#MentorMonday: Allissa Dillman

Allissa Dillman, Ph.D.
Outreach Director
Office of Data Science Strategy

Mentorship is an incredibly satisfying and important part of my job. Working with people from different backgrounds to solve complex problems is why I run codeathons, and that’s what is great about the Coding it Forward fellows--the opportunity to see the problem through new eyes and learn new skills alongside the fellow. It’s such a great learning experience for both parties.

Codeathons are a powerful and adaptable tool.

The codeathon-in-a-box is a project to automate a number of the components needed for a successful codeathon. Codeathons are such a powerful and adaptable tool, and I really wanted to make sure it was accessible to anyone that wants to utilize it. We use a lot of different technologies from collecting applications to setting up spaces for easy collaboration, and creating an automated system will ensure that someone could set up everything they need to run a codeathon with little to no technical background.

Dr. Dillman is mentoring Ruben Cuevas this fall.