Sneha believes that “a girl’s education has the power to change her life, her family, and her community.”

Sneha Rajagopalan believes that “a girl’s education has the power to change her life, her family, and her community.” It is for that reason that Sneha has persisted in earning her bachelor’s degree in computer science at the University of Michigan. Sneha started her undergraduate education in 2020, a time that was tumultuous not only due to the pandemic but also due to a serious illness in her family. Choosing to major in the male-dominated field of computer science during this time was not easy, but Sneha refused to give up and only further committed herself to supporting other women and girls in STEM.

As Sneha progressed in her computer science courses, she sought out opportunities to further her knowledge and make an impact, which included joining the Girls in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (GEECS) organization. Sneha now serves as intermediate instructor lead of the GEECS outreach committee, advancing the mission to provide computer science education to girls and bridge the gender gap through programming workshops in topics such as web development, Python, and JavaScript. Sneha is also involved with Girls Who Code, most recently working as a summer teaching assistant. Sneha’s supervisor there remarks that her “work ethic and commitment to the job were second to none” and describes her ability to motivate and inspire girls as “truly remarkable.”

Beyond college, Sneha is committed to continuing to support women’s education. With her “dedication, passion, and commitment to helping girls from underrepresented backgrounds succeed in computer science,” she is sure to make a positive impact in her community.

CEW+ celebrates Sneha’s commitment to supporting women and girls in STEM and names her an Irma M. Wyman Scholar.