Know Us Better
This course will teach students to be better citizens of the information technology (IT) industry. Foundational concepts of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the context of the IT industry will be taught. Students will learn through lectures, reflective & collaborative activities embedded in workplace settings with the help of instructors, mentors, and subject matter experts in the industry.
Meet Our Team
Dr. Vandana Singh
Associate Professor, The University of Tennessee Knoxville
Dr. Singh is a tenured Associate Professor at the iSchool, the School of Information Sciences (SIS) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her current research interests are in Gender and IT, Open Source Software, Technology for Library Professionals, Women in STEM, Rural Libraries, Social Justice, Online Learning/Communities, and Computer Supported Cooperative Work.
Dr. Jeffrey C. Carver
Professor, The University of Alabama
I am a Full Professor in the Department of Computer Science at The University of Alabama. I completed my PhD work under the supervision of Dr. Victor Basili at the University of Maryland. My general research interest lie in the area of empirical software engineering and human factors in software engineering. My research focuses on topics including: software engineering for research software, software quality assurance, peer code review, software security, human errors, and software engineering education.
Kimberly Patterson
Graduate Student, The University of Tennessee Knoxville
Kimberly Unique Patterson is a UTK graduate student studying information science and healthcare informatics. She is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. Interested in diversity in the information science and technology fields, she believes it is essential to treat people with grace, dignity, and respect. This project is an integral part of implementing those ideas for future information scientists and informaticists.
Songhee Kim
UX/Graphic Designer & Graduate Student, The University of Tennessee Knoxville
Songhee Kim is a UX/Graphic Designer and Graduate Student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. As a research assistant to Dr. SIngh, she is focused on evolving and advancing the practice of diversity, equity, and inclusion in UX. Prior to joining UT, Songhee was a 3D Modeler for eight years. Her projects include Disney Junior’s Sofia the FIrst and CBN’s Superbook.
Sophie Spivey
Undergraduate Student, The University of Tennessee Knoxville
Hi, I’m Sophie Spivey! I am currently a junior at the University of Tennessee pursuing a major in Information Science with a concentration of User Experience Design. As a woman who is pursuing going into technology as a career upon graduating, this project is meaningful to me because I want to explore how we can leverage data to increase representation of gender, ethnic, and cognitive diversity in the tech industry. I am hoping my participation in this project will make an impact and be a great learning experience working under Dr. Singh.
William Judd
Graduate Student, The University of Tennessee Knoxville
I am a graduate student in the Master of Science in Information Sciences program at the University of Tennessee, nearing graduation. Issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion are components of my previous career that I am taking with me into information science. This course is important to me as these issues were never addressed when I was a college student, but by brining a new generation of students into this work it helps to move the needle a little more in the direction of a more just society. The intersection of theory and praxis is crucial in educational experience, and I am glad to have played a small role in this process. Prior to enrolling at UT, I received a Bachelor of Arts from Lipscomb University and a Master of Theological Studies from Vanderbilt University.
