About Moniesha Jackson Shorter
When I became an engineering student at the University of Maryland in 1992, I was the only black and only female in most of my engineering classes. This prepared me for the reality of a corporate environment that was 90% white and male. Unfortunately, this dynamic has not changed much in 30 years. I hope to change that.
Moniesha Jackson Shorter, Bio
As a longtime DEI advocate, I have devoted much of my career to amplifying diverse voices and eliminating barriers that prevent full participation of minority professionals. I understand all too well the challenges minority students face and want to create pathways for more diverse representation in the tech industry.
During my 13.5 year tenure at Accenture, I served as the Diversity Recruiting lead for the University of Maryland and developed programming for our Skills to Succeed initiative, the focus of Accenture’s Corporate Citizenship efforts, aimed to equip at least 250,000 people around the world with the skills required to get jobs, build businesses and improve their communities. I also served on the University of Maryland Women in Engineering Board in this capacity, focused on the recruitment and retention of female engineering students.
Later at Amazon, I was selected to lead the local chapter for Kaleidoscope, a DEI initiative in Amazon Device Software and Services focused on hiring and development, culture, and community, and also served as Director, Marketing and Communications, for the Amazon Black Employee Network (BEN) Board.
It is my passion to see minorities achieve and Black women thrive that led me to establish the Moniesha Jackson Shorter Endowed Scholarship for the Center for Minorities in Science and Engineering and the Moniesha Jackson Shorter Endowed Scholarship for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.® through the University of Maryland College Park Foundation, Inc. for a total commitment of $255,000. These funds will support merit-based scholarships for undergraduate students for the purpose of enhancing diversity, including but not limited to racial or gender diversity in computer science, engineering, or other STEM field majors.
About the Fund
The Moniesha Jackson Shorter Scholarship for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.® was established in February 2022. The endowment provides merit-based scholarships for undergraduate students who are members of the Theta Nu chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.® in the Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life in the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Maryland. Preference will be given to students who are pursuing a computer science or other STEM field major.
Meet Our Scholars
Nina Moore has been very involved throughout her time at UMD. Even though her freshman year was online, she was able to join the club track team and start working as an HR Assistant in the Stamp Business Office where she still works now. Then sophomore year when Nina moved on campus she was looking to take on some leadership positions so she became the President of the Oakland Hall council within RHA and the VP of Outreach for the Black Business Association. Then she had the opportunity to become a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Theta Nu Chapter where she is currently serving as the treasurer as well as the chairman of several committees. Now in her senior year Nina has joined Maryland Mentor Corps, where she is mentoring in their reading program working with 2nd graders.
Nina Moore (2023-2024 Scholar)
Past Scholars
Jessy-Manuella Tientcheu (2022-2023 Scholar)
Jessy-Manuella Tientcheu is a senior Computer Science major at the University of Maryland. She is Cameroonian and she and her family immigrated to the United States when she was 5 years old. Her ultimate goal in life is to make her parents proud and their sacrifices worth it. During her time in school, Jessy-Manuella has been blessed with the opportunity to be involved in Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorortiy, Incorporated, as a spring 2021 initiate. Also, she is an Undergraduate Outreach Coordinator for Code: BLACK.
How to Apply
For information on how to apply to the Moniesha Jackson Shorter Scholarship for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. ®, please contact us at sagiving@umd.edu or 301-3140-4900