CMU-Q student named a Women Techmakers Scholar for 2017
Aisha Mohamed, a rising senior in computer science at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), has been selected for Google’s 2017 Women Techmakers Scholars Program. Mohamed is one of only 20 scholars in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.
Women Techmakers Scholars are chosen for exceptional academic performance, leadership, and impact on the community of women in technology. The program includes an academic scholarship, a retreat to connect with fellow scholars and Google mentors, and an online network to share resources and support the global community of women in tech.
For the scholarship, Mohamed wrote an essay on how to convince young women to pursue careers in computer science. “This is an area where you can make an impact in the world,” she noted. “Young women should understand that work in computer science can help millions of people.”
Ilker Baybars, dean and CEO of CMU-Q, remarked: “Aisha exemplifies the Carnegie Mellon approach to computer science: she has an exceptional analytical mind, a strong work ethic, and an ethical approach to solving problems. We are very proud that Aisha was selected for this elite program of scholars.”
Math was the gateway to computer science
Mohamed had no background in programming when she applied to CMU-Q: “I always enjoyed math in high school,” she said. “Before I started at CMU-Q, the professors said that computer science would be the most interesting for someone who enjoys math.”
Never having studied computing, Mohamed’s first semester was challenging. She admits that she struggled at first with understanding concepts and identifying how to fill the gaps in her knowledge. “I struggled, but I also worked very hard. The professors saw that and they helped me a lot.”
As her skills in computer science grew, Mohamed noticed changes in the way she thinks. “Computer science teaches you critical thinking skills that you can use in every aspect of your life. You learn to rely on facts and make decisions based on them.”
CMU-Q and the Anita Borg tradition
The Women Techmakers Scholarship was formerly called the Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship Program, named after computer scientist Anita Borg who devoted her career to dismantling barriers that keep women from entering computing and technology fields.
Mohamed is the fifth CMU-Q student to receive this recognition. In 2009, Keghani Kouzoujian was named a Google Anita Borg Schoalr, followed by Samreen Anjum in 2010. In 2012, two students were selected: Sidra Alam and Hanan Mohammed Alshikhabobakr.
All four Anita Borg scholars pursued careers in the field after graduation, and have served as role models for young women at CMU-Q who are interested in careers in technology.
Alshikabobakr, in particular, founded the Qatar chapter of Arab Women in Computing, and now serves as its president. In February 2017, she helped organize the Qatar edition of Women in Data Science (WiDS), a thought leadership forum that took place in more than 50 cities worldwide.