The Association for Computing Machinery’s Council of Women represents the contribution of women involved in making difficult decisions and providing a pathway for achievement for other women as well. This club features community activities and celebrates the success of all the young women workers in the sciences. STEM acknowledges equality and every achievement for all women and men of color.  

Hailing from Toms River, Alexa Gonzalez, the president of ACM-W wasn’t aware of where she stood in her future. In the fall of 2022, she arrived at the front gate of Rowan University with a passion for knowledge of the sciences, and she knew she did not want to leave this community.  

“I had a fantastic tour in, and my tour guide was [a] computing informatics [major], and I was like, this is exactly what I want to do,” Gonzalez said.  

Gonzalez’s involvement at the university involves her guidance in the Rowan community and leadership in the ACM-W. Regarding her work, Gonzalez has become more established in creativity and gratitude. She strives for better choices for all students with different majors to engage in the scientific learning and opportunity-based contributions to the organization, and to create a better understanding of the advocacy of women’s support in STEM.  

This student organization welcomes all genders and majors who support female co-workers in the STEM field. Gonzalez was appointed the president of the ACM-W in the spring of 2024 while serving as the vice president. When she was introduced as president of the ACM-W, her duties were to provide an array of programs that welcomed all genders. She hoped to achieve a better understanding for students of why they should join the ACM-W.  

“We are constantly building a great community of people…where people can just come, hang out,” Gonzalez said. 

According to the National Science Foundation, it states that the share of women in the STEM workforce has increased by 31% between 2011 and 2021. Male dominance often plays a competitive spot in the computing field as women are not given many opportunities as opposed to men. As of 2024, the range of female workers has largely increased since Covid in 2020. Gonzalez continues to be motivated and appreciative of the impact that she is seeing with the involvement of more female students being encouraged.  

“So, we’re trying to just kind of bridge that gap a little bit…, keep that group super strong,” Gonzalez said 

Gonzalez’s leadership at Rowan University has gained notoriety of praise from her community. Her leadership as an Admissions Ambassador and the President of the ACM-W has marked an important stepping-stone in her career. She is beyond grateful for the leadership standards that she is providing for all students, not just females in general.    

“Leadership is helping others and being a positive role model for other people,” Gonzalez said.

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