Comput/HER @ Curry College 2026: Annual Technology Conference

When: Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Check-In: 8:00 - 8:30 a.m.
Workshop Start Time: 8:30 a.m.
Register Today!

Comput/HER @ Curry College is a one-day workshop event that was established to allow young women in high school to explore career opportunities in computing and data science.

This workshop-style event is intended to be a place for young women and all students, regardless of sex/gender, those who support them to collaborate, learn about, and participate in computing, technology, and data science activities. Participants will hear inspirational stories from successful women in the field, and participate in collaborative, hands-on, skill-building activities in a welcoming and supportive environment. 

If any high schools are looking to bring a group of students to this workshop event, please make sure to email Olivia Passafaro at olivia.passafaro@curry.edu, and she will help get your schools group registered for the workshop event! This event is open and welcomes all students regardless of sex/gender. Please keep in mind that we can only accommodate up to 30 students per high school group for this workshop event.

Sessions and Bios

Heather Shapiro, Ph.D.
Principal at Berkana Data

Heather Shapiro, PhD is a healthcare data science and technology leader with over 20 years of experience translating scientific research into real-world products. She works at the intersection of data science, human behavior, and innovation, helping to build and scale wearables and digital therapeutics that improve patient outcomes. Heather is passionate about closing the gap between scientific discovery and meaningful impact, and also about inspiring more young women to see themselves as leaders in technology.

“From Data to Impact: A Career Journey at the Intersection of Biology and Technology”

How about this: Students will have the opportunity to learn about Heather’s career journey through some of the exciting projects she has worked on at the intersection of science and technology. Her experiences offer a behind-the-scenes look at how data can be used to better understand health and create meaningful impact in the world. Throughout her keynote, Heather will also share honest reflections, lessons she has learned along the way, and advice she wishes someone had given her earlier in her career. Her story serves as a powerful reminder that there is no single path into technology or data science. Instead, curiosity, creativity, and perseverance can open the door to incredible opportunities. Students will leave feeling inspired to explore their own interests in computer science, data, and technology, and to imagine the impact they could make in the future.

Liyang Diao, Ph.D.
Managing Partner, Sprout Informatics

Liyang has worked in biotech for the last decade, supporting startups in the therapeutic space by applying her training in math and statistics to her love of data and curiosity for the world around her. She has worked in therapeutic areas spanning the microbiome, oncology, and autoimmune disease, across various therapeutic modalities. In her spare time, she loves to run, cook, and is an active volunteer with the Boston Women in Bioinformatics.

“Bugs as Drugs: How Data Science Helped Develop the First FDA Approved Oral Microbiome Therapeutic”

Students will explore the dynamics of the trillions of bacteria that live in the human gut--collectively called the gut microbiome. We will see how disruptions to this complex ecosystem can lead to deadly infection, and how one company harnessed the power of "good bacteria" to bring to market a completely new therapeutic paradigm. Along the way, we'll see the critical role that Data Science played in research and the clinic.

Maria Gavilan Alfonso
Principal Technical Program Manager, MathWorks

María Elena Gavilán Alfonso leads worldwide global initiatives to expand the adoption of MATLAB and Simulink in academic and research institutions. Her work emphasizes real-world applications across many engineering domains, with a particular emphasis on engineered systems that incorporate AI and physical modeling. She has extensive industry experience in numerical simulation projects in the automotive and aerospace industries and is passionate about advancing autonomous vehicles and climate technology, underscoring her commitment to innovation and sustainability. Beyond her technical expertise, María is a fervent advocate for representation and equity in the tech industry. She actively mentors through several initiatives aimed at increasing representation in STEAM fields. Maria holds a BSc in Physics from the National University of Colombia, an MSc in Aerospace Engineering from Purdue University, and an MBA from UIUC.

Beyond the Black Box: Why the World Needs Engineers Who Really Know Their Stuff

What if your curiosity, creativity, and passion could help design the technologies shaping our future? In this hands-on session, aerospace engineer and physicist María Gavilán takes you inside the world of modern STEAM, where code, art, and deep expertise come together to solve real problems, from surgical robots to aircraft to sustainable cities. Whether you see yourself as a future engineer, scientist, artist, or storyteller, this session will show you how your unique perspective is exactly what the world of technology needs more of.

Sidra Effendi
AI Engineer, The Legal Aid Society

Sidra Effendi is a researcher and AI engineer who is passionate about building technology that helps people and addresses real-world challenges. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and earned her Master’s degree in Information Science, specializing in Big Data Analytics, from the University of Michigan. Her work includes building AI systems, analyzing large datasets, and researching how technology impacts society, including projects focused on online safety in South Asia. Sidra is especially interested in responsible AI and the role technology can play in creating safer and more equitable digital spaces. She also brings entrepreneurial experience, and her professional background spans industries including IoT, autonomous vehicles, and legal technology.

“Build with AI”

A hands-on workshop that introduces students to the exciting world of artificial intelligence by guiding them through the process of creating real projects with no prior experience required. Participants will learn how to use tools like ChatGPT and Lovable to design and build their own AI powered creations, such as website, blogs, or simple games. The workshop focuses on creativity, practical skills and turning ideas into working products. By the end of the session, students will have a project they can showcase and a clear roadmap for continuing to build with AI on their own.

Isabela Ramirez
Maintenance Analyst Intern at Robot.com; Biomedical and Electronic Engineer Student

Anna Ospina
Operations Analyst Intern at Robot.com; Systems and Informatics Engineering student

Isabela Ramirez, a Biomedical and Electronic Engineering, and Anna Ospina, Systems and Informatics Engineering, are international students from universities in Colombia, currently completing their professional internships in robotics at robot.com.

"Ctrl + Alt + Create Like a Girl", includes a demonstration of “Kiwibots”

This session will introduce students to real-world robotics and how autonomous delivery robots operate today. You will learn key concepts such as perception, localization, planning, and computer vision, showing how robots safely navigate from point A to point B. The session includes a hands-on activity where students can explore how robots sense and understand their environment.

“Programming a Robot” – current Curry College Computer Science Majors

Students will program a robot to navigate a physical maze with left, right, forward, and backward movement commands. The goal is to design a sequence of instructions that guides the robot through a maze.  Students will develop a correct, efficient, and repeatable program that completes the maze.