Tapia Conference

The mission of the TAPIA conference as quoted is a noble one, and it was a great pleasure for me to experience it in-person. While at the conference, I was able to interact with many companies and schools, but I found myself having the most fun when speaking to talented, young students from a variety of backgrounds. The rich diversity of the conference could be observed in many ways: whether it be an individual’s cultural background, academic/career background, or their goals for the future.

This was my first time attending the TAPIA Conference. In fact, it was my very first computing-related conference. Coming from an undergraduate background in psychology, I’ve attended many social science conferences, but TAPIA provided something unique with its blend of computing, data science, and diversity in STEM. With that being said, I came ready to learn. My main goals for this conference were to connect with companies and recruiters, explore opportunities in both academia and industry, and meet other students and early-career professionals.

In my role as an Outreach Peer Ambassador, I had the privilege of attending the CMD-IT/TAPIA Conference in Grapevine, Texas. Over the two days of September 2025 that I attended, I had the chance to connect with more than thirty students at our department’s booth during the career fair sessions. These conversations went beyond program logistics. They became opportunities to share my own journey to Berkeley, listen to each student’s goals, and encourage them to see themselves in graduate education with confidence.