Biography

Gen Schmitt is a software developer with experience in both corporate and academic settings. At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, she has built expertise in cloud computing, digital preservation, and knowledge-sharing strategies. She works closely with diverse stakeholders to understand their goals and deliver scalable, cost-effective solutions that address complex challenges. Gen has presented her work at the Best Practices Exchange, the Digital Preservation Coalition Un-Conference and co-authored a paper for the iPres International Conference for Digital Preservation.

Committed to fostering mentorship and inclusion in technology, Gen serves on the leadership team for the University of Illinois Women in Technology (WIT) group. She has contributed to cross-regional collaboration as a member of the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) WIT+ steering committee and now advances professional growth initiatives through the BTAA WIT+ Mentorship Subcommittee, where she previously served as co-chair. Currently, Gen is serving as the BTAA WIT+ Co-Vice Chair of the Executive Team.