UC student inspired by other women in tech
As a high school student, Minha Raza was determined to pursue a degree in the medical field after graduation. However, after taking the introductory Engineering Design Thinking course during her first year at the University of Cincinnati, she found an untapped passion for engineering and problem solving.
She switched her major to computer science and is now leading a student group and attending conferences in her field.
Minha Raza is the president of UC's Association of Computing Machinery for Women. Photo/Provided
Originally from Louisville, Ky., Raza applied to UC in part because of the Metropolitan Rate offered to Kentucky and Indiana students, which makes tuition almost the same as an Ohio resident. Additionally, she had close friends who were Bearcats and expressed how happy they were with their experience.
Being named as a Turner Scholar sealed the deal for Raza. This award, named after Darwin T. Turner, the youngest person to ever graduate from UC, works to enrich the educational environment for undergraduate students, specifically those in underrepresented groups.
"I knew I liked math, but didn't really know what engineering was," Raza said. "I didn't realize at the time, but there was a game I used to play where I used their unique scripting language to create stories, similar to coding, and I thought that was really fun."
Raza changed her major from pre-med to computer science after her first year at UC. The cooperative education (co-op) program proved to be a great way for her to jump into her new chosen field in a real-world, professional setting.
After completing her first co-op online due to COVID, Raza participated in the international co-op program, spending a semester at a startup in Singapore. She then spent one semester in the Experiential Exploration Program, and spent her final rotations at GE Appliances. Through her co-op positions, Raza was able to experience what it's like to work in a wide variety of companies.
As someone who came to UC not even knowing about the co-op program, I can't be more thankful that I chose UC. Co-op is extremely essential to your education, and matters so much as an engineer.
Minha Raza, Computer Science student
Minha Raza was one of several students who attended this year's Grace Hopper Conference. Photo/Provided
Early in her CEAS career, Raza was introduced to the Association of Computing Machinery for Women. This organization aims to increase the recruitment and retention of women in computing at UC. The group is open to all students interested in computing and technology. She is now president of the group.
"The reason I've stuck with the association is because it's an organization where I can make a big impact. Creating a community with women in computer science and tech is a huge deal." Raza said.
When she first enrolled in the computer science program, she noticed the number of women in her classes was very low. Most engineering disciplines are heavily male dominated, making it a challenging space for women sometimes. But organizations like ACM-W allow women in these disciplines to connect, encourage, and inspire one another.
Each year, the group sends several students to the Grace Hopper Conference, which is the largest gathering of women and nonbinary technologists in the world. In 2024, the group was able to send 18 members of ACM-W to Philadelphia for the event. Conference participation for UC students was supported by the Mantei/Mae fund and supplemental conference funding from the Office of Inclusive Excellence and Community Engagement. While there, students can attend various learning sessions hosted by women in technology sharing insights about their careers and experiences in this field.
"People travel so far to come to this conference, it's a huge deal," Raza said. "Women in the industry share advice on how to handle things like balancing work and life and navigating the male dominated industry."
UC sent 18 members of ACM-W to this year's Grace Hopper Conference. Photo/Provided
As a woman of color and the first engineer in her family, she is no stranger to paving her own way. One of the highlights of Raza’s time at the conference this year was attending the Pakistani Women in Computing meeting, where she connected with women of similar roots and gained a unique sense of community among women both in their professional careers and students like herself.
“Software, especially coding, is extremely challenging,” Raza said. “Being able to talk to people in the industry is invaluable and inspiring to hear that you really can do it if you work hard.”
The conference also has a career fair, allowing students to connect with potential co-op and full-time employers, as well as invitation-only events with certain companies in attendance. Raza was invited to the event with Wells Fargo this year along with a few of her UC classmates and was able to network in a more intimate setting. The entire conference experience was invigorating for Raza, instilling a sense of confidence in her that she can succeed as a woman in tech.
“As someone who came in not even knowing about the co-op program, I can’t be more thankful that I chose UC. Co-op is extremely essential to your education, and matters so much as an engineer,” she said.
Along with serving as the president of ACM-W, Raza is a CEAS Ambassador, where she regularly takes families and prospective students on tours of campus and shares her personal experience at CEAS. She is also a part of Refuge UC, a Senior 100 student, part of the U Scene, a UC fashion magazine, and more.
Featured image at top: Minha Raza was one of 18 students who attended the Grace Hopper Conference. Photo/Provided
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