Computer Science Needs More Timnit Gebrus
We are researchers, educators, program providers, and advocates for computer science for all students. We work to increase access, participation, and engagement of students who have been traditionally marginalized in CS — specifically students of color and women. We acutely understand the role technology plays in every aspect of our lives, including our economy and democracy. And yet, we find ourselves at a critical juncture where we are advocating for greater inclusion in computing, while communities of color are often excluded from and harmed by technological innovation.
We are united in our disappointment to learn that Dr. Timnit Gebru, a world-renowned researcher on ethics and artificial intelligence, was recently “separated” from Google. This is a loss not only because it means one less Black woman in a position of leadership in tech, but also because Dr. Gebru was using her voice to elevate attention and concern about the harms that can be caused by technology, algorithmic bias, and systemic racism. This is an important moment for the CS education community to voice its support for Dr. Timnit Gebru and other Black women in tech whose voices have never been elevated, have been disrespected, disbelieved, or have been silenced by an unhealthy culture of systemic racism in academia and the tech industry. Further, this issue goes far beyond Dr. Gebru and represents much larger issues, such as the talented pool of Black students and other students of color nationwide who deserve a fair and equitable opportunity to interview or work for Google or other tech companies.
Google has been a long-time partner in advancing CSforAll, and many of us have been funded by Google and other tech industry partners. We also know it can be difficult for some organizations and individuals who are dependent on this funding for their important work to have open and honest discussions when these complex issues arise. Yet, we firmly believe in the importance of having a critical lens and voicing concerns about issues at the intersection of race, technology, and computer science education.
We believe the computer science education community cannot be “neutral” on issues of race and gender in computer science, as the new world created by technology and its impact are not “neutral.” Communities of color and low-income communities are regularly harmed by the impact of algorithmic bias in areas including facial recognition, predictive policing, credit scores and loan applications, and hiring. And the lack of representation of technologists among our leaders contributes to these biases and exacerbates inequality. As we prepare young students to imagine the possibilities in a career using technology with a critical lens, we must also ensure that these work environments will value them and their contributions.
Computer science education has an opportunity to address these challenges head-on. We must continue addressing ongoing racial and gender disparities in access, equity, and participation. To do so, part of computer science curriculum and pedagogy must include a critical lens on the role of computing, the ethical questions involved, the potential for harm, as well as the benefits. The broader CS education community needs more Timnit Gebrus, those who bring their identities and experiences as Black women to the field, who apply intellectual rigor to these topics, who will use their courage to unveil the harms in technology, and innovate solutions for good.
We, the undersigned organizations and individuals from the CS education community stand in support of Timnit Gebru and with other Black women in computer science; we commit to creating CS education for the next generation that includes rather than excludes Black women and other marginalized students, encourages a critical and ethical lens on the role of technology, and supports — rather than silences — critiques.
To add your name to the list:
- Email CSEdStandsWithTimnit@gmail.com from your institutional email address (preferred) with the subject line “support”
- Include your name and affiliation, as you’d like it to appear on the list of signatories.
Signatures of Organizations and/or Individuals
Dr. Jane Margolis, Ed.D
UCLA CS Equity Project
Dr. Allison Scott
Kapor Center
Alana Aaron
Director of Outreach, Education Programs
Code.org
Ken Akiha
Curriculum Development Manager
Code.org
Ali Alkhatib
Research Fellow
Center for Applied Data Ethics
Brenda J. Allen, Ph.D.
Professor Emerita
Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion (retired)
University of Colorado Denver
Dr. Christine Alvarado
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
University of California, San Diego
Jared Amalong
Director, Computer Science and Distance Learning
Sacramento County Office of Education
Dr. Owen Astrachan
Department of Computer Science
Duke University
Tiffany Barnes
Co-Director, STARS Computing Corps
Co-chair IEEE Computer STC Broadening Participation
Professor of Computer Science
North Carolina State University
Dr. Valerie Barr
Department of Computer Science
Mount Holyoke College
Bria Barry
Outreach Manager, Northeast
Code.org
Jake Baskin
Executive Director
Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA)
Heidi Baynes
Coordinator, Educational Technology
Riverside County Office of Education
Maureen Biggers
Expanding Pathways in Computing (EPIC),
Indiana University
Megan Bowen
Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Equity Fellow
Enobong (Anna) Branch
Rutgers University
CS4ALL RPP Springfield, MA
Dr. Karen Brennan
Associate Professor of Education
Harvard University
Dr. Quincy K. Brown
BlackinComputing
Stephanie Bundle
UCLA CS Equity Project Mississippi Research Team
Jael Burrows
Video Lead
Code.org
Frank M. Carrano, Ph. D.
Professor Emeritus of Computer Science
University of Rhode Island
Lisa M. Chambers, National Executive Director
TECH CORPS
Suresh Chanmugam
Software Engineer
Code.org
Nery Chapeton-Lamas, M.C.S.
Department Chair, Computer Science
MiraCosta College
Gail Chapman
Exploring Computer Science
Victoria C. Chávez
Computer Science Lecturer
University of Rhode Island
Jennifer Chien
Ph.D. Student in Computer Science and Engineering, UC San Diego
President of GradWIC at UCSD
Tara Chklovski
CEO, Technovation
Sarah Ciras
Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Equity Fellow
Shanti’ Coaston
Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Equity Fellow
Joshua Cook
PhD Student in Computer Science Theory
The University of Texas at Austin
Writes comics at quackack.com
Christy Crawford
Dir. of Culturally Responsive & Sustaining Education
Computer Science For All, NYC
Kalisha Davis
CS Equity Curriculum Project Director
Kapor Center
Dr. Leigh Ann DeLyser
Executive Director, CSforALL
Jill Denner
Senior Research Scientist
ETR
Lien Diaz
Constellations Center for Equity in Computing
Georgia Tech University
Dr. Lisa DiPippo
Chair, Department of Computer Science and Statistics
University of Rhode Island
Julie T. Do
University of Washington
John P. Dougherty (jd)
Associate Professor
Computer Science
Haverford College
Chris Dovi, Executive Director
CodeVA
Dr. Wendy DuBow
University of Colorado at Boulder
Sarah Dunton, Director
Expanding Computing Education Pathways (ECEP) Alliance
Michael Eason
High School CS Teacher
Dr Temitayo Matthew Fagbola,
Assistant Professor
Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria
Sarah Fairweather
Director of Professional Learning
Code.org
Ruthe Farmer
CSforAll
Dr. Julie Flapan
UCLA Computer Science Equity Project
Carol L. Fletcher, Ph.D.
Director, Expanding Pathways in Computing (EPIC)
Texas Advanced Computing Center
The University of Texas at Austin
Desiree Forsythe
Department of Computer Science and Statistics
University of Rhode Island
Eric Foster
Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Equity Fellow
Baker Franke
Research & Evaluation Manager
Code.org
Crystal M. Franklin
Director, K-12 Computer Science Education, CSforCLE
Cleveland State University
Dwana Franklin-Davis
CEO
Reboot Representation
Charity Freeman
Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Equity Fellow
Michelle Friend
CSTA Board Member
Dave Frye, Ed.D.
Director of Program Development and Operations
Code.org
Jay Gabriele
System Administrator
University of Rhode Island
Antero Garcia
Assistant Professor
Stanford University
Dan Garcia, Ph.D.
Teaching Professor
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
UC Berkeley
Patricia Garcia
Assistant Professor
University of Michigan, School of Information
Dr. Angela B Ginorio
Emerita GWSS
University of Washington — Seattle
Shaina Glass
Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Equity Fellow
Dr. Joanna Goode
University of Oregon / Exploring Computer Science
Dr. Tamaro Green, DCS
Editor
TJG News
Dr. Shuchi Grover
Looking Glass Ventures &
Visiting Scholar, Stanford University
Dr. Roxana Hadad
UCLA CS Equity Project
Deb Harding
Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Equity Fellow
Brian Harvey
Computer Science Division (Emeritus)
University of California, Berkeley
Mike Harvey
Curriculum Development Manager
Code.org
Abdeltawab Hendawi
Assistant Professor
Department of Computer Science and Statistics
University of Rhode Island
Dr. Katie Hendrickson
Director of State Government Affairs
Code.org
Caroline Herman
International Project Manager
Code.org
Rachelle Hippler
ACM-W Professional Chapters, Chair
Nicol R. Howard, PhD
Assistant Professor
School of Education, University of Redlands
Co-Editor, Journal of Computer Science Integration
Earl W. Huff, Jr.
Ph.D. Candidate and Graduate Research Assistant
School of Computing, Clemson University
Yuna Hur, M.S.Ed
9–12 Curriculum Developer & Instructor
Computer Science & Math
Sharin Jacob
PhD in Education Candidate
University of California, Irvine
Adrin Jalali
Zalando, Berlin
Dr. Abigail Joseph
Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Equity Fellow
Dr. Yasmin Kafai
Lori and Michael Milken President’s Distinguished Professor, Graduate School of Education
Secondary Faculty, Computer and Information Science, School of Engineering and Applied Science
University of Pennsylvania
Eli Kennedy
CEO
SMASH
George Kephart
Bootcamp Instructor
CNM Ingenuity
Saber Khan
Processing Foundation
Shelby Kimmel
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Middlebury College
Dr. Amy J. Ko, Ph.D. (she/her)
Professor · The Information School
University of Washington · Seattle
http://faculty.uw.edu/ajko
Dr. Sarah Kuhn
Professor Emerita
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Julienne LaChance
Lead Instructor, Princeton AI4ALL, Princeton University
Todd Lash
Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Equity Fellow
Michelle G. Lee
Computer Science Content Specialist,
San Francisco Unified School District
CS Teaching Excellence Honoree
CSTA Equity Fellow
Shiela Lee
Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Equity Fellow
Pamela M. Leggett-Robinson, Ph.D., CAPM
Founder & Executive Director, PLR Consulting
Dr. Kathleen J. Lehman
UCLA Department of Education
Momentum: Accelerating Equity in Computing and Technology
Diane Levitt
Sr. Director of K-12 Education
Cornell Tech
Constantine Lignos
Assistant Professor of Linguistics in the Department of Computer Science
Brandeis University
Art Lopez
9–12 Representative, Board of Directors, Computer Science Teachers Association
District TOSA Computer Science, Sweetwater Union High School District
Project Manager, Coding Our Future, UC-San Diego CREATE and EDS
President, CSTA-San Diego Chapter
Rebecca Luebker
Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Equity Fellow
Adam Lurie
Teacher — Chicago Public Schools
Dr. Jasmine Y. Ma
Department of Teaching and Learning
Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development
New York University
Maria Magnanimo-Toledo
Specialist
ITI, LAUSD
Professor Mary Lou Maher
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Dr. Charles McDowell
Professor, Emeritus
Computer Science & Engineering Dept.
University of California, Santa Cruz
Steve McGee
President
The Learning Partnership
Monica McGill, Ed.D. (she/her)
CEO and Founder, CSEdResearch.org
ACM-W North America Committee, Chair
Dr. Lisa Meeden
Computer Science Department
Swarthmore College
Sophia Mendoza
Director
Instructional Technology Initiative
http://achieve.lausd.net/iti
Division of Instruction
Joseph Mertz, Ph.D.
Director, Information Systems Program
Carnegie Mellon University
Daniele Metilli
ISTI-CNR & University of Pisa
Don Miller
Southeast Outreach Manager
Code.org
Alexandra Milliken
CS PhD Candidate, Graduate Research Assistant
North Carolina State University
Dr. Mia Minnes
Computer Science and Engineering
UC San Diego
Bhaskar Mitra
Microsoft & University College London
Montreal, Canada
Lilibeth Mora
Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Equity Fellow
Noura Al Moubayed
Department of Computer Science, Durham University
Ashley Myers
Computer Science Teacher
Seattle Public Schools
Elizabeth Naameh
Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Equity Fellow
Brandon Nicholson
Executive Director
Hidden Genius Project
Dr. Safiya U. Noble
Department of Information Studies
Department of African American Studies and
UCLA Center for Critical Internet Inquiry
Dr. Maria Ong
TERC
Patricia Ordóñez, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Computer Science
University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras
Mayné González Osorio
Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Equity Fellow
Dr. Anne Ottenbreit-Leftwich
Department of Instructional Systems Technology
Indiana University
Anjali Pal
Software Engineer
Code.org
Hadi Partovi
CEO and co-founder
Code.org
Joan Peckham
Professor Emerita, Computer Science
University of Rhode Island
Dr. Ted Pedersen
Department of Computer Science
University of Minnesota, Duluth
Rui Pereira
Adjunct Faculty NYU- Tisch
Lead creative technologist — HUMANOS.XYZ
Dr. Forest Olaf Peterson
Sponsored Affiliate Postdoctoral Scholar
Center for Integrated Facility Engineering, Stanford University
Julia Poepping
Associate Director of Partnership Development
Information Systems Program
Carnegie Mellon University
Rose Pozos
Stanford University
Jeria Quesenberry, Ph.D.
Teaching Professor, Information Systems Program
Carnegie Mellon University
Adalbert Gerald Soosai Raj
Assistant Teaching Professor
Computer Science and Engineering
University of California San Diego
Mitchel Resnick
MIT Media Lab
Stephanie Rodriguez, PhD
VP Policy & Engagement
AnitaB.org
Teemu Roos
Leader of AI Education Programs, Finnish Center for AI
Professor of Computer Science, University of Helsinki
Dr. Ricarose Roque
Assistant Professor of Information Science
University of Colorado Boulder
Jennifer Rosato
National Center for CS Education
College of St. Scholastica
Chair, CSTA Board of Directors
Dr. Omar Ruvalcaba
Associate Professor of Psychology
California State University, Northridge
Solomon Russell
Assistant Professor, Computer Science
El Camino College
Dr. Jamie Payton
Director, STARS Computing Corps Alliance for Broadening Participation in Computing
Associate Professor, Temple University, Department of Computer & Information Sciences
Laura Ramirez
Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Equity Fellow
Yolanda A. Rankin, Ph.D.
School of Information
Florida State University
Andy Rasmussen
Chicago Public Schools
Dale Reed
Clinical Professor
University of Illinois Chicago
Debra Richardson, Co-PI Expanding Computing Education Pathways
Professor Emerita of Informatics & Founding Dean, Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine
Dr. Joshua L. Rosenbloom
Iowa State University, Department of Economics
Je’Monda Roy
UCLA CS Equity Project
Dr. Jean J. Ryoo
UCLA CS Equity Project
Dr. Mehran Sahami
Computer Science Department
Stanford University
Dr. Rafi Santo,
CSforALL
Dr. Linda J. Sax
UCLA Department of Education
Momentum: Accelerating Equity in Computing and Technology
Dr. Emmanuel Schanzer
Co-Director
Bootstrap, Brown University
Dr. Cassandra Scharber
Associate Professor of Learning Technologies
University of Minnesota
Daniel Schneider
Curriculum Development Manager
Code.org
Dr. Cheryl Seals
Auburn University
Deborah W. Seehorn
State Lead
CS4NC/ NC ECEP
Stacey Sexton
Research Associate
SageFox Consulting Group
Nathanael Sheehan
UCL
Paul D. Sherman
Jackie Smalls
Code.org
Ellen Spertus, PhD
Professor of Computer Science
Mills College (previously Senior Research Scientist, Google)
Jeff Solin, Chicago Public Schools
Charles Souza
Office of Curriculum and Instructional Design
Administrator, Learning and Technology Section
Dr. Florence R. Sullivan
Professor and Chair
Teacher Ed and Curr Studies
UMass, Amherst
Brett Tanaka
Educational Specialist — Computer Science
Hawaii State Department of Education
Dr. Tiera Tanksley, Ph.D
Assistant Professor of Education
University of Colorado, Boulder
Gloria Childress Townsend
Professor of Computer Science
DePauw University
a.m. Tsaasan, MS
Informatics PhD Candidate, UCI
CS Instructor, Orange Coast College
Paul Tulloch
Research Director, LivingWork Analytics
Bryan Twarek
Director of Education
Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA)
Dr. John Underwood
Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Equity Fellow
Dr. Sepehr Vakil
Assistant Professor, Learning Sciences
School of Education and Social Policy
Northwestern University
Dr. Sarah Van Wart
Assistant Professor of Instruction
Department of Computer Science
Northwestern University
Briana Vecchione
PhD Student, Cornell University
Dr. Sara Vogel
Postdoctoral Associate
New York University
Hannah Walden
Curriculum Development Manager
Code.org
Dr. Steve Walker
Senior Lecturer; Critical Information Studies Group, School of Computing and Communication, The Open University
Kendra Walther
Information Technology Program
University of Southern California
Jayce R. Warner, Ph.D.
Texas Advanced Computing Center
The University of Texas at Austin
Dr. Nicki Washington
Department of Computer Science
Duke University
Linda Werner, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor of Computer Science & Engineering
University of California, Santa Cruz
Shana V. White, Ed.S
Kapor Center ECS Advisory Board Member
CSTA Equity Fellow
CS Teacher
Meredith Whittaker
Minderoo Research Professor, NYU; Faculty Director, AI Now Institute
Kim Wilkens
Tech-Girls, Founder
EdD student, University of Virginia
Andrew B. Williams, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
School of Engineering
Charles E. and Mary Jane Spahr Professor
Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
Director, IHAWKe Diversity & Women’s Programs
University of Kansas
Renae Williams
Chief Program Officer
Mouse.org
Brenda Darden Wilkerson
AnitaB.org
James Winn
Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Equity Fellow
Marcelo Worsley
Assistant Professor
Learning Sciences and Computer Science
Northwestern University
Dr. Stephanie Wortel-London
Director of Research, CSforALL
Anna Xu
Software Engineer
Code.org
Dr. Aman Yadav
Professor, Educational Psychology and Educational Technology
Co-Director, Master of Arts in Educational Technology
Michigan State University
Min Yoo
Code.org
Rebecca Zarch
Director
SageFox Consulting Group
Eboni Zook
Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Equity Fellow
Eduardo Zurita
Los Angeles Unified School District
Instructional Technology Initiative
