Improving mentoring for women in computer science fields (abstract)

Can having a mentor influence the likelihood that a woman will succeed in establishing a career in computer science? A number of studies and reports suggest that an effective mentoring relationship can, indeed, make a difference in attracting women to academic and industrial careers in computer science and then keeping them in the field. In this panel, we will concentrate on practical issues such as training potential mentors in the requisite skills, matching proteges with mentors, incorporating or expanding a mentoring program within an institution, and special considerations for men mentoring women.