Jessica Ensrude
- Owatonna, Minn.
- Computer science major with a software-engineering emphasis, business administration minor
- What’s next: Full-time employment at C.H. Robinson as a support programmer/analyst. I look forward to coming back to UW-Eau Claire to recruit and hope to move into upper management later in my career. I’m also very excited to take an active role within C.H. Robinson, including helping coordinate their major fundraisers each year (Robinson Cares Week in August is one example), as well as working with future interns, as I interned for two years myself.
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UW-Eau Claire photo by Bill Hoepner |
Jessica Ensrude, in the words of a friend and former UW-Eau Claire computer science classmate, “completely busts the stereotype of the typical computer science student.”
Ensrude acknowledges that, as a female in a major pursued mainly by male students, she’s been in the minority for a few years.
“I think the most women we had in the program at any point in my college career was 20,” she said.
But if Ensrude — the recipient of several academic scholarships during her time at the university — has anything to say about it, the number of women in her chosen field will continue to rise.
“I hope to be actively involved in my community to encourage young women to consider computer science,” she said.
Ensrude blazed an impressive trail for young women who follow in her footsteps as future UW-Eau Claire computer science majors. She was president for 3½ years of the student organization Women in Information Technology Systems, which is dedicated to helping women gain self-confidence and “computer confidence” by becoming involved in activities and projects that enable them to skillfully and comfortably use information technologies. Ensrude credits the group with helping her get to know most of her fellow female computer science majors and find internship opportunities. (In fact, the company where she was an intern for two years will now be her employer following graduation.) She also represented the computer science department on the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Student Advisory Committee for 3½ years.
Ensrude’s campus involvement carried over to other interests besides her major. She was co-president for 1½ years and treasurer for two years for UW-Eau Claire’s V-Day Campaign, served as the community service chair for the Campus Ambassadors, is the webmaster for UW-Eau Claire’s Gold Caps chapter of Mortar Board and was a member of the Association of Computing Machinery.
More on Jessica Ensrude
A UW-Eau Claire person, class or project that made a positive difference in her life: I’ve been really fortunate to meet so many wonderful people in my college career; it’s difficult to pick just one. Dr. Stevenson in the computer science department has been a great role model and also talked me through my toughest times of self-doubt in the program; Steve who works for dining services on lower campus, with his friendly smile and upbeat attitude, makes even the worst days better; Dr. Ernst’s architecture classes were the most challenging of my college career but showed me that I really have what it takes to succeed in computer science; and Dr. Kristina Bourne’s management class taught me how to better interact with people and also analyze my own behaviors so I can form stronger relationships with people.
Highlights of her life at UW-Eau Claire: I’ve loved being involved in Women in Information Technology Systems (WITS). Through that group, I’ve gotten to know nearly all the women majoring in computer science, older and younger, and have formed some wonderful relationships. It’s also given me a “leg up” in the job market with the different recruiting events the group has hosted and the employers’ talks. The UW-Eau Claire V-Day Campaign is another amazing group of women, and I am proud to have been selected as a Vagina Warrior, someone who has made a difference to help stop violence against women and girls. I had the privilege of producing the Vagina Monologues last year and raising thousands of dollars for Bolton Refuge House in Eau Claire.Lastly, I’ve also been honored to receive the Kenneth Owen Memorial Scholarship for service and leadership in the computer science department.
How she defines the UW-Eau Claire Advantage: For me, the UW-Eau Claire Advantage has meant amazing professors, invaluable internship experiences and preparation for a job I love.
Advice for success to incoming UW-Eau Claire students: Get involved and get to know your professors! Student organizations not only help you meet more people, but also help you learn more about yourself. And professors are amazing, passionate educators who truly only want you to succeed in becoming the best, most knowledgeable person you can be.
Learn about other featured December 2010 graduates
