The demographic makeup of personnel in the technology field was the topic of discussion on a recent “MTSU On the Record” radio program. 

Dr. Amy Harris

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Dr. Amy Harris, graduate program director and an associate professor in the Department of Information Systems and Analytics in MTSU’s Jones College of Business, first aired Oct. 12 WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5 and www.wmot.org.

You can listen to their conversation at the SoundCloud link above.

A 2020 survey of more than 9,000 workers in the tech industry by Dice, a technology career website, reported that 55 percent of African American respondents believe racial discrimination occurs very frequently or frequently in their profession.

Fifty-eight percent of women responding to the survey said they believe gender discrimination occurs very frequently or frequently in the technology field.

Harris is the 2021 recipient of the Greater Nashville Technology Council’s Diversity and Inclusion Advocate of the Year Award.

She teaches applied business intelligence and analytics courses, and her primary research interest is workforce development with a particular emphasis on information technology. talent development and gender representation in tech

Gina K. Logue

While she admits that the industry must overcome the stereotype of tech as the domain of white males, she insists that change is occurring and that industry leaders are dedicated to combating it.

“One thing that I am excited to see is all the initiatives that are targeting adult minorities and females (are trying) to target people who perhaps didn’t initially pursue tech as a degree, to be able to pivot into that degree,” Harris said.

To hear previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, visit the searchable “Audio Clips” archives at www.mtsunews.com.

For more information about the radio program, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

A participant demonstrates part of her group project’s research data in this file image from MTSU’s 2019 HackMT event, an annual weekend gathering for computer science and information systems students, programmers, developers and designers to collaborate on new apps and inventions. Dr. Amy Harris, shown at upper left, graduate program director and an associate professor in the Department of Information Systems and Analytics in MTSU’s Jones College of Business, discussed the demographic makeup and diversity needs of the technology industry on “MTSU On the Record” Oct. 12 and 17 on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5 and www.wmot.org. (MTSU file image by Kimi Conro)