Clara Carleton
Computer Science Student, Simmons University
Many exciting opportunities exist for women to work in the STEM fields; the key is igniting passions. We spoke to Clara Carleton, a computer science student at Simmons University in Boston, about what inspired her to pursue a career in tech.
What area of STEM are you most passionate about?
I’m most passionate about computer science because there are so many ways to apply it. I have found that I can apply my artistic background into UI/UX development. I hope to explore more applications in my time left as an undergrad.
Why is it important for more women to pursue careers in STEM?
We need more women to pursue careers in STEM so women in the future don’t feel discouraged. At Simmons, I help organize our annual hackathon, SharkHack. We specifically focus on encouraging young women without a coding background to join.
How do you hope to use your degree after graduation?
This summer I worked at Affectiva, an emotion measurement software company. They are doing great work on in-cabin drowsiness detection; I was inspired by the passion people had for increasing driver safety. After I graduate, I want to be a part of the movement in technology for improving the world.
What is the most rewarding aspect of being a part of this field?
I really enjoy the problem-solving aspect of this field. Being able to see an issue, implement a solution, and see my work be successful is very rewarding. During my internship, my work was actually deployed to production. Knowing that people would use the work I had developed felt amazing.