Aniyah Norman has always loved technology. Through hacking and event organizing, she has made technology a central part of her life and benefited a wider hacker community. 

When Aniyah was a child, her family shared one desktop computer, which she used to play online video games. But as she got older, she expanded her tech knowledge and spent much more time building her skills. She says, “Since the 6th grade, I have pretty much carried a laptop with me every day.” However, her high school had very few coding resources, so she took the initiative to teach herself Python. 

Although she had a talent for coding and loved CS, she wondered if she was skilled enough to major in it. She started in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Georgia, but quickly took a leap of faith and switched her major to Computer Science. It was the right decision. She says, “Because of tech, I've received once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, gained lifelong friends, and been a part of organizations that have influenced who I am.”

 Aniyah and her friends wanted more than the projects they had access to in class. She learned about UGAHacks 6 in the spring of 2021, formed a team, and fully committed to the hackathon experience. She gained so much through the event that she never looked back. She saw how web development, front-end coding, and the software development process work. She says, “I was inspired by UGAHacks to learn more about computer science, and I knew I wanted to be a part of allowing the Computer Science community to feel the same passion I felt!” 

She jumped into hackathons as an organizer. She joined the university’s next hackathon, UGAHacks 7, as the Logistics Director. She got to plan every stage of the event, feeling the stresses—and rewards—of putting together a major community event, the first in-person hackathon at the university since the start of the pandemic. The hackathon was a complicated venture, but she and her team pulled it off. Aniyah learned a great deal about her skills and leadership, finding her place in the hacker community. She sees UGAHacks as a way to help beginner coders grow and to challenge more experienced ones. Providing resources and opportunities for hackers to expand their knowledge drives Aniyah, and she thrives in her role. 

Since joining UGAHacks, she has expanded into other leadership roles to guide and mentor fellow hackers. She also joined ACM-W Girls.Code() and today serves as its president. She loves the supportive community both organizations provide. Aniyah is a woman of color and a first-generation college student, and she is proud to be a voice for underrepresented hackers. She says, “As a Black woman in technology, I have not always been confident in my own abilities because I almost fed into stereotypes and biases, but I had an amazing support system within the community that encouraged me to always know my worth.” She has made connections that continue to strengthen and support her. 

Aniyah’s next venture is serving as lead director of the upcoming UGAHacks 8. Her involvement and engagement have helped her reach this level of leadership, and she is ready to take on new responsibilities. She says, “I couldn't be more excited to continue supporting the hacker community!”