Q&A: Soma Datta
Soma Datta, program chair of pre-engineering and assistant professor of software engineering, is one of the women featured as part of The Signal’s special #HawkHerStory issue, celebrating Women’s History Month. This special edition focuses on the stories and perspectives of the various women within the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) community.
Read The Signal’s Q&A with Datta below and see the other Q&A’s conducted with students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni here.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself, on both a personal and professional/educational level?
A: I’m a software engineer by profession, I graduated from Texas Tech University with a Ph.D. in Computer Science. Prior to coming to the US, I worked in India both as faculty and Software Engineer for 15 years.
Q: Who are some women (real or fictional) you look up to most? Why?
A: My mother always had a vision about our education. She always guided my sister and me. My undergraduate was [a] chemistry major, she watched me work hard. With the amount of time and effort I had devoted, I personally felt that had not reflected on my grades. My mother felt the same, so she asked me if I wanted to [pursue my] master’s in chemistry or change my stream. I was so happy that she had understood me. With my mother’s advice, I, with some foundation course work, switch[ed] to master’s in computer science. There was no looking back from there.
My dissertation chair Dr. Susan Mengel at Texas Tech University. I started as a full-time Ph.D. student. I soon realized I had to get back to work because [my] daughter was ready to start college. At that point, I [was] a part-time Ph.D. student and worked full time at Texas Tech in the financial aid department as a programmer. [As] years progressed I was promoted as associate director for enrollment management but I started getting behind in my studies. Dr. Mengel was the person who motivated me and helped me to complete my degree. Although it took longer, I was able to complete the degree.
Q: What are three things you can’t live without?
A: Laptop, drinking water and internet.
Q: What are some problems you anticipate/have encountered as a woman in your field?
A: I [sometimes] feel I have to work harder to get that raise or fame or promotions than men.
Q: What advice would you give to the younger version of yourself?
A: Follow your dream and think big. It will happen, never ever give up.
Q: Is there anything you would like our readers to know?
A: Find a mentor and be able to discuss your problems.
