About Us



Technology Advisory Committee

Keeping Girlstart's curriculum on the cutting edge is critical for our impact on girls and the effectiveness of our programs.  With the help of the Girlstart Technology Advisory Committee, we can identify opportunities to make our programs a more engaging and positive experience for girls.

The Girlstart Technology Advisory Committee is a group of professionals that advises Girlstart on best case practices and new opportunities in technology and engages the technology industry in Girlstart's mission and programs.  Our girls need the knowledge, resources, and energy that can be provided by technology companies.  The committee involves local companies and professionals in our programs by recruiting guest speakers, encouraging job shadowing, and identifying opportunities for internships and scholarships. 

Technology Advisory Committee

Alisha Ring (co-chair) President Austin Technology Council

Becky Austen (co-chair) Director, Education & Sales Enablement IBM

Arleene Porterfield  Vice President, Global Information Technology National Instruments

Alnita Foote Business Development Manager Dell

Deanna McMillen Senior Optical Engineer Zebra Imaging

Gira Bhakta Project Manager Applied Materials

Jennifer Lowry Solution Architect Cisco Systems

Jennifer Wuamett Vice President/Chief Intellectual Property Counsel Freescale

Jill Stachura Project Manager AMD

Laura Sanders Vice President of Development IBM Tivoli

Michelle Freeman SAS Plant Ops Samsung

Michelle Schneider Quality Engineer Dell

Alicia Zicker Senior Scientist Applied Biosystems

Preetha Parthasarathy Intel

Sharon Lamb Design Engineer SabreTel

Kelly Gaither Associate Director UT-Texas Advanced Computing Center

Brian Senn Software Services Manager IBM

Melissa Mayhew Sr. Project Manager & Analyst, Client Services ACS, Inc.

Cindy Royal Assistant Professor Texas State University

Clare Richardson Software engineer Motorola

Dee Kapila Web Manager/Web Master KUT

Katie Kizziar Director, Technology & Education Executive Council Skillpoint Alliance

Patricia Bedford Electrical Hardware Engineer

Kallie Willets Assistant Professor UT-Austin

Melyssa Fratkin Manager, External Relations Group UT-Texas Advanced Computing Center