Alumni Spotlight: Yvette Medina, Class of 2021

Yvette Medina serves as the director of the Artificial Intelligence Bootcamps program at the Mark Cuban Foundation. “Each fall we host no-code, no-cost Intro to AI bootcamps for underserved high school students in cities across the US,” she shared. “We are focused on AI literacy as the entry point for emerging technology exposure for HS students so that they can create a more equitable future for themselves and their communities.

She started her career in K-12 as an ed and corporate communication graduate from UT Austin teaching PreK-4 as a Teach for America corps member at KIPP Shine Prep in Houston. 

“My own very frustrating and personal experience of being vastly underprepared for the rigors of higher education but fighting tooth and nail to graduate with honors from UT Austin placed a fire in my belly for fighting for education equity for underserved students in rural and urban communities across the country.”

“By exposing students to AI literacy we hope to broaden the STEM pipeline for our most underserved students in the space; girls, students of color, and students from low to moderate-income backgrounds.”

Yvette is on the connect team at her church, Upperroom Dallas, sits on the strategy committee of Junior League of Dallas, is an active alum of Teach for America in Dallas, and recently started the Social Entrepreneurship Certificate for Social Sector Leaders at SMU.

In her free time, Yvette enjoys volunteering, reading, CrossFit, and spending time with her family and friends.