Year after year, Network Engineer Kim Schjang continues to impact the computing industry at one of the world's leading supercomputing conferences.  

This year at SC24, Schjang will be heading to Atlanta to make her debut on the routing team where she will be responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining the network infrastructure used at the conference. She has been selected once again this year to join the Women in IT Networking at SC (WINS) program, where she is not only providing seamless connectivity for attendees but also increasing the visibility of women in the technology field.

“Being part of the WINS program is a fantastic opportunity that I'm truly grateful for,” says Schjang. “Through my involvement with WINS and the routing team, I'm not only growing professionally but also contributing to a more inclusive and diverse tech industry.”

Schjang previously completed her apprenticeship as part of the conference’s edge network team, gaining skills that she’ll now use this year as she tackles setting up one of the world's fastest temporary networks. In this three week long experience, her new role has required her to get an earlier start in the process and take on some collaborative challenges that have pushed her as an engineer.

“The combination of my past experience and these new challenges makes the process both familiar and freshly engaging,” says Schjang. “ It's an excellent opportunity for professional growth and to contribute meaningfully to this cutting-edge temporary network. Each year brings new technologies and challenges, ensuring that the experience remains dynamic and educational.”

Schjang sees this annual experience as more than just an apprenticeship. Instead, this experience has allowed her to find a community of like-minded individuals working together to continuously push the boundaries of network engineering. For Schjang, this has been an integral part of her journey as a network engineer and she’s excited to grow alongside the program.

As Schjang returns to the WINS program each year, she recognizes the importance of women-centered technology programs and their impact on guiding the next generation of women in network engineering. Originally starting her technology journey at the UNLV Help Desk, she has seen an expansion of opportunities for women in the industry throughout becoming a network engineer.

“These programs provide the visibility I wish I had in college, the opportunity to see women actively working in network engineering,” says Schjang. “At UNLV, I've seen growth in the number of women in the network development and engineering department, both as full-time engineers and students. This trend is encouraging and suggests a positive shift in the field.”

From advanced technical experience to learning how to effectively collaborate with her colleagues from around the world, this apprenticeship has allowed Schjang to grasp new aspects of network engineering to apply back to her day-to-day responsibilities here on campus. Her involvement with the annual convention continues to deepen her understanding of network infrastructure, allowing her to correct complex issues more effectively and contribute valuable insight to strategic discussions about our network infrastructure.

“This experience continually broadens my skill set, keeping me at the forefront of networking technology and making me a more valuable asset to the UNLV IT team,” says Schjang. “The combination of hands-on experience, exposure to cutting-edge technologies, and the chance to both mentor and be mentored makes this program a valuable and enjoyable experience.”