By Steve Sears
In a significant move to reshape the landscape of the technology workforce, Princeton-based nonprofit SheTek has announced a landmark partnership with the Rutgers School of Business–Camden. This strategic alliance is designed to address the persistent underrepresentation of women in the tech industry by providing students with a holistic blend of technical mastery, professional development, and long-term mentorship.
The collaboration, which combines the academic rigor of a world-class university with the industry-driven expertise of an established IT services organization, signals a new chapter in workforce readiness. With an initial focus on the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence, the partnership aims to provide a scalable model for inclusive education that can be replicated across other high-demand technical disciplines.
The Genesis of a Collaborative Mission
The roots of this partnership trace back to a spring panel discussion centered on the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence. Among the featured participants was Monica Adya, dean of the Rutgers School of Business–Camden, who found herself in alignment with SheTek’s founder, Chaya Pamula.
SheTek, established in 2021, operates as the educational nonprofit offshoot of PamTen, a Princeton-based IT services firm with over 17 years of industry experience. Chaya Pamula, who serves as the co-founder, president, and CEO of PamTen, launched SheTek with a singular focus: to mentor and empower women seeking to pivot into or advance within technology careers.
For Dean Adya, the meeting was more than a professional exchange; it was a realization of shared values. "Both Chaya and I come from tech backgrounds," Adya noted. "Both of us have been very passionate about women’s participation in tech careers, and that is really where a common bond started. Since then, as we have continued to grow some of our engagement, the alignment of our missions is very, very important."
This alignment focuses on creating a "holistic approach" to education—an acknowledgment that technical skill alone is insufficient for success in the modern corporate environment. Instead, students require the professional polish, leadership acumen, and networking support that bridge the gap between graduation and long-term career fulfillment.
The AI Essentials Bootcamp: A Model for Success
The inaugural offering of this partnership is a rigorous, five-week "AI Essentials Bootcamp," slated to commence immediately following the Labor Day weekend. Designed for accessibility and impact, the program is a testament to the power of blending academic theory with industry-led practice.
Program Curriculum and Structure
The bootcamp is far more than a technical training course; it is a comprehensive career-acceleration program. According to official press materials, the curriculum will:
- Demystify Generative AI: Students will engage with the latest tools, learning not only how to utilize them but how to deploy them responsibly and effectively.
- Master Query Engineering: Participants will learn the art of prompting and optimization, ensuring they get the most value from large language models.
- Professional Development: Beyond technical coding or tool usage, students will undergo intensive training in presentation skills, communication, and leadership.
- Career Readiness: To ensure students are market-ready, the program includes mandatory resume reviews and mock interviews, facilitated by seasoned professionals.
- Mentorship: Each student is paired with a mentor, ensuring they have a guide to navigate their early career challenges.
Upon successful completion, students will earn a Google AI Essentials Certification, augmented by a dual certificate from SheTek and the Rutgers School of Business–Camden. This dual credential serves as a powerful signal to prospective employers, validating both the student’s technical aptitude and their commitment to professional development.
Supporting Data: Why Targeted Intervention Matters
The need for initiatives like the SheTek-Rutgers partnership is underscored by ongoing labor statistics. While technology has become the backbone of the global economy, women continue to face systemic hurdles in entering and staying in the sector.
"Women have been underrepresented in tech careers for a long time," Adya observed. "I think that a meeting of the minds, meeting of the missions, has really come together well. And this is just the beginning."
The demand for such programming was immediate and overwhelming. When the initial bootcamp was announced, over 50 students applied. While the program maintains a focus on empowering women, the doors are open to all Rutgers students and any interested students within the region, reflecting a commitment to inclusive education that extends beyond the classroom walls.
Financial Sponsorship: The Role of Corporate Social Responsibility
A critical component of the bootcamp’s success is its accessibility, which is made possible through the generosity of the Metropolitan Commercial Bank (MCB) of New York. The bank has provided a significant donation to cover the fees for all eligible students, effectively removing financial barriers that might otherwise prevent talented individuals from participating.
Mark R. DeFazio, president and CEO of Metropolitan Commercial Bank, highlighted the strategic importance of this support: "Metropolitan Commercial Bank is proud to support SheTek’s programs that increase women’s participation in technology-related industries. We are particularly grateful to SheTek’s board members, Chaya Pamula and Maria Ramirez. Through their efforts, they have created mentorships, partnerships and job opportunities for women. As a company, MCB embraces these initiatives and believes they are vital to the success of our organization."
This sponsorship is a prime example of corporate-academic-nonprofit synergy. By investing in the "pipeline" of talent, the bank is helping to foster a more diverse and capable workforce, which in turn benefits the broader economic ecosystem.
Implications: A Blueprint for the Future
As the inaugural cohort prepares to begin their studies, the leadership at both SheTek and Rutgers are already looking toward the horizon. The goal is to establish a stable, high-impact model that can be expanded to include other critical areas of technology, such as:
- Data Analytics: Providing the insights needed for modern decision-making.
- Cybersecurity: Addressing the urgent global demand for digital protection.
- Project Management: Equipping students with the skills to lead complex technical initiatives.
The Power of "Academic-Industry" Integration
The partnership addresses a common criticism of higher education: that there is often a disconnect between academic training and the practical realities of the industry. Chaya Pamula emphasizes that this collaboration is intentionally designed to solve that problem.
"Monica is probably the first one who has taken that leap for this kind of partnership," Pamula stated. "This is going to be a true partnership because you are talking academia and then you are talking about industrial experience. We are bringing it together, and also complementing it through mentorship; and not only that, but creating communities around them, so that they can have that confidence to constantly receive the guidance as they are moving ahead."
For Pamula, the ultimate goal is not just training—it is placement. By fostering relationships with corporate partners, SheTek aims to ensure that once students gain the necessary tools and confidence, they have a clear path to employment.
Conclusion: A Sustained Commitment to Equity
The partnership between SheTek and the Rutgers School of Business–Camden represents a proactive, solution-oriented approach to one of the most pressing challenges in the modern economy: the gender gap in technology.
By combining the academic reach of Rutgers, the industry network of PamTen/SheTek, and the financial backing of partners like Metropolitan Commercial Bank, the initiative provides a robust framework for student success. As this partnership evolves, it promises to serve as a beacon for other institutions, demonstrating that when academia and industry align with a shared social mission, the result is not just a stronger workforce, but a more equitable and innovative future for all.
"We want to be able to find the sources, and also be able to give them the training and the tools they need," Pamula concluded, "and then have relationships with corporate, so we can place them."
With the AI Essentials Bootcamp as the catalyst, the future of women in technology looks brighter, more inclusive, and significantly more prepared for the challenges of the 21st-century digital landscape.
