Someone on My Level: How Women of Color Describe the Role of Teaching Assistants in Creating Inclusive Technology Courses

Principal Investigator: Hala Annabi, Ph.D., Associate Professor, UW Information School

Graduate Student Lead: Mina Tari, Doctoral Student, UW Information School

Women of color are grossly underrepresented in technology-related degree programs. This underrepresentation is often attributed to exclusionary environments that are traditionally characteristic of introductory technology courses. Studies indicate that teaching assistants (TAs) may play an important role in mitigating exclusionary factors and creating inclusive learning environments for underrepresented populations. We propose a study to explore the role that undergraduate TAs play in creating inclusive environments for women of color in technology-related classes. We will use feminist approaches to give voice to and illuminate the experiences of women of color with introductory technology classes and their TAs.