEC, TCCML, AIES).