Exploring Public Interest Technology (PIT): A Career Fair for Social Impact
By Pamela Wells, Bobbi Makani and Ann Sison
What happens when technology meets social good and is introduced to industry, government and civil society employers? Public Interest Technology (PIT).
On March 20, the San José State University (SJSU) Career Center, led by Executive Director Bobbi Makani, hosted the Regional PIT Career Resource Fair, marking the arrival of spring with an event designed to inspire and connect students with meaningful career paths. The event featured industry experts who shared valuable career advice and responded to student questions, providing a roadmap to careers that merge technology with public service.
The Student Union Ballroom buzzed with energy as students, faculty and staff from SJSU, Cal State East Bay, Cal State Monterey Bay and San Francisco State convened for a six-hour event that included panel discussions, workshops and networking activities that addressed emerging trends and career development in the PIT sector. These meaningful interactions attracted students exploring careers and employers seeking top talent.
A key highlight was an insightful interview with Anne Marie Todd, dean of the College of Social Sciences, whose research explores environmental aesthetics, sustainability education and community engagement.
CommUniverCity: 20 Years of Impact
A standout participant in the event was CommUniverCity (CUC), SJSU’s award-winning community engagement organization. Celebrating 20 years, CUC is a pioneering partnership between SJSU, the City of San José and the local community. Through its mission, CUC is a vital bridge connecting university expertise with community needs to foster high-impact service projects. With deep-rooted relationships in the community and strong collaborations with city leaders, CUC has become a model for experiential learning and civic engagement.
At the Regional PIT Career Resource Fair, CUC showcased projects that leverage technology to drive social impact. One such initiative involves using echolocation and bat houses in environmental studies. Katherine Cushing, interim chair of Environmental Studies and Urban and Regional Planning Departments and senior advisor to CUC, leads students in research using multiple data collection techniques to tackle environmental challenges.
The career fair included expert panels. Photo courtesy of Pamela Wells.
Another example of CUC’s work in PIT is its longstanding collaboration with Rick Kos, a certified urban planner, practitioner-in-residence and lecturer in SJSU’s School of Urban and Regional Planning. Kos guides his students through service learning using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), a powerful technology transforming location-based data (e.g., demographics, survey findings, addresses, etc.), into actionable insights for urban planning. With CUC’s strong community connections, these projects have helped inform best practices in community development, showcasing the transformative role of data in shaping more equitable and sustainable cities.
Beyond these examples, PIT encompasses an array of technological applications aimed at social good. From food apps that connect surplus food with community food distributors like Second Harvest, to AI-driven behavioral tools and telehealth solutions, the possibilities are vast.
Students eager to explore careers in Public Interest Technology should connect with the SJSU Career Center for guidance. Those interested in getting involved with CUC’s high-impact work can visit Clark Hall 105. By merging technology with civic engagement, SJSU and its partners continue to pave the way for a future where innovation serves the greater good.
