Diversity and representation in engineering have become cornerstones of academic and professional conversations, especially in fields like computer science and computer engineering, where women and minorities have historically been underrepresented.
Paige Pisano, Angela Leon and Julia Gutgesell, three women enrolled in Master of Engineering programs at the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus, are the change the field needs to challenge these norms. These Boeing Scholars, among the 455 Master of Engineering students enrolled in the Innovation Campus, are passionate about their work and the importance of representation in STEM.
From biomedical engineering to machine learning
For Paige Pisano ’24, the computer engineering experience has been empowering. A Northern Virginia native and recent graduate of Virginia Tech, Pisano is pursuing a master’s degree in computer engineering with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). She moved into this track from biomedical engineering while an undergraduate.
“I took this internship the summer after my sophomore year and it was completely different than anything I had done in school,” Pisano said. “I was working on ML and large flows of language models. That’s when my interest in computer engineering and computer science started, and from there, I started taking more engineering-related classes.”
Pisano said the gender balance in her biomedical engineering program was remarkably different than in computer engineering. But, she said, “I never felt out of place or unsupported. The professors here and at Blacksburg are just as encouraging, and the students are just as excited to get to know me. The community has gone above and beyond to make me feel included.”
She was also an active participant in Virginia Tech’s supportive environment as a student. In her freshman year, she was a member of Hypatia, the engineering learning community for women, and later joined the Center for Enhancing Engineering Diversity throughout college.
When she began looking to pursue her master’s degree, she sought that same commitment to inclusivity and found it at the Innovation Campus. “The Innovation Campus does a good job of bringing women and other minorities into engineering fields,” Pisano said. “This diversity is important for growth and learning.”
The continued sense of belonging she has felt at Virginia Tech inspired her to encourage more girls to pursue STEM opportunities.
Her academic and professional focus on AI and machine learning continues to open doors. “My internship experiences and senior design project, where I helped design a hydration monitor and made the accompanying app, led me here. I see myself doing research in AI or ML. The Innovation Campus, with its focus on technology and industry readiness, is a perfect fit,” said Pisano.
Engineering a new career in cyber security
Angela Leon is a career changer. A mechanical engineering graduate from the University of Virginia, Leon spent five years working as a design engineer with Parsons Corporation before deciding to return to school to pursue her master’s degree in computer engineering. Her goal is to pursue a career in network security and, like Pisano, she finds inspiration in the representation of women in STEM.
“I’ve had so many inspiring women in my life, both personally and professionally, and I want to be that same source of inspiration,” said Leon, who began graduate school this fall. “I want to encourage more women to pursue advanced STEM degrees. Representation is key.”
Leon followed in her brother’s footsteps by pursuing an engineering degree at Virginia Tech. “My brother was a Hokie and always said Tech was a great engineering school,” Leon said. So when she jogged past the Innovation Campus Academic Building One construction site and saw the banners advertising graduate programs in computer science and computer engineering, she felt everything was on the line. “I’ve always had a special place for Tech in my heart, so I knew this was perfect for me.”
She feels connected to the professional landscape of the Washington, DC metro area, particularly within the federal government.
“I already have a permit and work full-time with the government while pursuing my degree,” Leon said. “But I want to further specialize in cyber security. There are endless opportunities here, and I want to continue to apply what I’ve learned in a way that propels me into a career more focused on network security.”
Leon’s role as a woman in STEM is not only about personal achievement, but also about expanding the participation of women and underrepresented minorities in technology.
Blending data analytics and computer science
Julia Gutgesell’s journey into computer science was guided by mentors and self-motivation. Gutgesell didn’t originally plan to pursue a master’s degree in computer science, but was encouraged by one of her professors at Virginia Tech. This professor suggested that she consider the accelerated 4+1 track, where she could receive credits that count twice toward her bachelor’s degree in computer modeling and data analytics (CMDA) and her master’s degree.
The experience of having a female professor was incredibly meaningful. “Having someone who not only looked like me, but also supported me so much was inspiring,” Gutgesell said. “I wouldn’t have even considered this career path if it wasn’t for her encouragement.”
A part-time student at the Innovation Campus, Gutgesell is combining her knowledge of data analytics with newly learned skills in computer engineering. “The beauty of my degrees is that I’ve been able to mix the two. Data engineering and AI mesh perfectly with the skills I learned at CMDA. I hope to find a job that allows me to utilize both sets of skills.”
Like Pisano and Leon, Gutgesell appreciates the variety of opportunities available in the DC area. “Being here, so close to the job market, is completely different from being a student in Blacksburg. The opportunities for networking and real-world applications of what we are learning are endless,” she said.
The importance of representation in engineering
What unites these three Boeing scholars is not just their academic achievements, but their strong belief in the importance of diversity and representation in computer science and engineering. Each woman emphasizes the importance of a support network in mentors, communities, or learning environments that celebrate diversity. The students’ time at the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus has reinforced that diversity and inclusion in technology leads to innovation and growth.
Boeing, a founding partner of the Innovation Campus, has invested $50 million to support sustainability, diversity, innovation and the computer science and computer engineering talent pipeline.
The Innovation Campus is dedicated to equipping graduates to become leaders in their careers while helping them gain real-world experience solving pressing challenges alongside researchers, industry leaders and national policymakers. With a focus on the research areas of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Wireless and Next Gen Technology, Quantum Information Science and Intelligent Interfaces, the campus is empowering a pipeline of top technology talent and building the foundation for a new era of technology.