Technology Leadership Institute : About TLI

About TLI

The Technology Leadership Initiative is currently directed by Mackenzie Ball, Director of Outreach and Alumni Engagement at the School of Computing and Information at the University of Pittsburgh.

History

The Initiative was originally the brainchild of Tonya R. Edmonds. Mrs. Edmonds received an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh in 2007 and received a MS in Computer Science at the University in 2009. She conducted research about the “pipeline” of minority students entering Computer Science and Information Technology degrees and strengthened her hypothesis of a “leaking pipeline“. According to the 2005 Taulbee survey, African Americans received 358 of 10,900 Computer Science degrees from 188 PhD granting institutions. One of the conclusions of her research was the lack of research and support initiatives available to increase African American participation in these fields.

The Department of Computer Science and School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh generously sponsor TLI. The first cohort of students completed TLI in the summer of 2006.

Mission

The mission of the Technology Leadership Initiative (TLI) is to provide underrepresented and underserved students in grades 6-12 with opportunities, tools and motivation needed to pursue computer and information science related degrees and excel academically, socially and professionally.

High School Academy is a free weeklong introduction to the field of computer science. Students will learn about such topics as hardware, operating systems, big data, web design, human/computer interaction, natural language processing, artificial intelligence, programming with Java and Python, and mobile application development. Students will also learn about the benefits of being a School of Computing and Information student at Pitt and graduating with a CS or IS degree and future career pathways.

Objectives

Create a pipeline into computer and information science programs for students from groups who are traditionally underrepresented in the field.
Enrich the community and enhance students learning and civic responsibility by serving the community through education and service-learning projects.
Provide students with the academic success skills needed to transition from high school to college.
Empower students and parents with the tools and resources to gain admission to selective colleges and universities.