Draft:Bea Mendez-Gandica

Bea (Beatris) Alejandra Mendez-Gandica, originally from San Cristobal Venezuela, is a Security Engineer working for Microsoft with a passion for STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) teaching youth how to code.

Early Life and Education

Graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2013.

Master’s degree in management information systems from the University of Arizona in 2018.

Multiple certificates earned through the Kellogg School of Management, The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Harvard Extension School.

Bea studied in Venezuela, Florida, Germany, Wisconsin, China, and Arizona; and performed research in India.

Career

First, Bea started work at Microsoft as a Service Delivery Manager and later as an Azure Program Manager. She is a member of the Hola program within Microsoft to enhance Latina networking and encourage employees of Hispanic descent in their growth and education.

Outreach and Advocacy

Bea founded the Nuevo Foundation In 2018 to introduce underrepresented students to coding and provide role models in the area of STEM. She was quoted to say, "IF girls are introduced to computer science at an early age, THEN they will be empowered to rewrite the rules of the world.” Nuevo is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit organization. Mendez-Gandica collaborated with the Blugold Beginnings program at UW-Eau Claire's and Beta Alpha Psi honors organization and hosted a “Latinas in STEM” workshop for middle school Latina girls. She encourages people to become involved with the movement called TechnoloChicas

Awards and Honors

2019, May 7 Bea Mendez-Garnica was recognized at the HACR Awards and Recognition Dinner as a Young Hispanic Corporate Achiever™ (YHCA).

2019, May 24 Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award for Alumni who've had special achievements and great promise within 15 years of graduation.

2021, October Honored with a life-sized 3D printed sculpture of herself showing a Latina woman in tech.

References