Coding a Community for Women in Computer Science

At Colgate University, a student organization is working to make computer science feel less isolating for women and non-binary students, offering both professional development and a sense of belonging in a field still dominated by men, according to The Colgate Maroon-News.

Women in Computer Science, known as WCS, was created to help students in the major forge connections with one another while also building the kind of career skills that can be hard to come by in large lecture courses. The club holds regular meetings that include resume workshops and panel discussions with alumni now working in the tech industry, according to the source.

Senior Frankie Williams, one of the group's co-presidents, told the Maroon-News that she initially found the computer science major isolating, particularly because of how few women she encountered in her coursework. She said joining WCS gave her a space to talk openly about classes, professors and job prospects, and to connect with others facing similar struggles in the major.

Williams described the club's mission as rooted in connection, both professionally and on a personal level, rather than simply networking for career purposes.

Junior Cenjing Wang, the club's vice president and treasurer, said the organization has helped her prepare for job searches through workshops on resumes and career planning. WCS has also set up a LinkedIn group connecting current students with Colgate graduates working in technology, and has offered sessions on artificial intelligence skills, according to the report.

Wang said the relationships built through the club have made the computer science department feel more welcoming overall. She noted that lecture-style classes can make it difficult to bond with classmates, but that friendships formed through WCS have made attending those same classes easier, since students now see familiar faces around them.

Sophie Martin, the other co-president and a senior, pointed to the gender imbalance that becomes more pronounced in upper-level computer science courses. She told the Maroon-News that being the only woman in a room, whether in a classroom or at a professional networking event, can create pressure to second-guess oneself, a dynamic she said the club tries to counter by fostering mutual support.

Williams echoed that sentiment, saying the value of the club is not simply that it is a women's organization, but that it creates a supportive environment for women and non-binary students in a field that has long been shaped by men. She added that WCS welcomes students from any academic background, not just computer science majors or minors.

Looking ahead, Martin said the group hopes to launch a study buddy initiative that would pair students who share classes and schedules so they can work through coursework together. The club is also planning additional social events this year, including an outing to a local pottery studio, Village Clay, aimed at strengthening friendships outside of academic settings.

Williams said the broader goal of WCS is to help members build professional confidence while reminding them that the challenges of studying computer science are shared. She said recognizing that difficulty is common across the major, rather than an individual failing, makes those challenges easier to manage within a supportive community.