Drs Roscoe Giles and Raquell Holmes are inviting faculty and administrators from the Boston and New England area to learn about this exciting nationwide alliance that is gaining in strength and momentum: The Empowering Leadership: Computing Scholars of Tomorrow Alliance (EL Alliance). On August 14th, individuals from multiple institutions interested in supporting minority students in computing careers will come together to provide advice on projects being established to benefit students in the Boston area by the EL Alliance.

The EL Alliance is involving minority students in research opportunities, professional development, mentoring programs, and other means of support to keep the students excited and motivated as they pursue computing careers. During our first year, the EL Alliance built a network composed of dozens of leading universities, professional societies, laboratories, research centers, and corporations who engage as Partners in the alliance (link For Partners). Funded through the National Science Foundation's Broadening Participation in Computing program, you can see some of What We Do and Who We Are throughout the site.

Colleagues interested in supporting these efforts are invited to join us on August 14, at 1:30 to discuss:

1) What you see as the most pressing issues for minority students in computing disciplines in our area, and how those issues can translate into opportunities for us and our students through the EL Alliance.

2) How we can engage our students and faculty in the EL Alliance e.g. encourage our students to sign up for one-to-one or peer group mentoring, faculty can serve as mentors, and both can interact with minority leaders in computing from across the country.

3) How we can contribute to this program and be part of its success.

Other regions are taking great advantage of EL Alliance resources. In one area of the country, students formed an EL Alliance group that is meeting regularly, taking a road show to local high schools to talk about computing careers, and attending national conferences as a group. Their regional meeting in Texas brought together students from multiple universities to network and meet with national leaders.

Ann Redelfs, one of the central organizers of EL Alliance, will join the afternoon meeting to share what other EL Alliance programs are doing as New England shapes its own activities.

We hope you are able to attend our first meeting to see how we can best leverage this program to benefit our students.

To attend or more info: Please RSVP by August 1st, 2008 by email to Ann Redelfs at ann@redelfs.us
Location: Boston University, 3 Cummington Street, Boston 02215
Map Link

Room: PRB (Physics Research Building) 595
Date and Time: August 14th, 1:30 to 3pm
Food: Light refreshments will be available during meeting

Click here for a List of the Attendees.