Women in Computer Science (WiCS) is dedicated to promoting gender equity in computing by advocating for and supporting women, trans, gender-fluid, gender-queer, and non-binary students enrolled in computer science and related computing programs at the University of Waterloo.
WiCS initiatives and events foster community, empowerment, and mentorship. Specifically, WiCS:
- provides forums for discussing issues of diversity and inclusion in computing
- promotes an inclusive teaching and working environment
- promotes networking and mentorship among women students
- organizes workshops and events (some technical, some professional development, some just for fun!) to enhance skills and build community
WiCS Committee
WiCS is a committee of faculty, staff, graduate students, and undergraduates drawn from the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science. The committee works to build an environment in the School of Computer Science where women are supported in their work and studies. Its initiatives aim to ensure that young women entering university see computer science as an option and to reduce gender-based obstacles to women’s success in their studies and their careers.
The members of the 2024-2025 Committee are:
- Jo Atlee & Edith Law (co-chairs)
- Raouf Boutaba (ex officio)
- Sepehr Assadi
- Anamaria Crisan
- Xiao Hu
- Zille Huma Kamal
- Lap Chi Lau
- Sujaya Maiyya
- Renee Miller
- Leili Rafiee Sevyeri
- Prabhakar Ragde
- Gregor Richards
- Mina Tahmasbi Arashloo
- Samantha Jewett (WiCS Coordinator)
- Outreach Program Coordinator
- Graduate student representative(s): TBD
- Undergraduate student representative(s): TBD
- Staff support: Tammy Vucicevich
WiCS Undergraduate Committee
WiCS has a very active undergraduate committee (warmly called "Little WiCS") that is student-run. They offer a number of events throughout the year, including the Big CSters Mentoring program, technical workshops, a speaker series, and panels and discussions about diversity in computer science and STEM.
Visit the Little WiCS office in MC 3029, or click here to visit the Little WiCS website.