W&L Outcomes: Katie Yurechko ’24

Office of Communications and Public Affairs
August 29, 2024

Katie Yurechko '24
Major: Computer science and philosophy double major and poverty and human capability studies minor
Hometown: Havre de Grace, Maryland

What will you be doing after graduation?

Over the summer, I'm interning part-time with the University of Washington on two projects: One leverages machine learning and large language models to design interventions into social media hate and harassment, while the other uses political philosophy to parse out autonomy on social media. I will also be volunteering with Technology 4 Causes (T4C), a nonprofit that multiplies the impact of community initiatives in my hometown through creative uses of technology.

As a 2024 Marshall Scholar (the university's first), I will complete a master's degree in social science of the internet at the University of Oxford, followed by a master's degree in computer science at another university in the U.K. Taking a multidisciplinary approach, I will build on my undergraduate studies by exploring unjust social media algorithms and inadequate algorithmic content moderation.

How did your career plans evolve over the course of your time at W&L?

At the start of my W&L experience, I understood the harms of technology but did not yet have the vocabulary that would enable me to perceive my individual sense of exploitation from social media algorithms as part of a larger narrative. Through interdisciplinary courses like Black Mirror in the politics department, as well as research opportunities at the intersection of computing and social justice, I honed a language to articulate technology's impacts on the lives of people across backgrounds, beliefs and identities. As a Bonner Scholar, leading service initiatives like the redesign of a local community foundation's website helped me wield technology to address poverty and other societal harms. These experiences showed me that whatever career I end up pursuing, it cannot take place within the walls of an ivory tower. Since I envision a world in which algorithmic justice is not simply the absence of injustice but something purposefully uplifting for marginalized groups, I must collaborate with diverse individuals through research, advocacy and other initiatives to rectify technology's harms.

What internships or other summer experiences did you partake in and how did those experiences shape you and your career plans?

As a summer 2022 research intern in Carnegie Mellon University's Media, Interaction and Technology Lab, I investigated "algospeak," a phenomenon in which social media creators alter their language to avoid unjust algorithmic content moderation. Beginning in the summer of 2023, I researched human-AI collaboration in the University of Washington's Social Futures Lab, designing an interactive machine learning tool that enables users to address online hate and harassment. Together, these experiences refined my interests in computer science and social justice while unveiling a critical tension that I seek to address throughout my career: How do we eradicate the unjust, algorithmic silencing of marginalized voices on social media while increasing the moderation of hateful content that often targets marginalized groups?

How did the Office of Career and Professional Development support you and which resources did you find most helpful?

I met with the Office of Career and Professional Development after my first year at W&L to discuss career options at the intersection of computer science and social justice. I learned that few coding jobs would enable me to explore the issues that I sought to analyze, which led me to inquire about research opportunities. I was also put in touch with Matthew Loar in the Fellowships Office who encouraged me to apply for prestigious fellowships and guided me throughout the process.

What did you study at W&L and what are some skills or learnings you will take from your academic experience into the professional world?

As a computer science and philosophy double major with a minor in poverty and human capability studies, I learned that complex problems regarding our world's contemporary technologies require multidisciplinary solutions. Being able to translate the language of programmers into nontechnical circles will enable me to expand efforts at rectifying harmful technologies beyond the often exclusive boundaries of academia and industry. Conversely, being able to investigate technological issues from a deeply analytical and philosophical lens will help me direct technical interventions toward social justice, all while honoring and centering users' perspectives.

What clubs, organizations, athletic teams or other extracurriculars were you involved in that had an impact on you?

As a Bonner Scholar, I participated in leadership development programs that helped me engage meaningfully in nearly 1,800 hours of community efforts, like creating and running Nabors Service League's tech equity educational series throughout the 2022-2023 school year. Giving the opening talk for the series, I learned how to integrate my computer science scholarship into nontechnical service initiatives, especially by conveying complicated technical concepts to audience members of varying backgrounds, majors, and career interests.

Who or what has inspired you along the way?

Professor Stuart Gray, an associate professor of politics at W&L, consistently entertained and refined my perspectives on technology through his political philosophy courses and lively office hours discussions. With his mentorship, I questioned our society's technological "progress" from social and political angles, guided by thinkers who lived long before the genesis of ChatGPT but whose wisdom will infinitely augment my perspectives on contemporary technologies.

Did you connect with alumni during your career development process?

I connected with alumni predominantly through my practice interviews for post-graduate fellowships. Their insights and feedback helped me tell my story compellingly and answer questions succinctly, which proved invaluable in my interview for the Marshall Scholarship that I received.

What career-related advice would you give to next year's graduating class?

Instead of focusing on checking boxes, apply for opportunities that genuinely excite you. These will form the breadcrumb trail that you can trace to uncover your ultimate passion, which will form the basis of your career. Also apply for opportunities that you cannot imagine yourself winning - some moonshots just might come true, and if you have the time and energy to apply for them, it is definitely worth shooting your shot.

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