Flatiron School Relaunches Lovelace and Ford Fellowships

There’s no getting around it – tech is a fairly homogenous industry, with women and marginalized groups underrepresented in the field. What’s more, reports show that women are leaving tech, and the tech sector overall still employs fewer people of color than other sectors of the economy.  

But we can imagine a world where the tech industry is more representative of the population it serves; where people from all walks of life are welcomed and championed to succeed. The industry is making strides toward greater inclusion, and here at Flatiron School, we are committed to doing our part. 

“Some of the most ubiquitous products and innovations have been created by people with the technical skills we teach,” Jessica Solimano, VP of Shared Services at Flatiron School said regarding the relaunch. “When the pool of people with those skills becomes more diverse, the communities these products serve – including how they’re built and who they’re built for – expands.”

As 2024 kicks off, Flatiron School is thrilled to announce the relaunching of our fellowships. Flatiron Fellowship programs celebrate and empower historically underrepresented individuals in the tech community along their journey toward professional success, and provide exclusive access to fellowship-related opportunities.

Lovelace Fellowship

The Lovelace Fellowship – launching for the first time in 2024 – celebrates current students and graduates who identify as women. The fellowship is named after Ada Lovelace, recognized as the world’s first computer programmer for her pioneering work on Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine and her development of the first computer program.

Ford Fellowship

Also relaunching this year is the Ford fellowship, which celebrates students and graduates who are Black, American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian, Pacific Islander, Hispanic or mixed race. This fellowship is named after John Stanley Ford who was the first African American to work as a computer scientist, making significant contributions to the field while working at IBM.

Who Is Eligible For The Fellowships?

Both current Flatiron School students and Flatiron School alumni are eligible to become Lovelace or Ford fellows. Participation in the programs is voluntary, and members may self-enroll themselves at any time.

Fellow-Only Benefits

Flatiron Fellowships have a single purpose – championing the progress of underrepresented minorities in tech. To achieve this, Flatiron School is dedicated to offering monthly opportunities for fellows to make connections, enhance their skills, secure opportunities, and progress in their careers. 

Exclusive, fellow-only benefits include:

• Networking opportunities
• Guest Speakers from our network of employer partners 
• Skill development workshops 

Fellowship Partners

Several of our employer partners have already voiced their own support of a more diverse tech industry by committing to source, interview, and/or hire Fellows, or host custom workshops for our Fellows. Their ranks include: Cognixia, Brooksource, Accenture, FDM Group, and R/GA.

Introducing Recent Flatiron Fellows

Alyssa Essman

Lovelace Fellow

Arantxa Abraham

Ford & Lovelace Fellow

Danayt Aman

Ford & Lovelace Fellow

Goknur Kaya

Ford & Lovelace Fellow

Kacey Clougher

Lovelace Fellow

Kari Primiano

Lovelace Fellow

Kat Tannehill

Lovelace Fellow

Kate Bennert

Lovelace Fellow

Kendall McNeil

Lovelace Fellow

Laura Graham

Lovelace Fellow

Minchul An

Ford Fellow

Mytreyi Abburu

Ford & Lovelace Fellow

Promise Mbachu

Ford Fellow

Rae Stanton

Lovelace Fellow

Staci Rosales

Lovelace Fellow

Stephanie Conde

Ford & Lovelace Fellow

Let’s Change Tech Together

Flatiron School is committed to fostering greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech, one student at a time. While we still have a long way to go, together we can work towards changing tech for the better.

Disclaimer: The information in this blog is current as of January 18, 2024. Current policies, offerings, procedures, and programs may differ.

About Anna Van Deusen

Anna Van Deusen is the Marketing Content Manager at Flatiron School. When not writing about tech and Flatiron School students, she can be found hanging out with her dogs on a beach…

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