Her Spark asked Red Hat WalkMe Developer & Administrator Koren Townsend Five Questions. Here's what she had to say!
Q1: Who is your favorite female role model and why?
My female role model is my mom. When I was growing up, she was very much interested in technology. In fact, she was the only African American, and one of only a few women working as a system administrator at the UNC School of Dentistry. I really thought that was amazing.
Q2: What are you reading right now? OR What's next on your reading list?
Becoming by Michell Obama.
Q3: What's the best career or academic advice you ever received?
Earning a degree from a university is only the beginning. Never stop learning.
Q4: Her Spark's mission is to equip girls with the STEM skills and opportunities to succeed in the careers of tomorrow - dedicated to solving gender disparity in computer science, engineering and technology careers. What does the Her Spark mission mean to you?
It's dear to my heart that all children, especially children of color, are given the same opportunities and exposure to STEM related topics. I know that my mother having me heavily involved in STEM camps and enrichment programs had a direct reflection on my technical career path. I want to help provide that same experience for today’s students.
Q5: What is your favorite part of Summer Summit? If you haven’t attended before, what are you looking forward to the most?
When I spoke at Summer Summit this year, I truly enjoyed hearing the goals and aspirations of the young engineers. Many of the students really were thinking about their futures and making strides to accomplish their dreams.
Connect with Koren on LinkedIn!