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    Center for Broadening Participation in Computing

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    The Center's Structure

    The Center represents a fusion of five distinct programs in alignment with the center's overall mission. Those programs at Morehouse include the Morehouse Software Engineering Degree Program, the Morehouse Culturally Relevant Computing Lab, the Information Technology Industry Council + Morehouse College Innovation Advisory Board, the National Science Foundation Institute for African American Mentoring in Computing Sciences (Award #s 2216622 & 2417833) grant and a series of core programs.

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    Our Mission

    The Morehouse College Center for Broadening Participation in Computing aims to increase the participation of Blacks and other underrepresented and marginalized groups in the computing workforce, reduce the harm done by emerging technologies to members of society, and decrease disparities among disenfranchised groups through the tech ecosystem.

    Our Programs

    The CBPC is an academic and industry collaboration for underrepresented groups of students to compete for lucrative careers in tech.

    Institute for African-American Mentoring Program in Computing Sciences
    DETAILS
    • Fellowship Writing Workshop Series
    • Paired Mentoring Program
    • Future Faculty & Research
    • Scientist Mentoring Program
    • Guidelines for Successfully Mentoring Black/African-American Computing Sciences Doctoral Students
    • Visit IAAMCS.org for more information
    • NSF BPC-AE: Award No. 2216622
    Institute for African-American Mentoring Program in Computing Sciences Summer Bridge Experience (IAAMCS SBX)
    DETAILS
    • Duration: 6 weeks
    • Dates: June 23 – August 1, 2025
    • Location: 100% Virtual
    • Eligibility: African American incoming freshmen in Fall 2025
    • Credit: Optional 3 credit hours from Morehouse College
    • Stipend: $2,600 (issued upon program completion)
    • Application Deadline: April 30, 2025
    • Notification Date: Students will be notified of their acceptance by May 16, 2025
    • Acceptance Deadline: Accepted students must confirm participation by May 23, 2025, or their spot will be offered to another applicant. 
    • More Information here.

    Apply Here

    SafeInsights Summer Training Program
    DETAILS
    • Dates: May 18, 2025 - August 8, 2025
    • Education Research Training
    • K-12 STEM Teachers and STEM Undergraduates
    • $7,000 Stipend Upon Completion
    • Apply by April 15, 2025
    • More Information here.

    Apply Here

    Machine Learning Technician (MLT) Postbacc Program
    DETAILS
    Program Length:
    • 8 weeks: June 2 – August 1, 2025
    • 11 weeks (with Python prep): May 18 – August 1, 2025
    Schedule: Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM


    Format: Live instruction (Hybrid: Virtual & Hands-On)

    Location: Morehouse College

    Eligibility:
    • Must have earned an undergraduate degree within the last 12 months (any major)
    • If you do not have coding or Python experience, you must attend the 3-week Python prep course
    • Must be available for full-time participation
    What You’ll Learn:
    • Weeks 1–3: Python prep (optional, but required for beginners)
    • Weeks 4–5: Python for ML, data processing
    • Weeks 6–7: Supervised & unsupervised learning
    • Weeks 8–9: Model evaluation & deep learning
    • Weeks 10–11: TACC supercomputing & capstone project
    Benefits:
    • Real-world projects and hands-on training
    • Instruction by expert faculty and mentors
    • Capstone project for portfolio development
    • $1,200 stipend upon successful completion
    How to Apply:
    • Submit online application with degree details, coding background (if applicable), and a personal statement
    • Applications evaluated on problem-solving ability, learning readiness, and interest in machine learning
    • Deadline: May 15, 2025

    Apply Here

    More Information

    Level Up Summer Enrichment Youth Program
    DETAILS

    Empowering Boys of Color in Grades 6–12 to Explore Computing, Robotics, and AI

    Program Dates: Saturdays only, June 7 – August 2, 2025

    Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Lunch Provided)

    Location: Morehouse College, John H. Hopps Jr. Technology Tower (Building 5B on the campus map.

    Audience: Boys of color in grades 6–12 from the Atlanta area

    Cost: $200

    Application Deadline: June 1, 2025

    Apply Here


    Why Join?

    • Hands-on experience in tech and coding
    • Culturally responsive mentorship
    • Access to college campus resources
    • Career exploration in computing and AI

    What You’ll Learn:

    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Robotics
    • Game Development
    • Web Development
    • Life Skills


    Learn More

    Computer-Center-Background

    MAKING THE TECH ECOSYSTEM A MORE JUST, INNOVATIVE, AND EQUITABLE SPACE

    Morehouse College Partners with Information Technology Industry Council to Launch New Center Aiming to Diversify the Global Tech Industry Workforce

    Morehouse’s new Center for Broadening Participation in Computing will be advised by an Innovation Advisory Board of tech industry experts and Morehouse educators committed to sharing best practices and research in STEM curriculum innovation and tech equity.

    Morehouse College, the nation’s only historically Black liberal arts institution dedicated to educating and developing men, and the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), a global technology trade association representing 80 of the world’s most innovative companies, are partnering together to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in the tech ecosystem by launching the new Center for Broadening Participation in Computing (CBPC). Housed at Morehouse College, the CBPC is an academic and industry collaboration in preparing underrepresented groups of students to compete for careers in tech, while also developing strategies to make the tech ecosystem a more just, innovative, and equitable space for people of all socioeconomic backgrounds. The CBPC is advised by an Innovation Advisory Board (IAB) of tech experts to elevate STEM education nationally, expand degree programs, and serve as an industry resource for best practices that strengthen the pipeline for recruiting and training students of color.

    The Center will serve as a hub for training college students across 19 metro-Atlanta area institutions through Morehouse’s participation in Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education. High school students from across the state of Georgia will also have an opportunity to participate in center activities as well. Strategic partnerships with universities such as Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign, and the Georgia Institute of Technology will provide students access to opportunities and training from top-ranked computer science programs. A collaboration with tech start-up Karat will allow for several free practice technical interviews thanks to their Brilliant Black Minds program. The Center’s partnership with Coursera, a leading online platform, will give Morehouse students access to over 3,000 courses in business, tech, and data science from leading universities and companies.  

    “The Center for Broadening Participation in Computing will help ensure that people of color remain the drivers of ingenuity they have always been, especially as we navigate the boundaryless open range of the scientific and technological frontier,” said David A. Thomas, Ph.D., Morehouse College president. “A cutting-edge STEM education, infused with a top-tier liberal arts foundation and close engagement with leaders in the field, will provide talented students with a one-of-a-kind experience that will make them uniquely prepared to be global leaders of innovation.” 

    The Center’s Innovation Advisory Board, which includes representatives from ITI member companies, will leverage the vision and expertise of companies to provide internships, fellowships, and direct recruitment pipelines, as well as guidance that will strengthen Morehouse’s curriculum and certification programs in emerging and leading-edge technologies and related fields. ITI and its member companies will provide expertise, logistics, and financial resources to support the Innovation Advisory Board. Morehouse faculty will also receive continued tech-education and professional development opportunities.

    STEM majors, and other students interested in careers in the technology industry, at Morehouse College and the Atlanta University System will benefit from the Center’s career development and networking opportunities, as well as its industry insight into growth areas in tech. According to national research, Black employees are among the most underrepresented groups in the tech workforce, accounting for only 7 percent of workers.

    The Center represents a fusion of four distinct programs at Morehouse College, including the Morehouse Software Engineering Degree Program, the Morehouse Culturally Relevant Computing Lab, and the National Science Foundation-funded Institute for African American Mentoring in Computing Sciences. As part of its outreach, the Center will develop a collaborative conference to share research and strategies with peers in higher education and the tech industry.

    “What makes the Innovation Advisory Board special is the collective expertise from 80 tech companies united with a common goal,” says the CBPC’s inaugural executive director, Dr. Kinnis Gosha. “The board is well aware that investments and programming from individual companies alone will never lead to sustainable and impactful change to the nation’s ability to produce a diverse technology workforce. They are also aware that investments must be strategic and involve the institutions who are ultimately responsible for training prospective students.”

    The partnership between ITI and Morehouse has attracted an impressive list of stakeholders to serve as inaugural members of the Center’s Innovation Advisory Board,

    New York State Chief Information Officer Colonel Angelo “Tony” Riddick and representatives from Amazon, AMD, Dropbox, EY, IBM, HP, Mastercard, NetApp, SAP, Tata Consultancy Services, Tenable, and Twilio.  

    “Innovation depends upon the inclusion of diverse voices and experiences across all industries,” said ITI’s President and CEO Jason Oxman. “By leveraging the expertise of the world’s leading technology companies and the educational excellence at Morehouse College, this partnership will equip students with the skills and experiences they need to build a career in tech and lead the industry in addressing the risks and opportunities presented by technology. This partnership will turn capabilities into action, transform tech education at minority serving institutions, and deepen engagement between industry and academia to the benefit of our future leaders.”

    Read more from Innovation Advisory Board members.

    As the world’s premier advocacy, policy, and thought leader for the technology sector, ITI is uniquely positioned to bring the world’s leading experts together with educators to develop innovative technology degree programs that include a pipeline for recruitment and career pathways in the tech field. For more than 100 years, ITI’s members have been creating new technologies that have become a foundation for economies and society, creating jobs and making countries more innovative and competitive.

    For more information on Morehouse College’s Center for Broadening Participation in Computing, visit morehouse.edu/CBPC. For more on the Information Technology Industry Council and the Innovation Advisory Board, go to itic.org/advocacy/IAB.

    Our Staff

    Program Leadership

    headshot-Kinnis-Gosha-240x300
    Kinnis K. Gosha, PhD

    Executive Director & Chief Research Scientist/Hortenius I. Chenault Endowed Professor of Computer Science

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    Renee Jordan 6 (1)
    Renee D. Jordan, Ph.D.

    Associate Director & Program Director for IAAMCS

    John Porter III, PhD 14
    John Porter III, PhD '14

    Associate Director

    CBPC - Whitney-Nelson
    Whitney Nelson, MS

    Research Scientist & Professor of SWE

    CBPC - Chris Thomas-1
    Chris Thomas, MS, MFA

    Research Scientist

    CBPC - David Cherry, MS 14
    David Cherry, MS '14

    Multimedia Specialist & Professor of SWE

    CBPC - Ashley Scruse, PhD
    Ashley Scruse, PhD

    Mastercard Postdoctoral Researcher

    CBPC - David Brickler, PhD 13
    David Brickler, PhD '13

    Research Scientist & Sage Assistant Professor of AI

    CBPC - Kaylah Mackroy
    Kaylah Mackroy

    Research Scientist

    CBPC - Genesa Williams
    Genesa Williams

    Department Coordinator

    MiKayla J. Newell
    Mi'Kaylah J. Newell, PhD

    Research Assistant

    CBPC - Aliah Johnson
    Aliah Johnson

    Doctoral Researcher

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    Reggee M. McClinton, PhD

    Curriculum Specialist

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