A Role Model for Success

Angie’s IT background and journey in a male-dominated field make her a role model for women in tech, particularly in Colorado. We believe her story could inspire countless young women considering careers in the tech sector.

Angie Asmus

Manager of Network and Security Operations, Colorado State University

Angie on LinkedIN

Q: What single event most made you realize you wanted a career in HPC/computing?

Asmus: I was first introduced to HPC/computing while attending the SC Conference in 2016. At the time, I was a network engineer contributing to SCinet, where I played a role in constructing the high-performance network for the conference. This experience broadened my perspective on HPC and exposed me to the diverse career paths within both HPC and networking. Since then I have remained a part of the HPC community by attending the conference and participating in SCinet, working with some of the best engineers who support HPC networks.

Q: What do you consider your biggest contribution to the HPC/computing community?

Asmus: My most significant impact on the HPC/computing community lies in my dedication to fostering diversity and supporting related programs. In 2016, I became a WINS (Women in IT Networking at SC) awardee, marking the beginning of my ongoing involvement in this valuable initiative. WINS addresses the acknowledged diversity gap in HPC and networking, taking intentional steps to support a varied group of SCinet participants. As the SC24 SCinet Chair, I am actively advancing diversity efforts, particularly in advocating for a diverse representation of women in leadership positions.

Q: In the past 35 years, what is the most significant overlooked breakthrough that has impacted the field in your eyes?

Asmus: The strides made in the past 35 years have been remarkable, but one often overlooked breakthrough that has significantly impacted the field is the increasing recognition of the value of diversity. While technological advancements grab the headlines, the acknowledgment that diverse perspectives drive innovation is a game-changer. Embracing a variety of voices, backgrounds, and experiences has not only enriched the field socially but has also proven to be a catalyst for groundbreaking ideas and solutions. It’s a breakthrough that goes beyond algorithms and processors, shaping a more inclusive and dynamic future for computing.

Q: What would you like to see change about, within, or among the HPC/computing community?

Asmus: As we move forward, it’s crucial that we maintain our momentum and remain steadfast in our commitment to DEI initiatives. Additionally, we should not lose sight of the significance of mentoring students. This investment in the next generation is pivotal for the continued growth and strength of our community. By providing guidance and support to emerging talent, we not only contribute to their personal development but also fortify the collective knowledge and capabilities of our community. Together, we can ensure a more inclusive, diverse, and thriving environment for all.

Q: What would you like to see change about, within, or among the HPC/computing community?

Asmus: I currently hold the position of the manager of network and security operations at Colorado State University and am also serving as the Interim Director of Network & Telecommunications. My involvement with SCinet began at SC16, where I participated as a WINS awardee, contributing to the construction of the conference network. Since then, I’ve been an active participant in SCinet every year. The honor of being chosen as the SCinet Chair for SC24 is especially significant, as I am the first WINS awardee to assume this role where I will be leading a team of exceptional volunteer network engineers to create the fastest and most powerful volunteer network for SC24.

In 2015, Asmus was working in Colorado State University’s Information Technology division as a security analyst, focused on compliance, network firewalls, and routing. In this role, she met WINS founder Marla Meehl, who was then running the Front Range GigaPoP. With Meehl’s encouragement, Asmus applied for a WINS scholarship and, to her surprise, was named a 2016 WINS awardee. 

“I hadn’t really worked with network switches until I came to SCinet that year,” Asmus recalled. “Kevin Hayden [2024 Exhibits Chair] was my mentor, and he handed me a set of 65 switches and told me to upgrade and configure them. He had to walk me through the first one. Then it started really clicking and making sense. Along with the team, I did all the edge switches and wireless for the conference—and loved it.” 

Asmus formed a tight bond with the other WINS awardees and the SCinet team that year. 

“I met 200 great people who felt like a new family, and that made me want to come back.”

— Angie Asmus, SC24 SCinet Chair

From WINS to Career Wins

Asmus has come back every year since, working her way up to becoming the Edge Team Chair. At SC23, she served as SCinet Deputy Chair, and at SC24, she will be SCinet Chair in Atlanta. From WINS awardee to SCinet chair in a mere eight years is a pretty powerful trajectory, and Asmus gives the credit to WINS.

“WINS means everything to me,” she said. “It’s given me the confidence and experience to rise through the ranks in my career, not to mention the chance to present and speak on the importance of diversity in the tech field. I’ve gained skills I never knew I needed, from soft skills to tech skills.” 

To wit, Asmus was recently promoted to Interim Director of the Network and Telecommunications team at Colorado State University, where she manages three teams with 20 full-time employees. 

Ultimately, Asmus has this to say to women considering WINS: “Definitely apply for the WINS scholarship. It is life changing. It’s truly so impactful for what it can do for your career.” 

SC24 SCinet Chair Angie Asmus (left) and SC24 SCinet Technical Director Brenna Meade (right)

SC23 WINS Cohort in Denver

Learn More & Apply

Created in 2015, WINS seeks to address the gender gap within the information technology industry, particularly in network engineering. Each year WINS funds highly qualified women, selected through a competitive application process, to join the conference’s SCinet team. SCinet is a global multi-terabit network created each year for the SC Conference and built from the ground up to support the revolutionary participant demos that have become the hallmark of the high-tech conference.

WINS strives to have a diverse representation of organizations and applicant backgrounds in the cohort each year. WINS continues to receive highly competitive applications, and the program continues to show strong interest and support.

SC23 WINS Awardees

The WINS awardees are deeply immersed in a six- to nine-month engineering experience before SC and during the conference while SCinet is operating live. Awardees are integrated into one of over fifteen SCinet teams and are paired with a mentor to ensure a positive experience throughout the process.

Brittany Huff

Purdue University

Team: SCinet Network Security

Shannen McKenna

University of California, Davis

Team: SCinet Network Security

Hallie Mull

Bucknell University

Team: SCinet Routing

Suzanne Prentice

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Team: SCinet DevOps

Pauline Sawadogo

Clemson University

Team: SCinet Edge

Alysha Toya

Jemez Health and Human Services

Team: SCinet Edge

Ola Gamal

CENIC

Team: SCinet WAN

“WINS helps to address the gender gap in information technology, especially in networking technology and high performance computing (HPC). Through WINS, the talented group of early to mid-career women engineers and technologists have a unique opportunity for direct access to cutting-edge network technology, working side-by-side with the SCinet volunteers, including the world’s leading network and software engineers from academia, government, and industry, to design and create SCinet. The women who participate in WINS are empowered to thrive and achieve success in their chosen career.”

From Awardee to Chair

When WINS was created in 2015, less than 14% of SCinet volunteers were women. Since then, that amount has tripled with a significant number of alumni ascending to SCinet management roles, such as Angie Asmus from Colorado State University.

As one of the original WINS awardees, Asmus was selected among peers to serve as the SC24 Chair of SCinet, the top position a volunteer can hold on the SCinet committee. “WINS was initially started to close the gender gap, but it has become so much more.  The opportunity WINS has given me and other women involved in SCinet has been pivotal in our careers.  It has provided hands-on networking experience, public-speaking practice, a trusted community, and leadership opportunities that have opened the doors for many of us to advance in our careers. Seeing WINS participants grow and develop into leaders in SCinet and their home institutions is exciting.  I would not have had the career advancement or the opportunity to lead the great SCinet organization without my experience in WINS.  I’m excited to lead all of the SCinet volunteers, especially the WINS participants and alumni at SC24.”

In addition to the SCinet experience, WINS provides ongoing support and career development opportunities for awardees before, during, and after the conference. This includes monthly calls for the community of WINS alumni participants, which now tops 45 women.

A Joint Effort

WINS is a joint effort between the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), the Department of Energy’s Energy Sciences Network (ESnet), and Indiana University. To date, financial support for the WINS program has come from a combination of funding, with the original core funding from the NSF (144064, 1640987, and 2129723) and additional funding from the joint partners as well as other contributors, including NREL, Internet2, Ciena, Meta, Juniper, KINBER, Pacific Northwest GigaPoP (PNWGP), Northern Tier Network Consortium (NTNC), The Quilt, and Purdue University. 

Members of the WINS management team include Marla Meehl and Scott Baily of UCAR, Kate Robinson and Jason Zurawski of ESnet, Brenna Meade from Indiana University, and Wendy Huntoon of AIHEC.

Meet Angie Asmus, a WINS participant and manager of network and security operations at Colorado State University. She started at SCinet on the Edge Networking Team at SC16 and worked her way up to becoming the Edge Team Chair. At SC23, she will be the SCinet Deputy Chair, and at SC24 she will be SCinet Chair.

A Winning Program

“With WINS, women gain hands-on experience building a network from the ground up. You also gain a whole new family and an extensive new professional network that is happy to support you at SCinet and welcomes questions and collaboration.”

Angie Asmus

Colorado State University

Q: What is WINS, and how have you been involved over the years? 

Asmus: WINS stands for Women in IT Networking at SC. It is an NSF-funded grant and receives funding from the Department of Energy to ESnet. The program was developed to address the gender gap in IT, specifically in the networking and high-performance computing fields. The original PIs on the grant were Marla Meehl of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) and Wendy Huntoon of the Keystone Initiative for Network Based Education and Research (KINBER), both women who WINS participants respect and view as mentors. ESnet, KINBER, and UCAR collaboratively manage the program. 

WINS began as a pilot program in 2015. Since then, each year, WINS has funded 5–8 early- to mid-career women to attend the SC conference and participate in SCinet. WINS funds travel and expenses for these women and provides mentoring and support both at SCinet and year-round.

Q: What is SCinet, and how does WINS help SCinet accomplish its goals?

Asmus: SCinet is the fastest, most powerful volunteer-built network that is built for the SC conference. A group of about 200 volunteers works throughout the year to plan, design, and build this powerful network. Diversity is always a goal of the SC conference and SCinet, and partnering with the WINS program has given SCinet a pathway to build a more diverse group of volunteers. Specifically, SCinet has been able to include more women on its teams – since WINS began, the number of women participating in SCinet has grown immensely, as has the number of women in leadership positions. 

Q: How has WINS been valuable to you? Where did you start, and where are you headed?

Asmus: WINS and SCinet have been pivotal in my career. I like to say I am where I am today in my career because of WINS and my experience at SCinet. When I applied to the WINS program, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I had worked in IT for about 17 years and still didn’t have a direction or know what I wanted to do. WINS and SCinet have provided me with so many great experiences, from being involved in building a network from the ground up, to professional development opportunities, public speaking opportunities, management experience, and a professional network that I have reached out to for help and advice on projects that I am working on at my home institution.

Q: A significant WINS deadline is approaching. What is it, and why is it important?

Asmus: The application period for the WINS program closes on January 27, 2023. Get your applications in; it is an experience you don’t want to miss out on. It is essential to have support from your home institution also.

Q: Why should someone apply for the WINS program?

Asmus: I would encourage all women interested in participating in SCinet to apply for WINS. I would guess that most of us who have been WINS participants say it is life-changing and catapulted our careers. It has given us great experience and made us more valuable to our employers. 

Q: Why is WINS valuable to an employer?

Asmus: Employer support of women employees applying for WINS and participating in SCinet is very important. It not only shows your employees that you are invested in their success, but also allows them to feel supported. Past WINS participants have all grown in their careers and a lot of their growth can be attributed to WINS and SCinet. Women come back from their participation more confident, with better technical skills and familiarity with the R&E and HPC worlds. 

Q: What can a WINS participant expect to experience?

Asmus: WINS awardees will be awarded travel and expenses to be able to attend SC and participate in SCinet for 3 weeks in October/November. It is an immersive experience, building a network from the ground up. It is hands-on experience that is hard to come by in your daily work. But more than that, WINS participants will gain a new SCinet family and expanded professional network. It’s about more than justSCinet – you will gain mentorship and friendships both from WINS and SCinet that continue long after attending the conference.

Learn More & Apply