From first cohort to ambassador: one student’s path through open source

Kayla Partee, an All In ambassador and computer science major at Clark Atlanta University, joined the All In for Students program in 2021 as part of its very first pilot cohort. That initial group brought together 30 students from seven universities for a 12-month introduction to open source, pairing technical training with education and career development opportunities. The stated goal: as open source grows, make sure the community and its benefits stay inclusive.

GitHub launched the pilot with universities that have historically been excluded or under-resourced, giving students a route to internships at major tech companies. Since then, the program has scaled considerably—the 2024 class counts 178 students across 73 universities.

Kayla’s original motivation was straightforward: learn more about open source and get comfortable with GitHub’s tooling. What she found after finishing the program—and returning as an ambassador the following year—was a community that had taken root on campus. “Coming in with an open mind,” she says, is essential to getting value out of the experience, a piece of advice that applies as much to open source work generally as to the program itself.

Mentoring with student realities in mind

As an ambassador, Kayla now mentors students who are in the position she was in not long ago. That experience gives her a practical sense of the constraints they’re working under—balancing coursework, program obligations, and personal life. She is deliberate about not overwhelming the students she supports with constant communication, keeping in mind how much they already carry.

The program has prepared her for both near-term and longer-range goals, including securing a summer internship and eventually leaving a mark on the industry. She also sees her role as representational:

“No matter what I do, I want to be an example to show people that they can succeed, too. As a fellow minority of the 3% of Black women in the tech industry, it is imperative that we support and show the way for others that come behind us.”

Three lessons from working in open source

Looking ahead, Kayla intends to apply her technical skills to building an app centered on self-care for women, covering topics like relationships and menstrual health. Her advice for others working in open source communities draws directly on what she learned through All In:

  • Come in with an open mind—at events, while networking, or during collaboration.
  • Appreciate the knowledge you pick up from the people you work alongside.
  • Value the contacts you make; you never know when those skills or connections will be needed.

Applications for the next All In for Students cohort open in August.