OCWiC Celebrates 20 Years of Supporting, Celebrating, and Advocating for Ohio’s Women in Computing!
By Ashley Kline-Tozzi OCWiC ACM-W Vice President and 2025 Celebration Chair
For twenty years, the Ohio Celebration of Women in Computing (OCWiC) has inspired women to expand their awareness of career possibilities and network with women leaders in business, industry, and academia.
This year’s event took place February 21st & 22nd at the Sawmill Creek Resort in Huron, Ohio, with over 250 attendees. We are grateful to our 20 sponsors, who provided scholarships to 165 students, covering the costs of registration, lodging, and meals. Our sponsor list can be found here: https://celebration.ocwic.org/sponsor-list/
For two days, attendees had the opportunity to hear presentations from fellow students and computing professionals. Sessions ranged from lecture format to hands-on learning opportunities. They participated in a resume session where volunteers met one-on-one with students to provide feedback on resume format, content, and interview preparedness. Students were then able to share revised resumes with prospective employers during the career fair held the following day. This year, multiple attendees shared stories of connecting with companies in 2023 and subsequently obtaining an internship or securing a full-time position with a sponsor company after graduation. Our goal is for students to leave the event with meaningful connections (and potential career opportunities), to feel more connected with each other, stay excited about their career path, and become excited about their future in computing!
Our Keynote Speakers encouraged thoughtful discussion. Carol Smith, Senior Research Scientist at Carnegie Mellon University, inspired us to become advocates for ethical decision-making throughout the software development life cycle during her talk on “Implementing Ethics in Emerging Technologies.” And, Rumy Sen, Entrepreneur and Strategic Advisor to CxOs at Deloitte, challenged us to think deeply about “Disruption, Diversity and Ethics: The Trifecta in Technology that Shapes Us”.
Our Time Capsule Ceremony Honored 20 years of OCWiC. Chairs from past celebrations placed objects to be preserved for future generations to discover in a Time capsule. Students were also invited to write letters to their future selves. The time capsule will be opened in 10 years when we hold our 30th year of OCWiC! We thank the women who chaired the conference committees that have made OCWiC possible through the years:
– Bettina Bair (2005, 2007)
– Dr. Ellen Walker (2009)
– Dr. Rachelle Hippler (2011)
– Dr. Jodi Tims (2013)
– Dr. Alina Lazar (2015, 2017)
– Ashley Kline-Tozzi (2019, 2023, 2025)
The Resume Review session and Career Fair allowed students the opportunity to receive one-on-one feedback on their resume structure and content from individuals in computing fields. They also received tips on how to interview effectively. Students left the session with an eagerness to apply the feedback to their resumes, which they would then present to companies at the career fair the following day. Students and reviewers alike find this to be one of their favorite sessions – the one-on-one time is valuable.
The Poster Session provided students with an opportunity to share their research and receive feedback on poster content and delivery of presentations.
The Student Short-talks allowed students to practice sharing details about their research projects. They had to submit an abstract in advance for review to determine their selection for the program. This year, projects ranged from K-6 technology outreach program to leveraging gamification to learn sign language.
Panels and other presentations from representatives in the computing profession, ranging from tech talks touching on IoT, use of AI, and many other topics to preparing for the workplace through understanding Agile development practices and making self-centered career moves.
As day two of the celebration came to a close, it was evident that the event’s goals had been met. Both students and professionals felt encouraged, supported, and committed to pursuing careers in computing technology. They made meaningful connections through resume reviews, career fairs, presentation Q&A sessions, and by engaging in organic conversations in the hallway. We were thrilled to hear attendees expressing excitement over something new they had learned, whom they had met from a company, and how excited they were to attend the next celebration. Attendees, students, and professionals alike left the event feeling energized about the future.
On behalf of the OCWiC celebration committee and the OCWiC ACM-W professional chapter, we look forward to building on the momentum of 2025 and creating an even better event, coming in 2027! Reach out to us if you would like to be part of this amazing event.
The OCWiC 2025 program can be found here: https://celebration.ocwic.org/program/
More information about OCWiC
The Ohio Celebration of Women in Computing (OCWiC) is a biennial event for women pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate degrees in tech. This is the flagship event of the OCWiC ACM-W professional chapter (https://ocwic.org) and is the longest-running celebration of its kind. The OCWiC ACM-W chapter is a statewide community of women and men technology professionals from industry and academia. Membership consists of a core group of approximately 10 planning committee volunteers as well as hundreds of university students and professional celebration attendees. All members are focused on the chapter’s mission to engage and empower Ohio women in computing by building community, celebrating success, and illuminating possibilities.