Sumona DasGupta, ’05, J.D.’09
Sumona DasGupta is the Director of Business and Strategic Development for UW Pharmacy, where she oversees initiatives that enhance access to care and expand pharmacy services for underserved communities. A double alumna of the University of Washington, Sumona combines her legal and healthcare expertise to drive meaningful change. As Vice-President and Education Committee Chair of the Multicultural Alumni Partnership (MAP), she advances MAP’s mission of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion by raising scholarship funds, celebrating diverse alumni, and fostering an inclusive community for students and alumni from all backgrounds..
Jaebadiah Gardner, J.D. ’05
Jaebadiah Gardner is a real estate developer focused on market rate, workforce and affordable housing. He is the founder & CEO of GardnerGlobal. Jaebadiah earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and later earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Western Michigan Law School. Prior to real estate development, Jaebadiah worked for Turner Construction building commercial high-rises in downtown Seattle. He is the current President of UWAA’s Multicultural Alumni Partnership (MAP), a past Short Talks speaker and a board of trustee at the Seattle Chamber of commerce. Jaebadiah is a public speaker and author. He recently published his first book, “Believe In Yourself: Business Essentials for the Millennial Entrepreneur.”
Amyn Hakam, ’06
Amyn Hakam is a seasoned product manager with extensive experience in advertising technology. Amyn focuses on creating innovative ad solutions while ensuring user privacy. Amyn has successfully led projects at Microsoft, VIZIO, and Amazon, advancing data handling, privacy frameworks, and Smart TV ad technology. He earned a BA in Business Administration from the Foster School of Business in 2006 and is deeply grateful for the support of the Office of Minority Affairs, IC, and other resources at the UW that enriched his academic experience. Recently, Amyn has dedicated the last five years to serving on the MAP scholarship review committee.
Kristin McCowan, Ph.D. ’21
Dr. McCowan is a researcher, educator and facilitator. She is passionate about racial justice, equity and mental health. She is founder of K McCowan & Associates, a consulting firm that focuses on uplifting the work of community based organizations through research, storytelling and advocacy. She is also a professor at the University of Washington’s School of Social Work, where she teaches masters level course in dialogue facilitation and bachelors level courses in social welfare policy. Dr. McCowan has served on MAP’s board since 2017.
Vikash Patel, Pharm.D., ’09
Vikash Patel is the Pharmacy Manager at Genoa Healthcare, where he provides equitable, recovery-focused behavioral health care to marginalized communities in Seattle. By combining compassionate healthcare with actionable goals, Vikash helps patients overcome challenges and achieve success.
As a Scholarship Committee member for the past five years, Vikash is dedicated to creating equitable educational opportunities for the next generation, empowering youth to thrive. He also serves on the board of the Multicultural Alumni Partnership (MAP), advancing its mission to support students and alumni from diverse backgrounds. Through his work, Vikash fosters inclusivity and champions access to healthcare and education for underserved populations.
Mariama Suwaneh, ’17
Mariama Suwaneh is a Seattle Afro-Latina committed to racial reconciliation. Her work centers on building strong multi-ethnic communities that practice, empathy, forgiveness, accountability, and shared ownership. She is the inaugural Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Hopelink, East King County’s largest Human Services nonprofit. She is also the Co-Founder of The Edenhood Collective, a platform for melanated women to embrace their Eden and flourish by Faith. In 2019, Mariama was also named one of the 100 Youth Changemakers with the Bill and Melinda Gates Discovery Center, in partnership with Storytellers for Change and Amplifier for her work as a community leader.
