To commemorate Women’s History Month at Per Scholas, we looked inward to highlight and learn from strong female-identifying Per Scholians at our organization. We interviewed five Per Scholas women about their careers, what brought them to their current roles, and what motivates them. These women are a handful of the voices we interact with and learn from daily at our organization, which is rapidly growing with diversity in mind.

Currently, our National Leadership Team is 50% women, and 11 of our 20+ Managing Directors are women, showing that we are changing the face of tech from the inside, and out. Through our internal work of diversifying Per Scholas, we’re seeing our external mission to diversify the tech landscape reflected. We’re thrilled to have seen 40% of our learners in 2022 were women.

The women of Per Scholas are leading the way for the organization from their various perspectives. Per Scholas Senior Manager of Internal Communications Mackenzie Loewen sat down with five members of our staff to share their stories. Below you will read the compelling experiences of:

Evelyn Chen, Senior Vice President of Development

Chelsea Clarke, Senior Director of Market Expansion

Kira Hays, Technical Instructor (Cyber), RTT, LA

Meredith LeDuc (Merri), Senior Manager of Implementation and Project Management

Chelsey Williams, Program Manager of Tech Women of Color, Columbus

What journey did you take in your career to get you where you are today?

Chelsey W: I was a teacher for seven years, with a degree in Early Childhood education. My favorite thing about teaching is the ‘a-ha’ moment when something clicks with students. Joining Per Scholas, I needed to keep that aspect, and now as a Program Mgr. for Tech Women of Color, I love supporting the learners, instructors, and beyond – especially when we see that ‘a-ha’ moment. 

Merri: Unconventional. My position at Per Scholas is my first project management title, but I’ve done project management my entire life – directed three musical productions in college, was the director of game operations and promotions for an Ohio Hockey Team, and worked on a cruise ship – and Project Management was the tent pole across all roles. I realized I really like project management, taking tasks from the start to the finish. 

Kira: I have been in tech since seven or eight years old. It was my mom who got me into tech. It’s been a fantastic journey…even thinking back to my first Mac – it ran Oregon Trail like the best of them! When I was young, I learned how to troubleshoot; I’d break it and fix it, and break it again. I then joined the Navy and did a lot more troubleshooting, but an unfortunate incident resulted in medical retirement. I came across another training organization to get tech certifications, and I got all of the certifications in five weeks! I was hired on as a trainer and, like Chelsey mentioned, fell in love with the ‘a-ha’ moment. Now I am a full instructor at Per Scholas, and it has been even more of a learning experience. 

Evelyn: I was very briefly in publishing and then worked in hospitality in a sales and marketing role. I realized early in my career that I wanted my job to have a bigger impact on issues that I cared about, and since I was working in sales and marketing, that lent itself to development. 

Chelsea C.: I was an environmental scientist, worked at one of the national parks, and the through line became economic development. Dipped my toe in a lot of different sectors, including nonprofits and higher education. I kept asking “How do we redistribute wealth, justice, equity?” Also spent 3 years volunteering for AmeriCorps and Peace Corps.

What do you love about your role?

Chelsey W.: I enjoy being part of all aspects of the programs at Per Scholas. With the Tech Women of Color program, we are training as Per Scholas, but we also have to work in partnership with our supporters on professional development aspects. I love meeting potential women that will take the course during the admissions process and them remembering me later on in their journey. 

Kira: Even though I am an Instructor, I am still learning new things. There is always something you don’t know, and if there is something I don’t know, I will find out everything about it. Something great about tech is how it is always moving. I’ve also found my empathy with learners and my capacity to feel what others feel in the moment is a strength. 

What are your strengths? 

Merri: Connecting with people. At a basic human level, we all have connections. Those connections are the lifeblood of my job. We are on this journey together, and I will not leave anyone out to dry. I think of the power of ‘we’ and am willing to reach out and set an example. 

Chelsey W.: I love working across the board, keeping the relationship with the funder, just all aspects of the Tech Women of Color program. I enjoy the admissions process, love to meet women, and I’m excited to learn more about the tech industry.

What advice would you give your younger self coming into your career?

Chelsey W.: I would tell my younger self to not be afraid to dream; speak up for yourself; love yourself; believe in yourself. 

Merri:  I’d tell her don’t change a thing. Her path is whacky and stressful, but I wouldn’t be who I am without her. And ‘Don’t let the self-doubt in’; Imposter Syndrome is a struggle.

What are some of the challenges you have had to overcome as a woman in the workforce?

Chelsea C: Dealing with implicit bias is one of the challenges I have faced – causing me to work on my own socialization to be polite and likable. I’ve always been and wanted to be a leader, but also have always been conscious about how women can be labeled. It’s been a challenge to find that balance of staying true to yourself and being confident.

Evelyn:  I feel like it’s hard to unpack from all the other things: do people see me as a woman, or a person of color, or a woman of color? Having worked in development, where it’s mostly women in that space, as well as at an organization where most of the staff were women, I’ve come to appreciate that diversity in many different forms helps you to get better outcomes. One of the challenges has been how I have internalized this caretaker role women so often take on; we see this so often with women in tech. What I’ve learned is that there’s a combination of ‘I took it on,’ but also that everyone else let me – there are unwritten expectations of what society thinks it’s normal for women to take on, that it can be healthy to question.

What drives you?

Chelsey W.: My family drives me; really my mother drives me. She passed last July and truly was my biggest supporter. She would be very proud of the work I am doing today because she only worked for nonprofits, and I feel that I am walking in her footsteps and making a difference in the work that I do. She provided such a good example for me growing up, and I work to make her proud of who I am becoming.

Evelyn: A combination of making an impact in the world and the role I can play. I want the world to be a better place, but I am also realistic about how much one person can do. That’s why I believe in the power of collective action, because I can only control what I can do but if everyone does their part, the world will be a much better place. 

Chelsea C.: What drives me is trying to bring more justice or equity in my corner of the world. I do what I can with what I have, hoping to impact as many people as I can. I can use the skills and privileges that I have to leverage situations to level the playing field or advance equity. Purpose drives me philosophically. I love a challenge and have learned that I like an ambiguous, strategic challenge. 

Kira: What drives me is an insatiable curiosity about the world around me and a desire to use the knowledge to better myself and others. I desire to learn about everything as much as I can and understand what’s going on so that I can use the experience gained to help others. Growth doesn’t simply stop when you get that certification or that degree, it’s an ever ongoing journey, and that journey is the joy of life, allowing us to create our own meaning and purpose.

What do you hope for in the future for women in tech/women in the workforce?

Chelsey W.: What I hope for the future for women in tech is that they believe this is a space they belong in, where they are a value-add and not just filling a quota. I hope they learn to dream and not be afraid to fall or fail, that they will always have someone in their corner ready to pick them up and help put them back on track. 

Chelsea C.: What I love about my role is that I get to use my experience as a local campus staff member and translate it to the national level, and match it with my love to travel. I love innovations and strategy, and I hope that in the future, women and all people with marginalized identities will be represented in the workforce. This includes a broader definition of women and consideration of non-binary and genderqueer individuals…There is a really prevalent version of cis white feminism that has been very exclusionary, and I wonder how our race and other identity markers intersect. I hope for safety, equal representation, salary, a welcoming environment, and respect for people of all genders.

 

Evelyn: I second everything Chelsea said, and would add the component of race to our discussion. To make progress, we need to understand that the patriarchy is bad for everyone. There is so much time wasted on in-fighting, and we lose sight of the big goal when we think of it as a zero-sum game. My hope is that women can step into our power and leverage every tactic, every strategy, every alliance, to make progress. 

Chelsea C.: Plus one to everyone! I recommend Kimberlé Crenshaw’s book, On Intersectionality. It’s really important for cis white women like me to let women and non-binary people of color take the lead in equity work and listen to what everyone has to say. 

Hearing the voices and perspectives of women of Per Scholas shows that our mission to advance equity and increase opportunity across America is present in all aspects of the organization. The work the women of Per Scholas are doing can be seen in the statistics of women learners in our courses and how many of our women alumni advance their tech careers. Per Scholas is a key player in increasing the presence of women in the tech industry, which has historically been dominated by men.

 

Per Scholas Chief Training Officer Jasmine Miller was featured by TEKsystems for her insight into women in tech and workforce equity. As a partner of Per Scholas, we have worked closely with TEKsystems to empower our learners and alumni to make a more streamlined, direct connection to in-demand employment opportunities in tech.

“Imposter syndrome can be a problem for women in any male-dominated field,” Jasmine Miller noted, “but because the IT industry is 75% male, the data shows that women report a lower rate of belonging than men. The needle will move when women are encouraged to bring their full selves to work and welcomed into an environment that supports them.”

In her role, Jasmine has been intentional about bringing in more women for Per Scholas’ training, where 41% of our learners in 2022 were women. Unlocking potential in women learners who step into tech roles has been a priority as a pioneer for equity.

Read the full feature here.

The Columbus Dispatch featured Per Scholas in an article featuring our Tech Women of Color workforce initiative.  This initiative is supported by a $4.5 million grant that was unanimously approved by the Franklin County Board of Commissioners on International Women’s Day. The free, 15-week course will kick off in July and aims to train 200 women of color in cohorts over the next two years.

“We are grateful to the Franklin County Board of Commissioners for providing us the opportunity to be of service to our community, and to our local partners who will come alongside us as we seek to make a transformative impact in this county,” stated Jenn Fowler Howard, Senior Director of the Tech Women of Color Alliance. “We recognize that this project will not only change the lives of the women who participate but will also build stronger families, communities, and businesses for years to come.”

This workforce initiative is part of Per Scholas’s ongoing goal to promote the presence of women in tech.

Read the full article from The Columbus Dispatch here!

 

Per Scholas Expands Cybersecurity and Tech Training Offerings to St. Louis 

Cortex Innovation Community Welcomes Per Scholas As Part of Strategy To Accelerate Region’s Inclusive Economic Growth

ST. LOUIS (April 4, 2022) — National tech training nonprofit Per Scholas today announced its expansion to St. Louis and the appointment of Dr. Charlie Mackey, Jr. as Per Scholas St. Louis Managing Director. Through an innovative partnership with Cortex Innovation Community, Per Scholas St. Louis will offer its tuition-free, rigorous technical training as the latest addition to Cortex, from its newest campus, located at 20 S. Sarah Street in the District. 

Sam Fiorello, Cortex President & CEO, said, “Cortex is thrilled to welcome Per Scholas and Dr. Charlie Mackey, Jr. to the St. Louis community. The St. Louis region has a large number of unfilled jobs, particularly in growing areas like cybersecurity; adding Per Scholas to the existing infrastructure of local training partners will strengthen the support necessary to employ under-skilled workers and fill these critical job openings in the St. Louis region.” 

Per Scholas has advanced economic equity for more than 25 years by offering evidence-based, tuition-free technology training and connecting Per Scholas graduates to high-growth careers in technology. Aligned with its commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, 85 percent of Per Scholas learners are people of color, and more than a third identify as women. Graduates are hired into tech roles by more than 650 employer partners nationwide, ranging from Fortune 500 to innovative startups. 

“I am honored to join Per Scholas and lead our transformational work here in St. Louis. I believe our training removes two of the largest barriers for members of our local community who aspire to work in technology: access and affordability. By removing these barriers, Per Scholas learners and our future St. Louis graduates can achieve social and economic mobility,” said Dr. Charlie Mackey, Per Scholas St. Louis Managing Director. “Our partnership with Cortex – and being located in this incredible District – will propel our ability to interact with the local tech community and employers in need of tech talent. Per Scholas St. Louis is excited to join CyberUp and NPower in training St. Louis’ future technologists. Together, I’m confident we’ll be able to achieve our shared vision of a more inclusive and diverse tech workforce here in St. Louis.”

In 2022, Per Scholas St. Louis will offer Cybersecurity and IT Support skills training and is currently accepting applications for its Cybersecurity cohort, scheduled to begin on June 17. 

The Cortex Innovation Community is committed to partnering with employers, training providers and academic institutions to grow and attract quality jobs and prepare a diversity of talent to fill those jobs. Partnering with Per Scholas to fill the need for skilled talent in cybersecurity and tech is a critical component of Cortex’s recently released 5-year strategic plan. 

“It takes focused, intentional collaboration to achieve a vision as ambitious as an equitable, inclusive, and diverse workforce, and Per Scholas is grateful to Cortex for their leadership and warm welcome to St. Louis. The opportunity before us is great, and with Charlie at the helm, I know Per Scholas St. Louis will make a meaningful difference in the lives of our learners, their families, and the newest city Per Scholas is proud to call home,” said Plinio Ayala, President and CEO, Per Scholas. 

Per Scholas St. Louis will participate in the Cybersecurity Minicon, hosted by The Global Center for Cybersecurity @ Cortex on April 7. For additional details and to register, click here.  

To learn more about Per Scholas St. Louis, click here. To learn more about Cortex Innovation Community, www.cortexstl.org.  

About Cortex Innovation Community: Cortex is a vibrant space serving as an inclusive economic engine for St. Louis. Cortex creates equitable economic impacts by leveraging high-quality facilities, developing programs that build knowledge and networks, and convening strategic partnerships that attract and support emerging and established companies. Founded in 2002 through a collaboration of Washington University in St. Louis, BJC HealthCare, the University of Missouri – St. Louis, Saint Louis University, and the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Cortex Innovation Community (CortexSTL.org) is an internationally recognized hub of innovation and entrepreneurship that is focused on accelerating inclusive economic growth in St. Louis. 

About Per Scholas: Per Scholas is a national organization that has been advancing economic mobility for more than 25 years. Through rigorous training, professional development, and robust employer connections, we prepare individuals traditionally underrepresented in technology for high-growth careers in the industry. We partner with leading employers to build more diverse talent pools, directly connecting our graduates to new career opportunities at businesses ranging from Fortune 500 companies to innovative startups. With campuses in 18 cities, Per Scholas has trained more than 16,000 individuals in tech skills, building bridges to careers in technology. To learn more, visit PerScholas.org and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

 

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Per Scholas Promotes Jasmine Miller to Chief Training Officer

BRONX, N.Y. (March 30, 2022) — Jasmine Miller has been promoted to Chief Training Officer at Per Scholas, the national nonprofit announced today. A seasoned, visionary leader with a passion for technology and commitment to advancing economic equity, Jasmine joined Per Scholas in 2016 as Managing Director of Per Scholas Atlanta. As Chief Training Officer, Jasmine will be responsible for driving the strategy and outcomes of Per Scholas’ rigorous technical training offerings at 17 campuses nationwide and growing, as well as Per Scholas’s National Remote Training Team. 

“I’m humbled by this promotion and the opportunity to ensure excellence in Per Scholas’ tech training – from our learners to graduates, instructors to technical assistants and beyond,” said Jasmine Miller, Chief Training Officer, Per Scholas. “The time is now to make systemic, positive change in tech by training best-in-class talent for the jobs of today to achieve the vision of tomorrow.” 

Jasmine will lead Per Scholas’ ambitious growth plan to train 10,000 learners annually in the next five years, preparing America’s future technologists for in-demand jobs with a variety of skills, from IT Support to Cybsersecurity, Cloud Computing, Software Engineering, Java Development, and more. Technology continues to be one of America’s highest growth sectors and, aligned with Per Scholas’ commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, 85 percent of Per Scholas learners are people of color, and more than a third identify as women nationwide.  

“Per Scholas is making transformational change each and every day, training America’s future technologists in the skills they need to be competitive and ready for a variety of roles, from IT Support to Cybersecurity, Software Engineering to Java Development and beyond. I’m thrilled about Jasmine’s recent appointment to serve as our Chief Training Officer and know with her expertise, compassion, and leadership, Per Scholas will continue to increase economic equity and advance opportunity nationwide,” said Plinio Ayala, President and CEO of Per Scholas.

Most recently, Jasmine served as Regional Senior Vice President for Per Scholas campuses located in the South and Midwest. To learn more about Per Scholas, please visit www.PerScholas.org. 

About Per Scholas: Per Scholas is a national organization that has been advancing economic mobility for 25 years. Through rigorous training, professional development, and robust employer connections, we prepare individuals traditionally underrepresented in technology for high-growth careers in the industry. We partner with leading employers to build more diverse talent pools, directly connecting our graduates to new career opportunities at businesses ranging from Fortune 500 companies to innovative startups. With campuses in 17 cities, Per Scholas has trained more than 16,000 individuals in tech skills, building bridges to careers in technology. To learn more, visit PerScholas.org and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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Per Scholas Newark Set to Train More than 200 Technologists in 2022

Jessica Zorola Joins Tech Training Nonprofit as Managing Director

NEWARK, N.J. (March 16, 2022) — Per Scholas Newark recently welcomed Jessica Zorola as Managing Director, leading the national nonprofit’s technology training efforts in Newark, New Jersey. Per Scholas Newark is set to train more than 200 technologists in the year ahead in skills ranging from IT Support, Software Engineering, AWS re/Start, and Cybersecurity. 

“I believe in Per Scholas’s powerful vision that a thriving workforce starts with an equitable access to education. Per Scholas is an anchor institution within the community, poised to close the digital divide in Newark,” said Jessica Zorola, Per Scholas Newark Managing Director. “Our graduates demonstrate that having access to in-demand tech and professional skills training creates a thriving, diverse tech workforce for the Newark business economy.”

In mid-February, 15 learners successfully graduated from an IT Support cohort, earning industry credentials including the CompTIA A+ certification and Google IT Support Professional Certificate. and increasing their knowledge and skills to fill a wide range of entry-level technology jobs. Aligned with Per Scholas’s commitment to advance equity and increase opportunity in technology, 100 percent of this cohort are people of color and nearly 50 percent identify as women.  

“I’m so grateful to be able to embark on this exciting new career path,” reflected graduate Angelique Adolph. “Armed with solid tech training and industry-recognized certifications, I look forward to securing a job as an IT Support professional and to continuing my education toward becoming a Cybersecurity Analyst.” Angelique experienced a pandemic-related job loss in July 2021 and soon after applied to tech training offered by Per Scholas. 

One of Per Scholas Newark’s newest partners and key supporters of this specific IT Support cohort is The Arman Roy Foundation, a local organization committed to bridging the digital divide for the last three years in honor of Arman Roy, a compassionate young man with a gift for technology. Founder and Chairperson Manisha Roy served as the keynote speaker at graduation, commending learners for making an investment in their own education, the hard work, and sacrifice required to achieve this milestone, and for being able to write their own unique chapter on success. 

“Our partnership with Per Scholas has been a natural and seamless one because both of our organizations are committed to improving equity through access to technology training and job placement so that all motivated students who work hard to achieve their goals can look forward to a bright future, regardless of where they have come from,” said Minal Mosca, Arman Roy Foundation Board Member, and Arman’s aunt. “We are excited about a strong future of collaboration with Per Scholas.” 

To learn more about Per Scholas Newark, please visit www.PerScholas.org/Newark. 

About Per Scholas: Per Scholas is a national organization that has been advancing economic mobility for 25 years. Through rigorous training, professional development, and robust employer connections, we prepare individuals traditionally underrepresented in technology for high-growth careers in the industry. We partner with leading employers to build more diverse talent pools, directly connecting our graduates to new career opportunities at businesses ranging from Fortune 500 companies to innovative startups. With campuses in 17 cities, Per Scholas has trained more than 16,000 individuals in tech skills, building bridges to careers in technology. To learn more, visit PerScholas.org and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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Following Black History Month in February, we are thrilled to spotlight Per Scholas Executive Vice President of Social Ventures, Damien Howard, and his feature as a Workforce Trailblazer with New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals (NYATEP).

Among the collection of trailblazers, Damien’s experience of over 20 years at Per Scholas and being a champion for diversity and economic equity among the tech community is commended. To read his full profile with NYATEP and to learn more about Damien Howard, click here.

 

 

This month, Voyage Phoenix interviewed Jaclyn Boyes as she discussed her past experience and Per Scholas Phoenix in its inaugural year in the community.  Coming from a background in leadership and nonprofit work, Jaclyn mentioned her past experience was a great foundation for her role as Per Scholas Phoenix’s Managing Director.

“Our goal is to prepare overlooked talent – Black, Brown, and female talent in particular – who are unemployed or underemployed for successful careers that serve as an on-ramp for middle-class, well-paid jobs,” Jaclyn reflected. “The types of jobs that allow people to buy homes and begin to create wealth. The types of jobs that change the trajectory of individuals and families for generations.” 

Building on this inaugural year for Per Scholas Phoenix, Jaclyn plans to diversify the tech industry with our cost-free tech training to grow with the demand for tech jobs in the Southwest community.

To read the full interview with Jaclyn Boyes, click here!

TEKsystem’s December issue of their publication Version Next, Now featured Per Scholas’s Executive Vice President of Social Ventures Damien Howard and his powerful commentary making the business case for diversity, he positioned Per Scholas as a go-to resource for building diverse talent pipelines.  “The pandemic has illustrated just how essential inclusion and diversity (I&D) are, and if we don’t continue to focus and call for action in this critical area, we’ll never have an equitable recovery,” Damien stated.

Read the full publication here to learn more about real-world insights and expert perspectives on breakthroughs in technology that are impacting business.

 

 

Per Scholas is proud to announce the appointment of Victor De La Paz as the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of our national operations.

In this new role on our National Leadership Team, Victor will be accountable for the Fiscal, HR Administration, IT & Operations/Facilities Teams and will support Per Scholas with key strategic financial decisions with the Board of Directors, funders, and partners. “His broad-based experience and acumen, as well as his dedication to educational excellence, will ensure that he will be a terrific member of our organization, and will help support Per Scholas with key strategic and financial decisions as we continue to grow and expand our mission,” stated Per Scholas President and CEO, Plinio Ayala.

 

Victor comes to Per Scholas from The Peace Corps where he was appointed by the White House to serve as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Previously, Victor held CFO roles across notable educational institutions including Achievement First, New Haven Public Schools, Baltimore City Public Schools, and Hartford Public Schools, in addition to his work as an Adjunct Professor at the Yale School of Management. In addition, Victor sat on the Board of Directors for the Education Leaders of Color (EdLoC).  “When I made the career switch to Education, I felt immediately connected to the customer and what they want for themselves and their families,” Victor reflected.  “I think Per Scholas is the kind of organization that gets that and wants to create a positive trajectory for people. I am excited to join this team and meet everyone over time.”

 

Victor holds an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Management and a Bachelor’s Degree from Rutgers University. He lives in Wethersfield Connecticut with his wife Jennifer, 8-year-old Victoria, and 3-year-old Adrian. We are very pleased to welcome Victor to Per Scholas and grow from his experience and expertise!