Virtual See Jane Salon – Becoming Women in Tech: What Does it Take?

Geena Davis

Founder & Chair
Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media

Siobahn Day

Assistant Professor
North Carolina Central University

Siobahn received her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Winston-Salem State University in 2005. In 2009 she obtained her master’s degree in Information Science from North Carolina Central University, and in 2018 Siobahn made history by becoming the first woman to graduate with a Ph.D. in Computer Science from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She is an Assistant Professor of Information Science/Systems in the School of Library and Information Science at North Carolina Central University, an AAAS IF/THEN Ambassador and a BlackcomputeHER Fellow. Before this, she served as a Lecturer at several colleges and universities where she taught an array of courses in Computer Science. Outside of the classroom, she participates in many outreach activities to broaden participation in computing. She serves as a volunteer for various organizations, including Boy Scouts of America, FIRST North Carolina, Girl Scouts of America, and Black Girls Code. As a volunteer, she able to introduce Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics skills to students.

Crystal Dilworth

Science Communicator

Neuroscientist, dancer, and international science communicator Dr. Crystal Dilworth has spent almost a decade bringing the stories of science to audiences around the world. Whether through public talks or digital and traditional media, the host of VOA-Tek on Voice of America is passionate about highlighting the human impact of science and technology.

Throughout her career she has interviewed scientific experts from high-school students to Nobel prize winners sharing their process of scientific discovery and illustrating the diversity of people who contribute to the advancement of scientific understanding.

Her career in science communication began with her casting in the role of Tajel, in the PHD Comics film, The PHD Movie, and a subsequent TEDxYouth talk titled “The Myth of the Scientist” where she shared her personal journey into STEM and described the lack of authentic representation of scientific women in mainstream media.

No stranger to the stage, the former professional modern dancer was trained at the famed Alvin Aliley school in New York City. Her talent for “choreographing” the presentation of complex ideas serves her well both as a science communicator and as a consultant in the business sector where she uses her knowledge of neuroscience to design clear communications strategies that move human behavior.

Dr. Dilworth made brains glow in the dark while completing her doctoral work on the molecular basis of nicotine dependence at The California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, CA. She and her shoe collection live in the greater Los Angeles area.

Ashley Podhradsky

Associate Dean, Associate Professor, Founder, CybHER, Dakota State University

Dr. Ashley Podhradsky is the Associate Dean of the Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences and Associate Professor of Digital Forensics and at Dakota State University. Ashley also applies her digital forensic skills in industry as a member of the First Bank and Trust Board of Directors. Her research teams have received over $5.6 M in competitive grants and contracts. In addition to her academic and professional work, she has a strong passion for increasing gender diversity in cybersecurity. She is the co-Founder of CybHER, a program to introduce middle school girls to cybersecurity. Ashley was the recipient of the EmBe 2017 “Young Woman of Achievement”, The 2017 Merrill Hunter Award for Excellence in Research, 2017 and 2018 New America Cybersecurity Fellow, and is a 2019 American Association for the Advancement of Science IF/THEN Ambassador. Ashley received her B.S, M.S and D.Sc from Dakota State University. She lives in Madison, SD with her husband Nick, and their two children, Chloe and Hudson.

Isabella Correa

Student Advocate

Isabella Correa is a senior at Presentation High School in San Jose where she is actively involved in leadership roles within student council, robotics, and peer ministry. She works with local and national organizations such as Sunrise Movement and the Climate Museum, in order to promote social change and climate justice. Mixing her interest in advocacy, design, and STEM-based solutions for climatic implications, she has aspirations of being an environmental engineer. Isabella is excited to lead the Student Board as she believes its unique work will continue to pave the way for more avenues of youth leadership, develop innovative solutions to world issues, and make a positive impact on the community.

Craig Newmark

Founder, Craig’s List

Craig Newmark is a Web pioneer, philanthropist, and leading advocate. Most commonly known for founding the online classified ads service craigslist, Newmark works to support and connect people and drive broad civic engagement.

In 2016, he founded Craig Newmark Philanthropies to advance people and grassroots organizations that are “getting stuff done” in areas that include trustworthy journalism & the information ecosystem, voter protection, women in technology, and veterans & military families. At its core, all of Newmark’s philanthropic work helps to strengthen American democracy by supporting the values that the country aspires to – fairness, opportunity, and respect.

Newmark serves on the board of directors of a number of organizations, including Blue Star Families, the Center for Public Integrity, Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York, Girls Who Code, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of American, Poynter Foundation, Sunlight Foundation, VetsinTech, and Women in Public Service Project. He also serves on the Board of Overseers of the Columbia Journalism Review and on the advisory board of nearly twenty other nonprofit organizations, including DonorsChoose.org, EFF, New America Foundation, Voto Latino, Wikimedia Foundation, and Women Who Tech.

In 1995, Newmark started curating a list of San Francisco arts and technology events, which he personally emailed to friends and colleagues. People were soon calling it “Craig’s List,” and when Newmark turned it into a company, he monetized it minimally, opting for a business model that prioritized “doing well by doing good.” Today, more than 5 billion ads have been posted on the site, the vast majority for free. Newmark has not been involved in the day-to-day management of the company since 2000.

Born in Morristown, New Jersey, Newmark earned degrees in computer science from Case Western Reserve University. He lives in San Francisco and New York City and enjoys birdwatching, science fiction, and Dad jokes. Newmark travels the country speaking about the initiatives he supports, and he uses Twitter to further get the word out – and share photos of birds.

Katrina Stevens

President and CEO
The Tech Interactive

Katrina Stevens is the fourth president and CEO of The Tech. As an educator, administrator and startup founder, she has focused on ways to create inspirational and impactful learning experiences for young people around the world.

Before joining The Tech in late 2020, Stevens was the director of learning science at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, where she sought opportunities to improve learning, especially for young people who face the most serious obstacles to success. There, she oversaw a $200 million portfolio of grants.

From 2015 to 2017, Stevens was the deputy director and senior adviser in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology, where she led the Future Ready Schools movement to help district leaders implement best practices in digital learning. Before her time in government, Stevens worked as an educator, including roles as a classroom teacher, department chair, program director and interdisciplinary curriculum leader. She is The Tech’s first female president.

Madeline Di Nonno

Chief Executive Officer
Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media

Madeline Di Nonno is the Chief Executive Officer of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, the leading research based non-profit working within the entertainment and media industry to achieve gender equity in family media and entertainment. Di Nonno leads the Institute’s strategic direction, advocacy, programs, research, financial and operational activities. Di Nonno brings a track record of successful executive leadership in the entertainment, non-profit, digital and consumer packaged goods industries. Di Nonno is an Executive Producer on the Emmy nominat3ed, People’s Choice and Gracie award winning television series Mission Unstoppable and the Gracie award winning feature film documentary This Changes Everything.

Previously, Di Nonno served as President and CEO of On The Scene Productions, a leader in streaming content creation and distribution. Di Nonno lead the company’s new business development and streaming platforms for clients such as Nike, Gatorade, Iconix, and PepsiCo.

Prior to On The Scene, Di Nonno served in executive positions for Anchor Bay Entertainment/Starz Media and Echo Bridge Home Entertainment where she led global brand marketing, franchise development, acquisitions, and digital media initiatives in North America, United Kingdom and Australia.

As Executive Vice President and GM for formerly Nielsen EDI a leading research provider of theatrical distribution measurement and information, Di Nonno developed new digital product offerings, generatednew business revenue and supervised client management for studio theatrical distribution and exhibition.

Previously, Di Nonno served as Senior Vice President, Marketing Alliances and Digital media at the Hallmark Channel. Di Nonno launched the cable channel and established marketing, digital media, e-commerce, and corporate alliance initiatives. Di Nonno drove revenue-generating, integrated marketing programs with companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Fuji, Universal Pictures, Target, Sony Pictures, Chrysler, and Baskin Robbins. Di Nonno pioneered the Channel’s digital media platforms.

Di Nonno served as an executive at Universal Studios Home Entertainment as Vice President, Strategic Marketing and launched the division’s DVD and digital media platforms. Di Nonno supervised marketing campaigns for theatrical, direct-to-video and library releases such as the Jurassic Park franchise, the Land Before Time Franchise and Universal Classic Monsters Franchise.

Di Nonno’s career started at ABC Television Network in corporate publicity working on communications campaigns for mini-series, sports and daytime, including The Winds of War, The Thorn Birds and the 1984 Olympics.

Di Nonno is U.S. State Department Speaker Specialist and is also a frequent speaker at global conferences, corporations, governmental organizations and festivals, such as AdWeek, Cannes Lion, Chatham House, CES, Kidscreen, London Film Festival, New Zealand Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, The White House, UNESCO, and the United Nations. Di Nonno has been featured in global media outlets such as Adweek, Ad Age, Cosmo, Fast Company, FOX 11, Forbes, Glamour, The Guardian, MediaWeek, Huffington Post, Spectrum TV, The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Vanity Fair and Variety.

Education
Di Nonno holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston University.

Board Affiliations
Di Nonno serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Television Academy Foundation; Board of Directors Promundo U.S., Population Media Center, and Friends of the Erben Organ. Di Nonno is on the Advisory Board for the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts. Di Nonno was appointed Arts Commissioner by Supervisor Sheila Kuehl for the Los Angeles County Arts Department.

The Tech Interactive
The Tech Interactive is a family-friendly science and technology center in the heart of downtown San Jose. Our hands-on activities, experimental labs and design challenge experiences empower people to innovate with creativity, curiosity and compassion. The Tech is a world leader in the creation of immersive STEAM education resources to develop the next generation of problem-solvers locally, nationally and globally. We believe that everyone is born an innovator who can change the world for the better.

If/Then
IF/THEN^® seeks to further advance women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) by empowering current innovators and inspiring the next generation of pioneers. Rooted in a firm belief that there is no better time to highlight positive and successful female professional role models, IF/THEN^® is designed to activate a culture shift among young girls to open their eyes to STEM careers by: (1) funding and elevating women in STEM as role models, (2) convening cross-sector partners in entertainment, fashion, sports, business and academia to illuminate the importance of STEM everywhere, and (3) inspiring girls with better portrayals of women in STEM through media and learning experiences to pique their interest in STEM careers.

Craig Newmark Philanthropies
craignewmarkphilanthropies.org/about-us/