The IT Community’s IDEAL IT program continues to gain momentum as it nears the one-year mark. Launched in Sept. 2018, this diversity and inclusion initiative realized many milestones this past year and is now full steam ahead with new targets and goals for year two.
IDEAL IT leads from each of the four IDEAL IT sub-programs recently delivered an annual report to the CIO Council to recap year one highlights and outline next steps. Their updates are below.
Year Up Internship Program
Program Lead: Jon Russell, University IT
Key milestones
The first Year Up interns were hired in January, joining UIT’s Service Desk, the Information Security Office (ISO), and School of Medicine Information Resources and Technology (SoM IRT) teams. These four interns “graduated” this summer, with two of the interns, Andre Pezo and Anh Pham, accepting a full-time position with UIT’s Service Desk and SOM IRT, respectively.
In July, the second Year Up cohort started, with eight interns joining Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning (VPTL), Stanford Research Computing (SRC), SoM IRT, and UIT’s Service Desk, Service Management, and End User Experience (EUX) teams.
This summer, IT Community members had the privilege of listening to an inspiring talk by Gerald Chertavian, Year Up’s Founder and CEO. His visit to campus in June drew 130 attendees and solidified our partnership with Year Up.
Next up
Jon Russell, Year Up Internship program lead, is working to operationalize the program framework so it can continue to scale broadly across the IT Community at Stanford. Additionally, recruiting is underway for the January 2020 cohort. If you and your team are interested in hosting a Year Up intern, please contact Jon Russell (jdrussel@stanford.edu).
Related information
Stanford Women in Technology (Stanford WIT)
Program Lead: Brittany Cripe, University IT
Key milestones
The Stanford WIT affinity group is now over 300 members strong and draws significant interest and engagement from the campus community. This year, there were six general meetings, with participation ranging from 55 to 259 in-person and Zoom attendees. Additionally, more than 50 staff from across Stanford volunteer their time, energy, and creativity with Stanford WIT’s various committees.
Next Up
As the group ramps up for its second year, the program lead role is transitioning from Novita Rogers of the School of Humanities & Sciences (H&S) to Brittany Cripe of UIT. Together with the Steering Committee and key leadership, Brittany is working to evolve and enhance WIT’s program structure and key initiatives based on learnings and feedback from year one.
If you would like to get involved, please attend the WIT Connect meeting on Sept.12, where we’ll celebrate the one-year anniversary of the program. Susie Brubaker-Cole, Vice Provost for Student Affairs will be the guest speaker. Register to attend on main campus, SRWC, or via Zoom.
Related information
Neurodiversity in IT
Program Lead: Anne Pinkowski, University IT
Key milestones
The Neurodiversity at Stanford University IT Pilot was so successful in year one, that it is now a continuing IT Community program. As a result of the program this year, one fixed-term hire came on board in UIT and one intern was hired in the Graduate School of Business (GSB). Momentum is building and recruiting for several more positions is underway.
Additionally, many staff in the IT Community benefited from awareness-building activities, with 265 people attending brown bag sessions hosted by Neurodiversity Pathways, and 85 attending the Intelligent Lives screening in April.
Next up
To advance this CIO Council-supported program, Anne Pinkowski, program lead, is focused on partnering with interested organizations outside of UIT to explore recruiting and hiring neurodiverse staff in their areas. If you are interested in learning more about how to leverage the strengths of our neurodiverse friends, contact Anne at apink@stanford.edu.
Awareness-building sessions will pick up again this fall, and the program will explore additional recruitment options such as offering contract resourcing through auticon and internships through Neurodiversity Pathways.
Related information
IDEAL IT Foundations
Program Lead: Dani Aivazian, University IT
Project Coordinator: Tiana Ferreira
Key Milestones
IDEAL IT Foundations exists to increase awareness and achieve results that “move the needle” related to all dimensions of diversity, and increase inclusion and belonging across Stanford IT. The main focus of IDEAL IT Foundations in year one was to support, stabilize, and operationalize the existing program pillars: Neurodiversity at Stanford (UIT Program), Year Up Internship Program, and Stanford Women in Technology (Stanford WIT).
To help advance the goals of all IDEAL IT pillars, Tiana Ferreira of University IT (UIT) was officially named project coordinator in summer 2019.
Next up
IDEAL IT’s newest pillar, People of Color in Technology (POC-IT) will launch this fall, led by Rodney Carter of UIT. Stanford POC-IT is a university-wide affinity program that will advance representation, engagement, and support for people of color in technology roles. This group is also open to allies and people who aren’t in technology fields or roles. Stay tuned for more announcements about this group including a date for its first general meeting.
