Advancing Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging for Women in Tech in the Digital Age
As technology evolves at an exponential rate, so too must our approach to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) within the digital landscape. Women, particularly women of color, remain significantly underrepresented in tech and face unique challenges in accessing opportunities for advancement, leadership, and meaningful contribution. This presentation will address key DEIB issues within the tech industry, focusing on how inequities persist and how the digital age offers both challenges and opportunities to combat them. Attendees will hear about real-world case studies, and best practices to foster a truly inclusive environment for women in tech—one that values equity, promotes inclusion, and ensures belonging for all. The session will provide actionable strategies to help organizations and individuals create a digital ecosystem that is not only representative but also empowers women in their full professional potential.
Speaker/Host
Primary/Host Speaker
Mai Vang
Director of Constituent Management & Technologies at UC Riverside
Dr. Mai Vang is a higher education leader with over a decade of experience in enrollment systems, technology strategy, and student success. She currently serves as Director of Constituent Management & Technologies at UC Riverside, leading digital transformation initiatives across advancement systems, including Salesforce/ascend CRM and data analytics. Dr. Mai Vang holds a Doctorate in Educational Justice and Leadership from the University of Redlands, where her research focused on the experiences of m/others of color in graduate education. She is also an adjunct professor, teaching marketing, excel, and analytics to diverse undergraduate and graduate learners. As a committed advocate for equity, she serves as a DEIB Committee member within University Advancement, as well as served as a First-Generation Mentor at UCR, and currently one of three UC Riverside representatives for UC Womxn in Tech (WIT). With expertise in CRM technology, stakeholder engagement, and metric-driven leadership, she is passionate about building inclusive systems that uplift historically marginalized communities.
Co-speaker(s)
Additional Speakers
Teri Eckman
Executive Director for Student Information Systems at UC Riverside
Teri Eckman, Executive Director of Student Information Systems at UC Riverside, is a leader in higher education technology with a strong focus on building collaborative teams and leveraging technology to enhance student experiences. She leads a team of 30, overseeing student information systems, educational technology, and enterprise applications. A passionate advocate for diversity, Teri co-founded and chairs the UCR ITS Women in Technology (WIT) group and serves on the UCOP Womxn in Technology Committee. She is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment and championing opportunities for women in the tech field. Teri holds a Master's in Organizational Leadership and a Bachelor's in Sociology.
Sureyya Tuncel
Manager for Identity and Access Management at UC Riverside
Süreyya Tuncel is the Manager of Identity and Access Management (IAM) at UCR, responsible for safeguarding critical data and IT resources for faculty, staff, and students. With over 20 years of IT experience in areas such as systems and network administration, security, and risk management, she joined UCR's Information Security Office in 2018 and moved to her current role in 2020. Süreyya is a seasoned leader focused on enhancing security, streamlining user access, and fostering collaboration. She holds a BSc in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and is dedicated to professional development and team empowerment. Passionate about supporting women and minorities in IT and cybersecurity, Süreyya is a UC Women in Technology (UC Wit) Committee member, co-representing UCR. She is looking forward to sharing her insights on the "Advancing Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging for Women in Tech in the Digital Age" panel at this year's UC Tech Conference.
Deidra May
Lead Banner Infrastructure Architect at UC Riverside
Deidra May serves as the Banner Architect in the Student Information Systems Department at the University of California, Riverside. A member of UC Women in Technology (UC WIT), she has been with UC Riverside for seven years.
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