Join us for the fourth annual Be You in Tech Summit! This year's theme, “Superpower by Design,” celebrates the extraordinary power of authenticity and diversity in tech.
Presented by the College of Information Sciences and Technology—generously supported by a grant from the RSM US Foundation—the 2025 Be You in Tech Conference brings together Penn State students and corporate partners in an environment where they can connect, learn, share, and support each other while celebrating and recognizing the strength of diversity in the technology field.
3–3:10 p.m. | Welcome
Dr. Jocelyn Bennett Garraway
Associate Dean for Inclusion and Diversity Engagement
Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology
3:10–3:55 p.m. | Keynote Speech "Superpower by Design: Your Uniqueness is Your Asset"
Ati Williams
Host, "Hack my Home"
4–4:30 p.m. | Facilitated Activity
Dennis A. Nicholson III, Culture of Inclusion Senior Associate, RSM
4:45–5:30 p.m. | Fireside Chat
Ati Williams (Moderator), host, "Hack my Home"
Bree Ryback, growth marketing lead, Accenture Federal Services
Julio Ortiz, chief of staff to the president and CEO, Mercedes-Benz USA
Corey Lee, security CTO, Microsoft Education
Jane Schneider, associate consultant, RSM
5:30–5:40 p.m. | Closing Remarks
Madhavi Kari assistant director, Office of Inclusion and Diversity Engagement Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology
5:45–7 p.m. | Networking
Ati Williams
Ati Williams is a design aficionado, entrepreneur, and educator. As host of the Netflix series “Hack my Home”—and previous host of HGTV’s DC Flippers—she shares her renovation and construction expertise with the world. Ati is the founder of Honeycomb Design and Build, a female-owned design and construction company, and has worked on hundreds of renovations, tackling everything from small DIY projects to complete gut rehabs. She’s been featured by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Washingtonian Magazine, CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, and Essence magazine.
Jocelyn Bennett Garraway
Jocelyn Bennett Garraway is the assistant dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the College of IST. She leads strategic initiatives to create a welcoming environment that promotes and values diversity, equity, and inclusions for the IST community. She oversees the Office of Enrollment, Engagement, and Belonging, which includes the units of Academic Success, Inclusion and Diversity Engagement, Student Engagement, and Undergraduate Recruiting. A licensed professional counselor, she previously served as associate professor and director of the School Counseling graduate program at the University of Detroit Mercy.
Corey Lee '12 IST
As security chief technology officer for U.S. education at Microsoft, Corey Lee is passionate about protecting schools, securing emerging technologies, and strengthening digital safety and cyber resilience in education. Corey has been with Microsoft for more than 12 years, previously serving as a consultant and the chief Zero Trust architect. A Schreyer Scholar, he graduated from the College of IST in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in security and risk analysis. He is a member of the Dean's Advisory Board and, in 2021, created the Corey Lee Family Dean’s Advisory Board Scholarship to help future generations of IST students.
Dennis A. Nicholson III
Dennis A. Nicholson III is the Culture of Inclusion Senior Associate at RSM. With 24 years of honorable military service, he is a proven leader with expertise in strategic planning and organizational development. Holding a background in religious studies, certifications in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and pursuing advanced education, Dennis blends faith and service with a steadfast commitment to fostering inclusivity. As a project manager for four Employee Network Groups, he leads programs that empower diverse talent and build inclusive communities. Recognized for mentoring leaders and advancing DEI initiatives, Dennis is driven to create meaningful impact and bridge the gap to a better future.
Julio Ortiz ’02 BUS, ’08 PhD IST
Julio Ortiz is an admired leader with extensive expertise in transformation management, digital acceleration, and supply chain optimization. He currently serves as chief of staff to the president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA and previously managed key initiatives for Deutsche Bank, Barclays, and Citibank. Notably, he spearheaded the establishment of the Dominican Republic's first High-Tech Research Center. Julio holds a doctorate from the Penn State College of IST and has completed post-doctoral studies at Harvard Law School and Rutgers University. He is a published author and has served as an adjunct professor at Rutgers University and the University of Houston.
Bree Ryback '07 IST
Bree Ryback is the growth marketing lead for Accenture Federal Services. She was drawn to this role by her natural tendencies to bring the hype, get people engaged, and find the sweet spot between technology, design, and people. She’s spent more than 15 years signing, building, and implementing technology solutions for the U.S. federal government. She's experienced in change management, strategic communications, Salesforce delivery, UI/UX, human-centered design, and Agile implementation methodologies. Her ability to build bridges and play the role between technologists and non-techies is just one of her superpowers. A proud IST alum, Bree currently resides in Washington, D.C.
Jane Schneider '23 IST
Jane Schneider is an associate consultant in RSM’s Security and Privacy Risk Consulting practice with experience in cybersecurity program strategy and transformation. She specializes in performing maturity and risk assessments against various cybersecurity frameworks, conducting cybersecurity technical internal audits, and providing services such as virtual CISO support and cybersecurity program development. Jane earned her bachelor’s degree in applied data sciences with a concentration in information and cybersecurity sciences and a minor in security and risk analysis from Penn State in May 2023. While an IST student, she served as a teaching assistant for courses in statistics and probability, information sciences, and data sciences.
RSM US LLP is the U.S. member of RSM International, a global network of independent firms that provides audit, tax and consulting services to the middle market. With over 11,000 employees across the U.S. and Canada and a global presence in 123 countries, our purpose is to deliver the power of being understood to our clients, colleagues and communities. As first-choice advisors, we are focused on developing leading professionals and innovative services to meet our clients’ evolving needs in today’s ever-changing business environment.
Through a supportive, caring culture, our people are empowered to be their authentic selves and share their unique perspectives. Our culture of diversity and inclusion enhances the insights we provide while transforming innovation, collaboration and business results through fostering an inclusive environment, working hard to engage a talented workforce and reflect our diverse community, and developing relationships that serve others in business and the broader community. Together, our people’s individual talents and diverse perspectives strengthen our teams and enhances the unique insights that we provide to our clients.
For more information, visit rsmus.com.
Be You in Tech is a series of events and programs hosted by Penn State’s College of Information Sciences and Technology that aim to inform, inspire, and empower. Every initiative in the series is designed to help participants understand the role of diversity and inclusion in their personal and professional lives through knowledge-sharing, reflection, and community building. By sharing lived experiences and challenging established standards, Be You in Tech creates unique learning environments where everyone can explore how to be their authentic selves and create inclusive spaces for others.
For more information, visit ist.psu.edu/be-you.