Department-Sponsored Attendance at the 2025 Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC 25)
The CECS Department proudly sponsored four undergraduate students and one graduate student to attend the 25th anniversary Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC 25), held November 4–7, 2025, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Organized annually by AnitaB.org, GHC is the world’s largest gathering of women and nonbinary technologists.
This year’s milestone event brought together over 20,000 participants, featured 425+ sessions, 600 speakers, and received sponsorship from industry leaders including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Disney, and LinkedIn.
Student Participants
These students were selected from a highly competitive pool of more than 60 applicants from across the CECS Department.
- Steffy Jibikilay (undergrad student)
- Annabelle Ni (undergrad student)
- Thrity Golzari Rahat Abad (undergrad student)
- Alvin Ngo (undergrad student)
- Shafiya Mubeen Umme (Grad Student)
Faculty Mentorship and Student Engagement
Dr. Jelena Trajkovic served as the faculty mentor, guiding and supporting the student delegation throughout the conference.
Students attended a wide range of technical and professional sessions, including:
- Mastering Power BI, Fabric, and Copilot
- Breaking into Product Management
- User-Centric Thinking in Data Science
- The Math Behind the Magic: Mathematics in Deep Learning
- Build Your Own AI Promotion Coach
They also joined interactive workshops, technical interview practice sessions, panels featuring global tech leaders, and Braindate peer-to-peer networking conversations.
Impact on Student Growth and Career Development
The conference offered invaluable opportunities for students to:
- Gain exposure to cutting-edge technologies and real-world problem-solving
- Learn how major companies innovate and prioritize equity in tech
- Connect with students, faculty, practitioners, industry leaders, and recruiters
- Build career strategies, refine technical skills, and expand their professional networks
Students also shared memorable personal experiences. One student was introduced by Dr. Trajkovic to her former UCI graduate advisor—a conversation that inspired her to consider graduate school. Another enjoyed exploring Chicago with fellow attendees after conference sessions. Many expressed that GHC 25 strengthened their technical confidence and deepened their sense of belonging in the broader tech community.
Acknowledgments
We extend our sincere thanks to Department Chair Dr. Shadnaz Asgari for valuable support, and to Ms. Jennifer Brunetto, Department Administrative Support Assistant, for coordinating the logistics that made this opportunity possible.
Our Commitment
By supporting CECS students’ attendance at GHC 25, the department reaffirms its commitment to empowering future engineers, enhancing access to professional development, and fostering a diverse, inclusive, and industry-connected learning environment.
In Spring 2026, this year’s GHC participants will host a student panel to share their experiences, insights, and advice with fellow CECS students and prospective applicants for next year’s Grace Hopper Celebration, which will be held in Anaheim in 2026. This event will help prepare future attendees and continue building a strong community of support and mentorship within the department.
