UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Eighteen undergraduate and graduate students from the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) joined other women technologists from around the globe for Grace Hopper Celebration 2025 (GHC 25). The event was held Nov. 4-7 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
GHC is the world’s largest gathering of women in tech, bringing together thousands of women from across the globe to learn, network and celebrate their achievements, according to the organization’s website. It was created in 1994 to honor the legacy of computing pioneer Grace Hopper and to amplify the research, career growth and impact of women in tech.
The theme of this year’s conference was “UNBOUND,” which focused on rejecting limits and building with intention.
“This incredible event continues to inspire, challenge and empower me in new ways,” said Janelly Rossi, a third-year student majoring in enterprise technology integration in the College of IST. “This year’s theme perfectly captured the energy and spirit of the conference. The experience reminded me how important it is to take up space, have confidence, share your story and stay open to growth and new opportunities, because being unbound means continuing to evolve and redefining what is possible.”
Zina Zhang, who is pursuing a doctoral degree in informatics in the College of IST, was among the graduate students who attended.
“I was truly honored to attend Grace Hopper Celebration,” Zhang said. “It was such an inspiring experience connecting with so many amazing women in tech from different companies and universities. I learned a lot, shared great conversations and came back even more motivated.”
Most of the attendees were sponsored by the College of IST, and some were able to attend with support from the Women In Information Sciences and Technology (WIST) student organization at Penn State. Jocelyn Bennett Garraway, associate dean for student success; Madhavi Kari, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging specialist, student success; and Zoe Meyer, career services manager — all from the College of IST — accompanied the students on their journey.
The following IST graduate and undergraduate students attended the event:
- Hiba Yahya Abdallah Al Nabhani
- Diane Erukugbe Akpovwa
- Alondra Avila
- Sree Bhattacharyya
- Adheera Chilamkurthi
- Chaewan Chun
- Taylor Jaimes Jenkins
- Chanyah Denise Johnson
- Anna Sophia Kasehagen
- Nicole Alexandra Leon
- Tenley Joan Lubash
- Soumita Mukherjee
- Aruushi Naik
- Akshaya Shyamsundar Rekha
- Janelly Gisselle Rossi
- Swara Kalpesh Shroff
- Vivian Van Thanh Trinh
- Zinan Zhang