Graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in computer science is commendable. To do so with a cumulative GPA of 3.90 or higher is a feat.

This is what Raeanne Marks will accomplish when she graduates Saturday Summa Cum Laude from the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at Washington State University.

After graduation, Marks will work for the data company EMC Corporation, the company she also interned with for two summers.

The gravity of her success heading into a field notoriously dominated by men isn’t lost on her.

Training for a career in STEM included an education in gendered microagressions. Marks said she’s been relatively fortunate in the lack of gender-based adversity in her studies.

“There was one incident – I was coordinating an event that took women to Microsoft for IT, not software – and it was oriented toward getting women into programming.”

When she went into a class to recruit more women to go, the men in the class were offended, Marks said. Even though men were invited to participate, women were priority. And that didn’t sit well.

“(Gender-based adversity in the computer science major) hasn’t really happened to me,” Marks said. “Probably because I was doing really well in classes. I was in clubs. People knew me, and I looked like I knew what I was doing.”

But Marks knows smooth sailing is, statistically speaking, unlikely to continue after she graduates.

“I know what to expect, sadly,” she said. “But I’m not going to stop doing it.”

“We always exchanged ideas about how to improve the curriculum,” said Sakire Arslan Ay, assistant director of EECS and one of Marks’ former instructors. Ay worked closely with Marks, providing support and guidance in her academic and professional endeavors.

“Raeanne always did extra,” Ay said. “You ask something, she came to you with something much more than what you asked for and that is wonderful.”

After certifying the computer science major, Marks became involved with computer science extracurricular activities. Marks was treasurer, secretary and officer at large of the now-defunct Computer Security Group.

“At the time, we talked about computer security – vulnerability attacks, crypto currency – remember Bit Coins? – protecting your identity and internet safety,” Marks said of the group.

As co-chair of the Association for Computer Machinery (ACM), Marks said the association gives talks on how to pass interviews and prepare for the job market and tutoring on weekends, but the ACM is most famous on campus for its annual Hack-a-Thon.

Now that Marks is about to start her next venture, she is able to reflect on and give advice regarding her time in the computer science major at WSU.

“You get into this major, and there are some students, almost always men, who have been doing it since they were 12 years old, and they’re really, really good, and it’s really, really scary when I’m like, ‘oh my gosh, I have been programming here for a week,’” Marks said. “You see all of these people and you’re like, ‘I have to compete with them?’ to not get ahead in classes, but to get a job in the real world.”

Despite initial doubts, Marks flourished in the major. Landing employment with a prominent data company was an affirmation for her, and she said there is room for everyone in computer science. It’s not a cut-throat competition between classmates.

“It was kind of that realization that I’m going to be ok, that I don’t need to compare myself to those people,” Marks said. “You can start in college and totally kick butt and get an awesome job out of school, and those people will get it too.”

On being a legacy student, the sixth in her family to attend WSU, Marks said, “It was kind of a no-brainer at that point, and I enjoyed it ever since I’ve been here.”

“Everyone’s a family, everyone here is super nice,” she said. “I’m really glad that I had the opportunity to be here.” 

Additional reporting by Hannah Street