Spotlight: Oregon State University (OSU) ACM-W Student Chapter
Building Belonging in Computing, One Connection at a Time
Written by Asegul “Ace” Hulus
We’re excited to welcome you back to the global ACM-W Chapter Tour! Our destination today is the Oregon State University (OSU) ACM-W Student Chapter in Corvallis, Oregon. Established in 2016, OSU ACM-W has grown into a thriving chapter focused on mentorship, professional growth, and deliberate community building for underrepresented groups in computing.
An Evolving Mission
The OSU ACM-W Student Chapter is committed to the recruitment and retention of women and underrepresented groups in undergraduate and graduate computing disciplines. For almost ten years, the mission has evolved beyond general awareness to foster continuous involvement by educating members about computing prospects, linking them with industry professionals, and equipping them to support aspiring students in the field.
The chapter’s unique dedication is exemplified by its yearly initiative to sponsor member attendance at the Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC), recognized as one of the global conferences for women in the computing field. The OSU ACM-W chapter successfully funded nine of its members to attend the GHC conference in Chicago last year. Attendees returned with promising internship offers, full-time job prospects, and mentorship opportunities, all of which contributed to a renewed sense of personal and professional direction.
Meet the Leaders
The chapter’s strength comes from diverse voices united by a common mission:
Faculty Sponsor: Jennifer Parham-Mocello (outgoing); new faculty sponsor to be announced soon
Student Leadership Team:
Heidi Ly, Chair: Computer Science (CS) and Data Science student with experience building AI and automation systems at The Clorox Company. Leads retention, mentorship, and professional development initiatives for underrepresented groups in computing.
“Technology cannot progress without inclusive spaces. Innovation happens when different perspectives are invited in and taken seriously. I’m honored to help build that kind of community through ACM-W!”
Jamie Liu, Vice Chair: CS student
“Technology is always meant to innovate and improve the lives of its users. I’m honored to be part of a community that works to include people who might have been left behind!”
Lauren Gliane, Secretary: CS and Data Science student and incoming IT intern at Fisher Investments. Passionate about connecting and creating community for computing-inclined individuals.
Carlana So, Treasurer: CS (Applied Data Science) student passionate about machine learning. Ensures effective financial management while supporting inclusive events.
Rithika Ganesa, Event Coordinator: CS student with an incoming full-time role at Deloitte. Passionate about research, design, and usability.
Grace Cho, Event Coordinator: Industrial Engineering student passionate about problem-solving and optimizing complex processes.
Sandra Castillo, Funding Coordinator: CS (Robot Intelligence) and Economics student with interests spanning machine learning, AI, robotics, and community engagement.
Mack Lieu, Hackathon Coordinator: 4th year undergraduate and 2nd year Masters CS student with an incoming full-time role at Deloitte. Aspiring leader at the intersection of software and business.
Tiffany Chang, PR Officer: CS student focused on Systems and an incoming intern at Vanguard. Passionate about open source software and the intersection of CS and creative expression.
Whitney Wu, Historian: CS student focused on mobile app and web development. Passionate about art and design through computing.
What Makes OSU ACM-W Student Chapter Distinctive
OSU ACM-W places belonging at the centre of its work, looking beyond event attendance to what students actually experience. According to President Heidi Ly, the straightforward truth is that technical proficiencies are transferable, whereas the foundations of a strong chapter culture are built upon attentive listening, consistent participation, and cultivation of an inclusive atmosphere. Officers are encouraged to talk to someone new at every event, check in on hesitant members, and create small but impactful moments of welcome that help students feel seen.
This philosophy extends into governance. Heidi changed how board meetings were run, bringing in finance, PR, events, and logistics to contribute. The meetings moved away from simple status reports to real planning discussions where all officers could influence the chapter’s path. The chapter’s intern program prepares students in the lower half of their courses (called “underclassmen” at OSU) for leadership roles before officer elections. This ensures a consistent flow of knowledge and experience from one year to the next. The chapter received the university’s Collaboration Award for its dedication to internal development, which acknowledges organisations that cultivate robust, enduring connections with both the campus community and industry partners.
Making Real Impact
Attendees frequently highlight ACM-W events as both inclusive and useful, particularly for guiding them through internships, career fairs, and professional settings. Students leave with actionable resources, new connections, and the reassurance that they are not alone in their experience. The following three events are good exemplars:
- Women and BIPOC in Tech Mixer (Spring 2025): Co-organized with the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). This large-scale networking night connected more than 100 students with industry professionals from multiple companies, modeling the cross-community coalition-building that defines OSU ACM-W’s approach.
- Figma Hackathon (Winter 2025): Centered on creativity, teamwork, and design skills, giving students portfolio-ready experience for internship and job applications.
- Galentine’s Letter Making (in collaboration with SHPE): A community-centered creative event that reflects the chapter’s belief that belonging is built in small moments as much as large ones.
Recognition and Success Stories
Heidi Ly, the Chair, was honored with the university’s Exceptional Club Officer Award. She attributes the achievement to the community. She reflects that the chapter’s most significant achievements are also the most challenging to qualify: the friendships and mentorships, or the stories of students who decided to pursue computing because they finally felt a sense of belonging.
Ishanshi Bhardwaj, who served as President from 2023 to 2024 and is now an Analyst at Fidelity Investments, has attended GHC on two occasions thanks to the chapter’s scholarship. She acknowledges ACM-W for significantly influencing her career path and fostering her sense of belonging within the tech industry.
Mentorship and Role Models
OSU ACM-W has a structured mentorship program. The internship program, as previously stated, matches underclassmen with officers to gain practical leadership and logistics experience. The leadership team is deliberately diverse, encouraging members to take on duties outside their usual scope. This culture is further reinforced through the chapter’s alumni network, which includes alumni such as:
Stephanie Dowd: Machine Learning Engineer at Nike, founded OSU’s first ACM-W Chapter in 2016 and co-established a $30,000 scholarship that sent 15 women to GHC. She continues to mentor early-career professionals at Nike.
Sonia Camacho: Acting Director of Digital Accessibility at Nike and 2021 OSU CS graduate, credits ACM-W with her sense of belonging during her most challenging moments in computing. She now reaches nearly 40,000 social media followers, inspiring underrepresented students to pursue tech and leadership careers.
Jessica Garcia: Software Engineer at Apple and first-generation OSU CS graduate, secured her first Intel internship through a GHC connection made via ACM-W. She has since returned to OSU to host resume workshops, giving back the same kind of support that shaped her path.
Looking Ahead
OSU ACM-W is working to increase its corporate partnerships and expand its network of alumni speakers. The goal of this expansion is to grow the GHC scholarship fund and enhance its mentorship programme. A pipeline to connect members with industry partners through their resumes is also being developed.
The forthcoming plans encompass a multi-club Hackathon scheduled for Spring 2026, in collaboration with the AI Club and Robotics Club, preparations for GHC 2026, and a Galentine’s Letter Making event organized with SHPE. Officer elections are approaching this spring, and the intern program is the primary entry point for underclassmen seeking early involvement with OSU ACM-W. When considering eligibility for participation, curiosity and consistency are prioritized above experience, and the opportunity is extended to all.
Collaboration and Involvement
All OSU ACM-W events are intentionally crafted to foster an inclusive and accessible environment for all individuals, irrespective of their gender identity. The organization’s dedication is in line with its foundational purpose of promoting and aiding underrepresented genders in the tech industry. Adherence to fairness and transparency is achieved through explicit role definitions, joint financial planning, formalized decision-making, and continuous member feedback. The chapter is keen to engage with other ACM and ACM-W chapters for collaborative events and programs, and extends a welcome to any chapter interested in fostering such connections.
Final Thoughts
Community needs to be established as the foundational element, not merely a consequence, of a technical organization. The OSU ACM-W Student Chapter exemplifies how this principle leads to positive outcomes, including successful career trajectories, increased confidence, and greater student engagement. For almost a decade, their efforts have evidenced that inclusion is not a secondary aspiration; it is the core strategy.
The infographic below encapsulates their accomplishments, which correspond to this.
Connect with the OSU ACM-W Student Chapter:
- Instagram: @osu.acmw
- Email: osu.acmw@gmail.com
- Website: https://acmw-website.vercel.app/
- Linktree: https://linktr.ee/acmw.osu
Connect with ACM-W chapters and the series editor, Asegul “Ace“ Hulus:
- Email: acmw-chapters@acm.org
- Link in bio: https://linkin.bio/acmwomen/
Looking forward to seeing you all on the next tour! Your friendly guide is signing off.