Our History

Founding Director Jan Plane helps launch a chapter of the Association for Women in Computing (AWC) at the University of Maryland, which created a partnership with local Girl Scouts troops and schools for outreach.

The first CompSciConnect summer camp begins for middle schoolers, thanks to funding from AFCEA Bethesda. 

Founding Director Jan Plane serves as the local chair of the Grace Hopper Celebration in Baltimore, Maryland, launching a tradition of bringing large groups of students to diversity conferences.

The Maryland Center for Women in Computing launches with support from the University of Maryland Department of Computer Science; Institute for Advanced Computer Studies; and College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences.

The Maryland Center for Women in Computing hosts the Maryland Affiliate of the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) Aspirations in Computing for the first time on the UMD campus. 

The Maryland Center for Women in Computing makes strides in expanding current student programming—including our first tutoring and mentoring sessions—and computing education research with additional funding from the Laboratory for Telecommunications Science.

The University of Maryland launches the Iribe Initiative for Inclusion and Diversity in Computing with a $1 million gift from alum Brendan Iribe. Our team expands and moves into a new space in the Brendan Iribe Center for Computer Science and Engineering and created the Diversity & Inclusion in Computing Education (DICE) Lounge.

Break Through Tech DC launches at the University of Maryland with a specific goal of achieving gender equality in computing majors. The Guild (now known as TechStart) summer bridge program is held for the first time at the University of Maryland.

CompSciConnect alum Amber Melton’s robot is featured in the National Museum of American History’s “Girlhood (It’s Complicated)” exhibit, which explores the history and experience of girls in America.

Maryland Center for Women in Computing and Iribe Initiative for Inclusion and Diversity in Computing Founder Jandelyn Plane retires from the University of Maryland. David Weintop takes over as interim director. 

The Reboot Representation Tech Coalition awards the University of Maryland $500,000 for the RESET Project, a program housed in the Iribe Initiative for Inclusion and Diversity in Computing that aims to reset tech culture to Represent, Excel and Support Equity in Tech (RESET).

College of Information Associate Professor Tamara Clegg is appointed director of the Iribe Initiative for Inclusion and Diversity in Computing for a two-year term.