Terry Morreale has a degree in computer science, works for the National Center for Women and Technology, and spends a lot of time thinking about ways to solve the problem of too few women entering computer-science professions.
But Morreale, after taking an online test run by Harvard University as part of Project Implicit, stood in front of a room at the University of Arkansas' Donald W. Reynolds Center for Enterprise Development with a confession Wednesday.
"I have a moderate bias against women in tech," Morreale, who is a woman, said about the results. "What does that mean? We are biased as a culture."
Eliminating those biases, and exploring ways to encourage girls and women to pursue careers in a male-dominated field, were themes in the daylong Women in IT conference at the University of Arkansas. The event, in its 13th year, was presented by the Information Technology Research Institute at the Sam M. Walton College of Business and featured Gov. Asa Hutchinson, information sessions and panel discussions with industry leaders.
There is a shortage of technology workers in the U.S. and one of the reasons is that not enough women are entering and remaining in technology.
"I hate to think our future in [information technology] is going to be developed by one gender," Hutchinson said. "You've got to have a diversity that participates in the future of our country. That's why women in IT is critical and you know that."
Morreale, who works for a nonprofit organization that supports diversity and inclusion in computing, described the issue as a "pipeline problem" that begins as early as high school.
Data indicate 56 percent of all Advanced Placement test-takers were female, but only 22 percent of the test-takers in computer science were women. The gap continues in college, where half of the bachelor's degrees at research universities are earned by women. But only 15 percent of computer science bachelor's degrees were earned by women.
Fifty-seven percent of the professional workforce were women in 2015, while only about 25 percent of the computing workforce consisted of women.
"It is a little bit depressing," Morreale said about the statistics, including the fact that only 17 percent of chief information officer positions among Fortune 500 companies are held by women. "Innovation is better when you have a diverse group of people solving your problems. We know from research diverse teams solve problems better and faster."
Ron Darbeau, a dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, described the lack of women and minority-group members in those professions as a "national STEM crisis."
Darbeau cited a report that indicated the first decade of the 21st century showed growth in science and technology jobs was three times greater than growth in non-technology jobs and is expected to continue at a faster pace. While there is no worker shortage, there is a skills shortage for such positions. Darbeau said there are 4,000 vacant jobs in Arkansas every year.
"What is troubling and vexing, there was a time if you gave the message -- there are lots of jobs and they pay well -- that would've been enough to harvest a great number of people," Darbeau said. "That message by itself doesn't resonate well. So it's incumbent upon us to recraft the message."
Darbeau, Morreale and others pointed to programs like Million Women Mentors, a national program aimed at increasing the interest and confidence of girls and women to pursue science and technology careers, as starting points.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has partnered with the Women's Foundation of Arkansas, the Arkansas STEM Coalition and STEMConnector to begin the mentor program in the state. The partners are also working with Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin. In the past year, the program held eight events across the state and has reached 2,500 girls to date with more planned for this year.
"Sometimes people just don't know what STEM opportunities are," said Andrea Roberts, the senior manager of supplier communications at Wal-Mart.
Hutchinson said the state currently has 5,500 students taking computer science under the program introduced earlier in his term. While just 28 percent of those are female, they represent the largest increase from the previous year.
He'll participate in a fourth coding tour next month, visiting schools in an effort to boost the number of students taking computer-science courses. Hutchinson also pointed to Arkansas Future Grants, which will provide students with up to two years of tuition and fees at a state community college or technical college if they're enrolled in science and technology fields.
Hutchinson told conference attendees there will be a good foundation for technology companies in the state as well, beginning with Wal-Mart, J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. and Tyson Foods Inc.
Business on 04/13/2017