Student spotlight: Jessica Servis builds skills and community in tech

For Central Michigan University senior Jessica Servis, the past two years have been filled with opportunities to grow as both a software developer and a leader in the Women in Technology (WiT) student organization.

Servis spent the past two summers interning at Auto-Owners Insurance, where she gained hands-on experience as a software development intern. During her first summer, she worked primarily on back-end development, fixing bugs and implementing small features for a project that was preparing for release. Teaming up with fellow intern and WiT member Cora Bangert made the transition into the workplace smoother.

“It was really helpful for both of us to work together; we leaned on each other for support as we adapted to working as software development interns for the first time,” Servis said.

Her second summer brought new challenges and opportunities. As the only intern on her team, she took on more independent work and learned to conduct her own research. She also trained in front-end development, completing the skill set that made her a full-stack developer on a live, production project.

Across both internships, Servis built a strong foundation in coding, communication, and teamwork. “I worked on cross-collaborative teams, giving me great practice in communication skills. I gained experience in testing, working in a production environment, and more. These past two summers were invaluable to me!” she said.

Outside of the workplace, Servis has dedicated much of her college career to WiT, an organization she credits with shaping her success at CMU. When she first joined as a freshman, meetings were small and informal, with just a handful of regular members. By her sophomore year, she and three peers stepped into leadership roles, determined to grow the group.

Servis, who continues to serve as president, helped lead a campaign to expand WiT’s presence on campus. Through tabling, event promotion, and social media outreach, membership has grown to more than 20 active students supported by a full executive board.

Today, WiT offers workshops on everything from job applications to interview practice, alongside networking opportunities with recruiters and professionals in the tech field. Members also attend hackathons and conferences, often bringing home awards from competitions such as the Midwest Collegiate Computing Conference.

Recently, the group has expanded into hosting social events like game nights and coloring in the park, along with launching a new mentorship program that pairs underclassmen with upperclassmen.

“Our goal is to help make WiT a safe space for women in tech,” Servis explained. “We want our members to gain experience and feel prepared to enter the tech fields. I wouldn’t be nearly as successful without WiT.”

Looking back on her journey, Servis says her time at Auto-Owners and with WiT has been transformative. “Overall, I have gained so much confidence in my tech, leadership, management, and social skills. The hands-on experience I’ve gotten from WiT is invaluable. I highly recommend that any women in technology at CMU joins us.”