By Howard University
In an effort to boost diversity in the Silicon Valley tech industry, juggernaut Google is trying something new: partnering with Washington, DC-based HBCU, Howard University. Together they are launching “Howard West,” a three-month summer program for rising juniors and seniors who are studying computer science.
Twenty-five to thirty students will be selected for this summer’s program, which will be taught by senior Google engineers and Howard faculty at Google’s Mountain View campus in California. Students will receive a stipend for housing and other expenses.
Bonita Stewart, Vice President of Global Partnerships at Google, is an alum of Howard and worked with Wayne Frederick (Howard’s president) to develop the program. Stewart says Google has plans to eventually expand to include other HBCUs.