Introducing America On Tech's 2020-2021 Alumni Council!

The Alumni Council is a brand new initiative launched this summer as a component of our broader alumni programming strategy at America On Tech.  In June 2020 we shared an open invite to all alumni to apply to join the Alumni Council. Each applicant shared a wide range of amazing ideas on how to make our alumni programming speak to the needs of our alumni community. After a rigorous review, six alumni leaders were selected to represent the alumni community on the Council.

The Alumni Council members will make recommendations concerning a variety of matters impacting the AOT alumni community and serve as leaders of a budding community with the overall mission of creating pathways for AOT alumni into technology careers. 

The Council members’ roles and responsibilities range from organizing community engagement activities throughout the year and helping organize our biannual Alumni Summits,  to creating a direct communication line between the alumni community and AOT leadership. 

We believe that our Alumni Council represents the best of AOT in terms of diversity, talent and leadership ability.  We are very excited for all they will do to support our America On Tech alumni community.  Meet our new leaders below!

And if you're an America On Tech Alumni, be sure to RSVP for the July 24th Alumni Summit to meet them VIRTUALLY! Click here to RSVP.

​SAMARA MCCALLUM
President
​​2019 America On Tech Alum

 

Samara is a student at Carnegie Mellon University studying Information Systems.  She wanted to join the Alumni Council because AOT played a huge role in her high school experience and she wants to find ways to stay involved and keep other alum involved.

​FUN FACT: Samara took classes in Mandarin Chinese for 7 years and still knows little to none of it!

 

YADIRA CRUZ
Vice President
2018 America On Tech Alum

Yadira is a student at Bowdoin College and is double majoring in Computer Science and Digital and Computational Studies.  Yadira wanted to join the Alumni Council because she's been a part of the AOT community for 5 years now and wanted to make sure that alumni receive the same resources and opportunities once they graduate high school that she did. Additionally, she wants to "pay it forward" - helping and sharing her resources with other AOT alumni so that they can all be successful.
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​​FUN FACT: Yadira plays Just Dance as a fun way to exercise!

JESUS BARRERA
Vice President
2020 America On Tech Alum

Jesus will be attending CUNY's Hunter College this fall and intends to study coding and 3D modeling, majoring in Computer Science.  Jesus wanted to join the Alumni Council in order to gain leadership experience and, more importantly, help others in their paths in the STEM field.

FUN FACT: Jesus likes painting landscapes using oil pastels and loves making 3D-modeled creatures. 

TASFIA SULTANA
Administrative Officer
​2019 America On Tech Alum

Tasfia will be attending Syracuse University this fall to pursue a degree in Computer Science.  Tasfia joined the Alumni Council because she wants to make sure that the AOT Alumni network stays strongly connected. This program has had a great impact on her and she wants others to have a similar positive experience. 

FUN FACT: During quarantine, Tasfia has been baking her heart out and started painting! This is something she's wanted to do for the longest time, but never found sufficient time to fully get into it.

JOSEPHINE MAN
Communications Officer
2019 America On Tech Alum

Josephine will be attending Vassar College this fall.  Her intended major is Computer Science and she hopes to minor in Chinese and Japanese Literary and Cultural Studies.  Josephine wanted to join the Alumni Council because she loves digital content creation and felt like there was no better way to use her creativity than to promote the AOT mission and strengthen the incredible AOT alumni network. AOT has given Josephine some great connections and friends, and she would love to help continue expanding the amazing opportunities and initiatives that AOT provides its alumni.

FUN FACT: Josephine loves songwriting and playing instruments. She is a flute player and piano player but is hoping to also learn how to play the ukulele soon!

TANYA JAIN
Events Officer
​2018 America On Tech Alum

Tanya is a student at New York University's Tandon School Of Engineering and is studying Computer Science.  Tanya wanted to join the Alumni Council to provide alumni with a means to stay connected.

FUN FACT: Tanya likes to do thrilling activities. She went skydiving last year!