CMD-IT highlights one of its programs, the LEAP Alliance, which is focused on diversifying future leadership in the computing professoriate at research universities as a way to increase diversity across computing. The LEAP Alliance brings together four cohorts of universities, each cohort having common strengths and a common agenda to address the focus on future leadership. Each cohort consists of 8-11 universities. Cohorts 1 – 3 focus on doctoral students and Cohort 4 focuses on undergraduate students. The LEAP Alliance is focused on the following underrepresented communities in computing: African Americans/Blacks, Native Americans/Indigenous, Hispanics/Latinx, and People with Disabilities.
The LEAP Alliance operates under a collective impact model, a structured and collaborative framework that aims to address complex social challenges by engaging stakeholders from various sectors in pursuit of a shared, evidence-based vision. One unique and important aspect of the LEAP Alliance is that each LEAP institution has at least one LEAP Advocate whose role is to serve as the primary point of contact for the LEAP Fellows (doctoral students) or LEAP Scholars (undergraduate students). The LEAP Advocates serve a key role in bringing about institutional change as needed. The advocates participate in monthly phone calls to leverage good practices among the institutions.
The LEAP Alliance programs include mentorship, professional development, and community building with a focus on ensuring students are informed about academic career opportunities and inclusion in computing. One professional development activity is the Invited Research Talk program. This program targets senior-level LEAP Fellows and has the following goals:
- Increase students’ research visibility and professional networks
- Provide early exposure to academic career pathways
- Foster mentorship and sponsorship relationships across institutions
- Promote inclusive excellence within computing departments
The Invited Research talks provide an opportunity for LEAP Fellows to build the extended community across our partner universities. LEAP Institutions are invited to reach out to the senior LEAP Fellow for virtual or in-person presentation opportunities. The presenters visit a partner institution, receive feedback from fellow students and professionals, and use the feedback to strengthen their research.
Testimonial from Kowe, an Information Science Ph.D. Candidate at Cornell University
“Through the LEAP alliance, I have been able to connect with peers of similar backgrounds at different institutions. Not only have I gained collaborators, but I have also gained friends I can lean on during some of the difficulties of grad school. The research talks are an excellent opportunity to share my work and practice public speaking in a safe, supportive environment.”