Deanna Tavernier | Chapter Director
In her former life, Deanna was a geologist working for a major corporation in Texas. During those 13 years, she saw firsthand the need to increase and retain the number of women in science and technology. Deanna now devotes her time to increasing the number of girls pursuing STEM fields and ensuring women have satisfying and fulfilling tech careers.
Ivette Cortez | Program Manager
A Chicago native, Ivette has dedicated most of her life to working with underrepresented populations. A first generation daughter of Guatemalan immigrants, she would spend her summers in Guatemala, where she developed a love of learning. In 2016, she learned front-end development and uses her skills to develop a programming curriculum at Holy Family Bilingual School. She is passionate about empowering women, girls, and promoting equity and diversity in tech and hopes to introduce ChickTech to more first generation girls in Seattle.
You can reach Ivette at Ivette.Cortez@ChickTech.org
ChickTech: Career
Aparna Durvasula | High School Program Co-Lead
Before relocating to Seattle, Aparna spent five years working for tech startups in the Texas area. In Austin, she recognized the need to attract women to tech positions and began volunteering with ChickTech’s Austin chapter. Aparna believes that high school is a crucial time to excite female students about STEM careers and hopes to increase the number of high school girls who are exposed to STEM through ChickTech.
You can reach Aparna at aparna.durvasula@chicktech.org
Govardhini | High School Program Co-lead
Ben Toshio Williamson | Social Media Lead
Ben grew up in the Seattle area, and has been passionate about tech his whole life, particularly gaming. He is majoring in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Washington, and was incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to intern for ChickTech as part of his graduation requirements. Ben is excited to see the inspiring and world changing things that will emerge from a more diverse and equitable tech industry, and he believes ChickTech will be an important part of that transformation.
You can reach Ben at ben.toshio-williamson@chicktech.org
Shubha | Workshop Coordinator
Shubha Rajan is an educator turned software engineer based in Seattle, WA. She is passionate about expanding technical literacy in underrepresented and underserved populations, as well as highlighting the creative possibilities of technology. After 4 years of working as a STEM and arts educator with various non-profit organizations, including after-school programs, summer camps, an arts center and makerspace, and a science museum, Shubha chose to follow the same advice she often gave the youth she worked with and decided to pursue a career in technology. She is an alumna of Cohort 11 of Ada Developers Academy and currently works at Google on their Cloud Developer Relations team.
Aldiris | Facilitation Lead
Shama | Program & Schedule Lead
Jenny | Volunteer Coordinator
Chelsea Galvez | Photographer