About The Author

Jordan Barton is a young black female computer science major from Prince George’s County Maryland attending the University of Maryland. She was inspired to do this project after experiencing the isolation and imposter syndrome that comes along with being such a stark minority in her classes and at her institution overall. Understanding that this trend carries well into the work force, she felt inclined to begin playing a role in diversifying the field of computer science, outside of existing as a black woman in the field. *Girl Code* is designed to teach young black girls the fundamentals of coding in any language. These tasks require thought, but are hopefully understandable so that players will feel the sense of pride and accomplishment that comes with achieving academically; the hope is that they will envision themselves as someone who belongs in STEM, even when so few look like them. This game was creating to spark an interest, strengthen confidence, and encourage growth. In the future, *Girl Code* will expand to incorporate a more diverse array of interactive challenges to continue the learning process in this safe environment.