Sneha Thombre
Cummins Engineering College for Women
Local Academy

Sneha Thombre is the lead instructor in the Academy at the Cummins Engineering College for Women. Aside from her commitments to the Academy, she is also a member of the Computer Society of India (CSI), and the International Electrical and Electronics (IEE). She attends seminars and engages in many competitions. In her spare time, she likes spending time with her son and practicing her favorite hobby, which is gardening.

Thombre developed an interest in IT, since both of her parents have backgrounds in engineering; she’s always been intrigued by electronics and computers. India has a growing structure in the field of IT. “The country is experiencing a technical revolution”, says Thombre, “what makes IT appealing is that you must always update your knowledge.” Thombre obtained a Bachelor’s degree in 1995 in Engineering in Electronics and Telecommunications from the Shivaji University of Kolhapur. In 2002, she completed a Post-Graduate degree in Electronics and Telecommunications and did a specialization in Micro-engineering from the Government College of Engineering of Pune.

She has been teaching since 1996, and has several classes with a total of 60 female students. She believes that women are very successful in the field of IT and that gender does not predetermine whether an individual will be successful or not. “IT is a branch wherein only your knowledge and specialization are important. We can work as well as men,” she says. As an instructor at the Academy, Thombre’s main responsibilities not only include teaching, but also admission and maintenance procedures in the Academy. She interacts with parents often and also communicates freely with students after class. “Students are very open. They are free to ask anything inside and outside the class,” she says. Students also fill out evaluation forms, which give instructors feedback about their teaching. For Thombre, the most gratifying aspect of teaching is when students truly grasp the material she teaches; there is nothing like facing a classroom full of students who are interested in the subject and truly feel that they are benefiting from the Program. In the future, Thombre plans on continuing to teach, but also to obtain a PhD and write her own books.