Internship Program Targets Diverse IT Talent

Google, Facebook and other leading tech companies admit they're far behind the curve when it comes to racial equality. Just 1 percent of Google's technical staff are black, according to a report released this summer.

At Duke, IT leaders are making a concerted effort to recruit and develop diverse IT talent as part of a new internship program in the university's Office of Information Technology (OIT).

This summer, OIT hired five minority interns from two local universities to participate in the program. The students – four from N.C. Central University and one from Durham Technical Community College -- worked in academic technology, telecommunications and IT security.

"We’re looking to grow talent," said Tracy Futhey, the university's vice president for information technology and chief information officer. "Beyond the technical expertise about IT services and the day-to-day operations, the next generation of IT professionals needs to understand that it's not just about the technology. It's about people and interaction. This program brings perspectives into the organization that help us stay ahead of the curve."

Marcus Jones, a N.C. Central senior from Rocky Mount, worked as a project manager helping to transition the university and health system to a new paging system – but also helped upgrade radio systems for Duke's Lifeflight helicopters and set up power and networking infrastructure across campus.

"You can read about it in class, but seeing it up close and doing it is a different experience," said Jones, who will continue his internship with OIT this fall and plans to graduate from N.C. Central in December.

"He was able to help with so many things," said Judy Heath, senior manager for OIT's Communications Center. "A lot of people in IT have tunnel vision and say, 'This is my specialty, and that’s it.' The kind of team player we want is the one who goes the extra mile."

Other interns worked on website redesign, replacing Duke's directory search tool and exploring how emerging technologies such as 3-D printing can be used in higher education.

Fewer than 4 percent of black and Latino students study computer science, and only 1 in 14 technical employees in the tech hub of Silicon Valley is black or Latino, according to CODE2040, a nonprofit organization that creates pathways to educational, professional, and entrepreneurial success in technology for underrepresented minorities. As a result, tech companies struggle to recruit and retain diversity talent nationally.

This type of program can help address the issue, said Donna Hembrick, director of university career services for N.C. Central.

"Experiential learning – exploring and using what they're learning in the classroom – is the biggest advantage in a program like this," Hembrick said. "We want to develop a pipeline, so we can expand it and let these students know the support is available as they pursue careers in IT."OIT's goal is to partner with other universities and organization to expand the intern program to include more minorities and women, said Scooter Freeney, OIT's director of human resources.

Like minorities, women are also underrepresented in IT. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, females comprise only 4 percent of the IT workforce.Since April, OIT has hired nine employees, 78 percent minorities and 34 percent female, Freeney said.

"We are not the only IT shop trying to address this issue. We must find ways to get more minorities and women interested in IT as a career, or we will have a hard time meeting the needs of our customers, especially if Duke continues to expand internationally," he said. "We are making progress, but we must remain diligent in our efforts. We have a long way to go and a tough road ahead."