Amber Rasche, NDSU IT communications coordinator, received a Gender Diversity Award to attend the 2016 Internet2 Global Summit.
The award was established by Internet2 in 2014 as part of an initiative to improve gender diversity in the research and education information technology community. It provides support for emerging women professionals to attend leadership and technical conferences to advance their roles in the field.
Rasche has served as the communications coordinator for NDSU’s Information Technology Division since 2012. She works closely with leadership and staff to communicate with students, faculty and staff about the organization’s efforts to deliver core technical solutions and propel innovation on campus.
"I often equate my role to that of a translator—understanding the technical expertise and culture operating behind-the-scenes in a higher education IT organization while empathizing with the community of students, faculty and staff who depend on technology to do their work," Rasche said.
Rasche also teaches as an adjunct instructor in the university’s women and gender studies program. She earned a bachelor’s degree in advertising and public relations in 2008 and a master’s degree in mass communication in 2011, both from NDSU.
Marc Wallman, vice president for information technology, recommended Rasche for the award. “There’s a gender gap in the IT field, and we need creative problem-solvers like Amber to be part of the conversation about how to eliminate that gap,” Wallman said. “The 2016 Internet2 Global Summit was a great opportunity for Amber to share her leadership skills and passion for equity and diversity.”
The Gender Diversity Award provided full funding for registration, travel, accommodations and related expenses for the four-day Internet2 Global Summit May 15-18 in Chicago. The summit serves as the annual meeting of Internet2. NDSU is a founding member of Internet2, a member-owned advanced technology community that operates the nation’s largest and fastest, coast-to-coast research and education network.
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