In honor of LGBTQ+ History Month, Khoury College presents Out in Tech, a panel of LGBTQ+ professionals in tech roles that aims to provide guidance and advice to current Khoury students who identify within the community, and their allies, as well as offer a networking opportunity. LGBTQ+ students may struggle to find professional mentors, role models, and examples that reflect their experiences. This panel will be an opportunity for our students to learn about different experiences people have had, hear suggestions and tips, and find a greater sense of belonging within the tech field. Panelists represent PayPal, Google, SnowBright Studios (gaming), and ShoCast (an entertainment startup).
Name: John Huân Vu
Pronouns: He/Him
Job Title: Engineering Program Manager (former Software Engineer)
Organization: PayPal
Bio:
John Huan Vu lives his life by giving back his time, talent, and treasure. John is an Engineering Program Manager at PayPal. John was previously a software engineer for over a decade contributing to Adobe, IBM, Amgen, Zynga, and Walt Disney Imagineering. John partnered with PayPal to receive $20,000 towards a food distribution network during the height of the pandemic and $10,000 to the only HIV/AIDS hospice in the entire Baja California, Mexico. This past year, John was awarded by the CFO for nearly saving another’s life. John went to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo receiving a master’s in computer science and a double bachelor’s in computer science and mathematics. John lives on the intersection as a gay, Catholic, Vietnamese-American raised by a single mother under the poverty line. John is a LGBTQ+ advisory board member for the San Jose Police Department. John values mentorship and is actively mentoring three students, upwards to 10, and is mentored by five amazing folks challenging him professionally, personally, and spiritually. John is married to his husband since 2014 where they are Airbnb Superhosts welcoming over 500 guests. John’s proudest accomplishment: being alive and sharing his story to others.
Name: Arturo Herrera
Pronouns: He/him
Job Title: Founder
Organization: ShoCast
Professional Bio:
Arturo Herrera is an engineer and entrepreneur based in Southern California who has spent years working on the development of new ventures, everything from customer development, business model development, and product development. He is currently the founder of an entertainment tech startup called ShoCast, where he and his team are building the first livestreaming platform built for live shows online. Their mission is to help entertainers like magicians, comedians, and musicians, among other content creators, connect with their audiences like never before so they can continue to thrive and grow as artists.
Name: Ricky Lee
Pronouns: He/Him
Job Title: Software Engineer
Organization: Google
Professional Bio: Hey! I’m Ricky — I graduated from UCLA four years ago and now I work at Google making ads pretty.
Name: Grace Collins
Pronouns: They/Them
Job Title: CEO
Organization: Snowbright Studio
Professional Bio:
Grace Collins (they/them) is the Founder/CEO of Snowbright Studio, an LGBTBE certified game and media development studio located in Cleveland, Ohio. They previously led games and education policy at the US Department of Education and later coordinated federal game policy across the executive branch. Prior to serving at the Department, Grace managed and developed educational game projects at the Smithsonian Institution. Grace is a former computer science and game design teacher and was profiled by the Associated Press for founding the first esports team in the nation at an all-girls’ high school. They have been recognized with several awards including being named a Finalist for the 2020 Digital Education Breakthrough of the Year Award by the Falling Walls Foundation, with a 2020 Educator Award by the National Center for Women & Information Technology, and as part of the 2021 Transgender Entrepreneurial Growth & Development Cohort by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. Grace serves on the Board of Directors for GAMA, the Game Manufacturers Association, and sits on the advisory board for the Raising Good Gamers initiative which seeks to reduce toxicity in gaming.
Registration is required – Register here!
In honor of LGBTQ+ History Month, Khoury College presents Out in Tech, a panel of LGBTQ+ professionals in tech roles that aims to provide guidance and advice to current Khoury students who identify within the community, and their allies, as well as offer a networking opportunity. LGBTQ+ students may struggle to find professional mentors, role models, and examples that reflect their experiences. This panel will be an opportunity for our students to learn about different experiences people have had, hear suggestions and tips, and find a greater sense of belonging within the tech field. Panelists represent PayPal, Google, SnowBright Studios (gaming), and ShoCast (an entertainment startup).
Name: John Huân Vu
Pronouns: He/Him
Job Title: Engineering Program Manager (former Software Engineer)
Organization: PayPal
Bio:
John Huan Vu lives his life by giving back his time, talent, and treasure. John is an Engineering Program Manager at PayPal. John was previously a software engineer for over a decade contributing to Adobe, IBM, Amgen, Zynga, and Walt Disney Imagineering. John partnered with PayPal to receive $20,000 towards a food distribution network during the height of the pandemic and $10,000 to the only HIV/AIDS hospice in the entire Baja California, Mexico. This past year, John was awarded by the CFO for nearly saving another’s life. John went to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo receiving a master’s in computer science and a double bachelor’s in computer science and mathematics. John lives on the intersection as a gay, Catholic, Vietnamese-American raised by a single mother under the poverty line. John is a LGBTQ+ advisory board member for the San Jose Police Department. John values mentorship and is actively mentoring three students, upwards to 10, and is mentored by five amazing folks challenging him professionally, personally, and spiritually. John is married to his husband since 2014 where they are Airbnb Superhosts welcoming over 500 guests. John’s proudest accomplishment: being alive and sharing his story to others.
Name: Arturo Herrera
Pronouns: He/him
Job Title: Founder
Organization: ShoCast
Professional Bio:
Arturo Herrera is an engineer and entrepreneur based in Southern California who has spent years working on the development of new ventures, everything from customer development, business model development, and product development. He is currently the founder of an entertainment tech startup called ShoCast, where he and his team are building the first livestreaming platform built for live shows online. Their mission is to help entertainers like magicians, comedians, and musicians, among other content creators, connect with their audiences like never before so they can continue to thrive and grow as artists.
Name: Ricky Lee
Pronouns: He/Him
Job Title: Software Engineer
Organization: Google
Professional Bio: Hey! I’m Ricky — I graduated from UCLA four years ago and now I work at Google making ads pretty.
Name: Grace Collins
Pronouns: They/Them
Job Title: CEO
Organization: Snowbright Studio
Professional Bio:
Grace Collins (they/them) is the Founder/CEO of Snowbright Studio, an LGBTBE certified game and media development studio located in Cleveland, Ohio. They previously led games and education policy at the US Department of Education and later coordinated federal game policy across the executive branch. Prior to serving at the Department, Grace managed and developed educational game projects at the Smithsonian Institution. Grace is a former computer science and game design teacher and was profiled by the Associated Press for founding the first esports team in the nation at an all-girls’ high school. They have been recognized with several awards including being named a Finalist for the 2020 Digital Education Breakthrough of the Year Award by the Falling Walls Foundation, with a 2020 Educator Award by the National Center for Women & Information Technology, and as part of the 2021 Transgender Entrepreneurial Growth & Development Cohort by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. Grace serves on the Board of Directors for GAMA, the Game Manufacturers Association, and sits on the advisory board for the Raising Good Gamers initiative which seeks to reduce toxicity in gaming.
Registration is required – Register here!
In honor of LGBTQ+ History Month, Khoury College presents Out in Tech, a panel of LGBTQ+ professionals in tech roles that aims to provide guidance and advice to current Khoury students who identify within the community, and their allies, as well as offer a networking opportunity. LGBTQ+ students may struggle to find professional mentors, role models, and examples that reflect their experiences. This panel will be an opportunity for our students to learn about different experiences people have had, hear suggestions and tips, and find a greater sense of belonging within the tech field. Panelists represent PayPal, Google, SnowBright Studios (gaming), and ShoCast (an entertainment startup).
Name: John Huân Vu
Pronouns: He/Him
Job Title: Engineering Program Manager (former Software Engineer)
Organization: PayPal
Bio:
John Huan Vu lives his life by giving back his time, talent, and treasure. John is an Engineering Program Manager at PayPal. John was previously a software engineer for over a decade contributing to Adobe, IBM, Amgen, Zynga, and Walt Disney Imagineering. John partnered with PayPal to receive $20,000 towards a food distribution network during the height of the pandemic and $10,000 to the only HIV/AIDS hospice in the entire Baja California, Mexico. This past year, John was awarded by the CFO for nearly saving another’s life. John went to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo receiving a master’s in computer science and a double bachelor’s in computer science and mathematics. John lives on the intersection as a gay, Catholic, Vietnamese-American raised by a single mother under the poverty line. John is a LGBTQ+ advisory board member for the San Jose Police Department. John values mentorship and is actively mentoring three students, upwards to 10, and is mentored by five amazing folks challenging him professionally, personally, and spiritually. John is married to his husband since 2014 where they are Airbnb Superhosts welcoming over 500 guests. John’s proudest accomplishment: being alive and sharing his story to others.
Name: Arturo Herrera
Pronouns: He/him
Job Title: Founder
Organization: ShoCast
Professional Bio:
Arturo Herrera is an engineer and entrepreneur based in Southern California who has spent years working on the development of new ventures, everything from customer development, business model development, and product development. He is currently the founder of an entertainment tech startup called ShoCast, where he and his team are building the first livestreaming platform built for live shows online. Their mission is to help entertainers like magicians, comedians, and musicians, among other content creators, connect with their audiences like never before so they can continue to thrive and grow as artists.
Name: Ricky Lee
Pronouns: He/Him
Job Title: Software Engineer
Organization: Google
Professional Bio: Hey! I’m Ricky — I graduated from UCLA four years ago and now I work at Google making ads pretty.
Name: Grace Collins
Pronouns: They/Them
Job Title: CEO
Organization: Snowbright Studio
Professional Bio:
Grace Collins (they/them) is the Founder/CEO of Snowbright Studio, an LGBTBE certified game and media development studio located in Cleveland, Ohio. They previously led games and education policy at the US Department of Education and later coordinated federal game policy across the executive branch. Prior to serving at the Department, Grace managed and developed educational game projects at the Smithsonian Institution. Grace is a former computer science and game design teacher and was profiled by the Associated Press for founding the first esports team in the nation at an all-girls’ high school. They have been recognized with several awards including being named a Finalist for the 2020 Digital Education Breakthrough of the Year Award by the Falling Walls Foundation, with a 2020 Educator Award by the National Center for Women & Information Technology, and as part of the 2021 Transgender Entrepreneurial Growth & Development Cohort by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. Grace serves on the Board of Directors for GAMA, the Game Manufacturers Association, and sits on the advisory board for the Raising Good Gamers initiative which seeks to reduce toxicity in gaming.
Registration is required – Register here!
In honor of LGBTQ+ History Month, Khoury College presents Out in Tech, a panel of LGBTQ+ professionals in tech roles that aims to provide guidance and advice to current Khoury students who identify within the community, and their allies, as well as offer a networking opportunity. LGBTQ+ students may struggle to find professional mentors, role models, and examples that reflect their experiences. This panel will be an opportunity for our students to learn about different experiences people have had, hear suggestions and tips, and find a greater sense of belonging within the tech field. Panelists represent PayPal, Google, SnowBright Studios (gaming), and ShoCast (an entertainment startup).
Name: John Huân Vu
Pronouns: He/Him
Job Title: Engineering Program Manager (former Software Engineer)
Organization: PayPal
Bio:
John Huan Vu lives his life by giving back his time, talent, and treasure. John is an Engineering Program Manager at PayPal. John was previously a software engineer for over a decade contributing to Adobe, IBM, Amgen, Zynga, and Walt Disney Imagineering. John partnered with PayPal to receive $20,000 towards a food distribution network during the height of the pandemic and $10,000 to the only HIV/AIDS hospice in the entire Baja California, Mexico. This past year, John was awarded by the CFO for nearly saving another’s life. John went to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo receiving a master’s in computer science and a double bachelor’s in computer science and mathematics. John lives on the intersection as a gay, Catholic, Vietnamese-American raised by a single mother under the poverty line. John is a LGBTQ+ advisory board member for the San Jose Police Department. John values mentorship and is actively mentoring three students, upwards to 10, and is mentored by five amazing folks challenging him professionally, personally, and spiritually. John is married to his husband since 2014 where they are Airbnb Superhosts welcoming over 500 guests. John’s proudest accomplishment: being alive and sharing his story to others.
Name: Arturo Herrera
Pronouns: He/him
Job Title: Founder
Organization: ShoCast
Professional Bio:
Arturo Herrera is an engineer and entrepreneur based in Southern California who has spent years working on the development of new ventures, everything from customer development, business model development, and product development. He is currently the founder of an entertainment tech startup called ShoCast, where he and his team are building the first livestreaming platform built for live shows online. Their mission is to help entertainers like magicians, comedians, and musicians, among other content creators, connect with their audiences like never before so they can continue to thrive and grow as artists.
Name: Ricky Lee
Pronouns: He/Him
Job Title: Software Engineer
Organization: Google
Professional Bio: Hey! I’m Ricky — I graduated from UCLA four years ago and now I work at Google making ads pretty.
Name: Grace Collins
Pronouns: They/Them
Job Title: CEO
Organization: Snowbright Studio
Professional Bio:
Grace Collins (they/them) is the Founder/CEO of Snowbright Studio, an LGBTBE certified game and media development studio located in Cleveland, Ohio. They previously led games and education policy at the US Department of Education and later coordinated federal game policy across the executive branch. Prior to serving at the Department, Grace managed and developed educational game projects at the Smithsonian Institution. Grace is a former computer science and game design teacher and was profiled by the Associated Press for founding the first esports team in the nation at an all-girls’ high school. They have been recognized with several awards including being named a Finalist for the 2020 Digital Education Breakthrough of the Year Award by the Falling Walls Foundation, with a 2020 Educator Award by the National Center for Women & Information Technology, and as part of the 2021 Transgender Entrepreneurial Growth & Development Cohort by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. Grace serves on the Board of Directors for GAMA, the Game Manufacturers Association, and sits on the advisory board for the Raising Good Gamers initiative which seeks to reduce toxicity in gaming.
Registration is required – Register here!