Tech Exchange brings Black and Latinx students to Google

The institutions sending students to Google this year share our commitment to making computer science education accessible and available to everyone. Tech Exchange builds on the success of a 2017 pilot program between Google and Howard University (known as Howard West), during which 26 students completed a three-month computer science education program. Half of those students have since found engineering internships at Google or in the tech industry.

Throughout the year, students will take a selection of applied CS courses, including machine learning, product management, computational theory, and database systems, from HBCU/HSI faculty and Google engineers. Michael McDonald, who usually attends Morgan State University, an HBCU in Maryland, is excited to spend the entire academic year in this kind of education environment, which he describes as unique: “We’re immersed in computer science courses and get a real-world experience.”

But this internship goes beyond the books—students will get to know other Googlers from different product areas to get a glimpse of what their futures could hold. And that all started at our kick-off ceremony this week, during which Howard alum and Google VP of Global Partnerships Bonita Stewart expressed her thrill for the program, saying, “It’s so exciting for us to create a space for everyone, as we build products for everyone.”