Profile: Lisa M. Chambers
Meet Lisa Chambers,
National Executive Director
at TECH CORPS
Lisa Chambers was recently named among 11 recipients of the inaugural Ohio Trailblazers Award presented by Verizon, celebrating the women transforming Ohio tech.
Lisa Chambers is the National Executive Director at TECH CORPS, a nonprofit organization that designs computer science and IT programs that are rigorous, relevant and fun for children in the 3rd – 12th grade.
Following the award announcement on May 18, Lisa joined us for a Q&A interview. We hope you enjoy getting to know her here, and please join us in congratulating her on LinkedIn!
Name: Lisa M. Chambers
Job: National Executive Director at TECH CORPS
City: Columbus, Ohio
Q: Tell us about your job.
I have the privilege and pleasure of working for a national nonprofit organization that believes ALL kids should have access to high-quality computer science and technology learning experiences regardless of gender, race, socioeconomic status, or zip code. TECH CORPS develops Computer Science and IT programs and deploys tech-savvy talent to assist K-12 schools and youth-serving organizations nationwide. In my role as National Executive Director, I am responsible for the overall impact of TECH CORPS in all the communities it serves; this includes leveraging the power of relationships and networks, and working across private, public and corporate sectors to advance the organization's mission.
Q: How did you get into tech?
I was inspired by a group of 4th graders in the Weinland Park community. This was in the late 90s when tech was not as pervasive as it is today. Through my work with them, I saw how technology could transform lives. My passion is to provide access and opportunity to folks who have been marginalized and with TECH CORPS I do that through the lens of technology.
Q: What can Ohio do to support and promote women in tech?
One of the things that Ohio can do to support and promote women in tech is to ensure that ALL girls in Ohio have access to high-quality technology learning experiences – early and often! Research shows that interventions to support girls' aspirations in technology-related professions must begin no later than the fourth or fifth grade.
Jessica Cohen, State and Federal Regulatory Affairs at Verizon, presents Trailblazer Award to Lisa Chambers, National Executive Director at TECH CORPS on May 18, 2023 at the Ohio TechSummit.
Q: Where do you see technology education in grades K-12 in the next decade?
Technology can be a powerful tool for transforming K-12 teaching and learning but we still have a lot of work to do in the U.S. I hope in the next 10 years we will see a shrinking of long-standing equity and accessibility gaps in technology access and exposure in k-12 schools. I hope that states and communities will adopt a CSforALL strategy and make the investments necessary to see this become a reality.
Q: How do you stay on top of rapidly evolving technology such as AI?
I have an incredibly smart and talented Board of Directors comprised of a diverse group of technology leaders and innovators. They are always pushing our team to develop new programs, curriculum, and experiences to ensure TECH CORPS students are exposed to new and evolving technologies. We also pull together subject matter experts in different areas to chat with our team about emerging technologies.
Q: What do you do for fun when you're not working?
I love cooking and entertaining with family and friends. I enjoy gardening and working in my yard, and I also love a great road trip!
—
Learn more about Lisa’s work by connecting with her on LinkedIn.