Students benefit from networking, research presentations by attending regional computing conference

Students benefit from networking, research presentations by attending regional computing conference

Twenty-two students representing Northwest Missouri State University's School of Computer Science and Information Systems recently attended the Missouri Iowa Nebraska Kansas Women in Computing (MINK-WIC) conference in Lenexa, Kansas.

Dr. Cindy Tu, an associate professor of computer science and information systems at Northwest, served as the conference's co-chair and hosted a workshop session about résumé building.

"The conference bridges academic learning with professional growth," she said. "Students not only attend technical and career sessions but also engage in networking and mentoring activities that build soft skills, communication, teamwork and leadership. By interacting with researchers, industry experts and graduate students, they can gain a clearer sense of the pathways available to them after graduation."

With "Ethics, Emerging Tech, and Transformation" as this year's theme, the conference, Oct. 3-4, consisted of guest panels, research poster competitions and keynote speakers - including Erin Waldron, an entrepreneur who uses an audience-focused storytelling approach for her work in data analysis.

Students also took advantage of networking opportunities with industry professionals and gained insight about possible careers in computing.

Adi Thota, a sophomore computer science major from St. Louis, Missouri, said the conference helped her understand how unique skills can instill self-confidence and the importance of continuous learning.

"It was super encouraging to hear real-world stories from people in the field and learn how to stand out, especially as women in tech," she said. "Erin Waldron, the keynote speaker, talked about how important it is to take initiative and make your own story, which really stuck with me."

Andrea Forman, a senior computer science major from Omaha, Nebraska, was reminded to aim for success while staying true to herself. She participated in an undergraduate poster session at the conference, co-presenting her research about credit card fraud detection.

"The conference will continue to impact me and help me grow because I learned a lot about what it means to strive for excellence in the world of technology, and I also learned a lot about emerging technology that will soon, if not now, be part of my career," she said.

MINK-WIC is a two-day conference that brings together students, faculty and technology leaders from the four-state area to discuss the role of women in today's computing and technology fields. Its purpose is to allow young women to explore opportunities in computing and network with other professionals and students. The conference was co-founded in 2011 by Dr. Carol Spradling, a Northwest alumna and retired professor of computer science.