Meet the YWiC Team!

YWiC has come a long way since 2006! Of course, the program hasn't expanded on its own. A program director, a couple of program coordinators, and six undergraduate research assistants make up the fabulous YWiC team that has driven the program to success! Each individual contributes great energy and ideas toward the overall goals of the program, so it's worth mentioning a little bit about each person!

Dr. Pontelli

Dr. Enrico Pontelli is the program director for Young Women in Computing, as well as the head of the Computer Science Department at New Mexico State University. He is the PI on the NSF grant that funds YWiC, along with several other members of the faculty and staff in NMSU Computer Science. Dr. Pontelli received a Laurea (Bachelors) in Computer Science University of Udine, a Masters Degree in Computer Science in from University of Houston, and a PhD in Computer Science from New Mexico State University.



Becca Galves


Becca earned her BA in Geography from Colgate University, and her MBA from NMSU. While earning her graduate degree, she was a Learning Specialist with what is now SSS-Hardman. She spent nine years coordinating academic support avenues with our fabulous Aggie student-athletes. Her job entails scheduling and helping at the community outreach events in Middle Schools and High Schools, promoting and assisting in scheduling the monthly Speaker Series, coordinating communication with awareness, and help increase publicity for all assests of the program.



Rachel Jensen


Rachel has been working with YWiC since its first summer camp in 2006. In 2007, she became a program coordinator. She earned her undergraduate degree in business administration from Easter New Mexico University in 2006, then her MBA in 2007. Her job entails coordinating the various outreach programs under the YWiC umbrella which include: our speaker series on prominent women in computer science, middle and high school outreach, Botball, conference opportunities, tutoring, summer programs etc. She loves spending time with her family: wonderful husband Weston, baby boy Nolan and newborn Baylee.



Janie Chen

Janie is an undergraduate research assistant with YWiC. She started working for the program in Spring 2010, and is a senior majoring in Information System. Janie participated in compiling research from past years to put into technical posters, which were presented at the 2010 and 2011 Grace Hopper Celebrations of Women in Computing, and the 2011 Richard Tapia Conference. Since 2011, she has also been involved in teaching and assisting YWiC's annual summer camps for middle school and high school females. In her spare time she likes longboarding, and camping.



Jen Dana

Jen is an undergraduate research assistant with YWiC at NMSU. She is majoring in Criminal Justice and minoring in Computer Systems. Jen participates in various activities, specializing in the areas of leadership, communication, and middle and high school outreach programs to increase female interest in STEM-C fields. Jen attended the 2010 and 2011 Grace Hopper Celebration's of Women in Computing with YWiC, first as a student participant and then as a poster presenter and scholarship recipient in 2011. In her spare time Jen enjoys hiking and longboarding with her crew.






Stephanie Marquez

Stephanie is an undergraduate research assistant with the Young Women in Computing program at New Mexico State University. She began working with YWiC in the Spring of 2010 as a freshman, and is currently a senior majoring in Business Computer Information Systems (BCIS). Recently, she spent a summer interning with GE Healthcare in the ITLP (Information Technology Leadership Program). Stephanie has worked as an assistant instructor in YWiC summer camps, teaching LilyPad Arduino and Alice. She was a poster presenter at the 2010 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, and a poster presenter and scholarship recipient at the 2011 Celebration. In her spare time Stephanie likes reading and spending time with her family.



Tasha Nesiba


Tasha is a junior at New Mexico State University majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Mathematics. She was hired as a YWiC research assistant in Fall 2009 in her senior year of high school. Tasha assists with YWiC community outreach activities, presentations, and workshops. One of her main focuses is maintaining and updating the program's website and developing graphic design elements for promotional materials. She has spent the last three summers interning at Google, most recently developing with the Google+ team. Tasha is a big fan of Google, Nike, Desperate Housewives, and anything sports related.



Alyssa Soliz

Alyssa is an undergraduate research assistant for YWiC. She is a junior at New Mexico State University and is majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Mathematics. She attended the YWiC summer camp in 2007 and recently joined the staff in 2011. She is involved in YWiC’s outreach activities, PicoCricket workshops, and summer camps. In 2011, Alyssa attended the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing along with many other wonderful women from the YWiC program. In her spare time, she enjoys taking her dog, Monster, for walks and baking for her friends.

Nicole Ray

Nicole is an undergraduate research assistant with Young Women in Computing. She is a senior at New Mexico State University majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Mathematics. She participated in the first two YWiC Summer Camp in 2006 and 2007, then returned in 2008 as a classroom assistant, and has worked as a research assistant ever since. During the 2010 Spring semester she studied abroad in England and did charity work in both Turkey and Indonesia. In her spare time, she fills several leadership roles in her church college group and enjoys cinematography, guitar, longboarding, and many different sports.