GOLD Alumni Council

Kenneth (KaeBee) Burns, ’12 is an Admissions Counselor at UW on the MOR (Multicultural Outreach & Recruitment) team. For the MOR team, he works with prospective underrepresented students as they navigate the UW application process. He puts on events to help students apply, write their personal statements, and learn more about UW. As a local from Renton, he also coaches track at his old high school (Liberty) and is involved in creating socially relevant programs, educating youth about diversity and inclusion. KaeBee utilizes his leadership skills to motivate youth educationally and inspire communities to grow in their understanding of equity.

Why I serve: As a UWAA Life member I am able to utilize all of the services, networks, and programs afforded to me by the Alumni Association. But I also noticed that there was little engagement with alumni who looked like me in these amazing programs I’ve enjoyed being able to utilize; like tailgates, the Dawg Dash, and small promotions year-round.

I would like to affect change so that I can welcome diversity to an association that I have personally found value in and want to spread that to my own network and others that may have felt they have had less access currently.

Annie Chan, ’19 is a proud Husky alum who earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication. At the UW, she served as a Dawg Daze Leader and Transfer Ambassador with First Year Programs (FYP) and earned the Husky Leadership Initiative Certificate in 2019. She enjoys engaging with fellow Huskies to connect them with campus resources and activities while also serving underserved communities. Her three internships during her tenure at the UW has led her to her current role as Marketing Communications Manager at Seattle King County Realtors. During her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities around the Pacific Northwest, trying new restaurants, and cheering on the Seahawks and Husky sports teams.

Why I serve: As a first-generation college student, attending the UW will always be one of my most prideful experiences. It was a pleasure engaging with first year students as a leader with UW First Year Programs to assure that fellow Huskies felt connected to their community and were aware of their boundless opportunities. As an alum, I am looking forward to building meaningful connections within the Alumni Association and our community, while fostering an inclusive and impactful network that extends beyond our time at the UW.

Karla Ciccia, ’15, is a passionate learner and proud alum of the UW. She earned her degree in Communication and International Relations. After graduating, she had the exceptional opportunity to intern with the United Nations in Rome, Italy. Though she wanted to pursue a career in diplomacy, life had its own surprises and she ended up traveling and living on a few different continents. Throughout the past couple of years she has lived in France and Australia as well as Italy. She’s worked in all industries and taken many different positions. Most recently she worked for Vulcan where she managed the single largest grant from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, and later went on to be a business manager for a tech start-up. As of right now, she’s looking to gain experience in commercial real estate and earn her stripes as an excellent marketing and leasing associate for one of Seattle’s most historic property management agencies.

Why I serve: My entire motto in life is to always reflect greatness. Easier said than done for sure, ha! The UW has given me so much that with all my experiences and blessings, I want to give back to my community and share in all it’s excellence. There are so many opportunities for alumni and anyone interested in what the UW and this vibrant city has to offer, that I want to be an ambassador of this essence. A diplomat if you will, for the UW! Dreams do come true!

Malika Garoui, ’15 began her career in the College of Engineering at UW, but then attended the University of British Columbia for her Master’s Degree in Economics. After graduate school, she worked in litigation consulting, providing economic damage estimates for large corporate disputes. Her passion for higher education and serving students brought her back to the University of Washington, where she currently is a student services professional, working with pre-major and data science minor students. Outside of work she can be found running around Greenlake, trying a new coffee shop, or cooking a new recipe!

Why I serve: The experiences that I had and relationships that were formed while at the University of Washington still are some of the biggest influences in my life: studying abroad, Alternative Spring Break, serving as a Resident Adviser, just to name a few. I hope to support the University of Washington alumni community in fostering similar experiences and relationships even after leaving campus. I have also been a lifelong champion of public education and want to continue to support the mission of higher education.

Sayako Kawashima, ’21, earned her B.S. in Psychology and Biology from UW. Born in Tokyo, Japan and calling Seattle home since she was 6, she always admired the UW campus but assumed it would be too overwhelming for her with its large campus and large student body. But after starting her undergraduate education in the Midwest she realized that there’s no place like home. During her time at the UW, she particularly enjoyed learning about how drugs affect behavior from Jaime Diaz, statistics in psychology from Laura Little and human anatomy from Casey Self. Currently Sayako is a Master of Pharmaceutical Bioengineering candidate at the UW. In her free time, you can find her exploring restaurants & coffee shops in the Seattle area and hiking around the PNW.

Why I serve: As a first-generation student and a transfer student I did not want to miss out on the experiences and opportunities the UW offered, but navigating felt overwhelming and difficult. I talked with academic advisers, departmental advisers, professors, TAs, and my classmates for support, encouragement, and recommendations on how to make the most out of my time at the UW. As a recent UW alum and current graduate student, I want to create a community for recent UW alumni and opportunities where we can connect and build connections.

Maggie Mattmiller, ’20, is a PGES Consulting Teacher for Seattle Public Schools. She proudly puts her Danforth education in action as she works to support Seattle Excellence, Seattle Public Schools’ strategic plan of changing broken systems and undoing legacies of racism in public education through coaching and mentoring special education teachers. Outside of work, Maggie is an avid reader who sometimes enjoys putting her book down to explore all that Seattle has to offer!

Why I serve: I was so empowered and inspired to grow by opportunities for meaningful collaboration with colleagues locally and from across the state in the Danforth Educational Leadership program. I benefited deeply from building connections that have continued forward after graduation. I see how strong we are when we bring different perspectives along with shared purpose together. I am excited to continue to push forward in partnership with others across fields of study to create meaningful opportunities that are welcoming, joyful spaces for students and alumni.

Emma Spickard, ’19 is a Legislative Assistant in the Washington State House of Representatives. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Health-Global Health at the UW in 2019, and was a recipient of the UW President’s Medal, the highest honor awarded every year to two graduating seniors. After graduation, she traveled solo through South America and Southeast Asia for eight months as a Bonderman Fellow. Since returning, Emma has translated her passion for public health and politics into her prior role as a Campaign Manager and now in her service at the State Legislature. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, skiing, and playing Bananagrams too competitively.

Why I serve: My undergraduate career was defined by my experiences building on-campus community as a Tour Guide, Orientation Leader, Student Coordinator of Orientations and Honors Peer Educator. I know, and have experienced, the importance of community for students on-campus and am eager to now invest in the alumni community, particularly with the loneliness and confusion new graduates (including myself) are feeling in the wake of COVID-19. My passion for politics and advocacy also makes me eager to inspire more GOLD graduates to use their voices to advocate for access and equity in higher education in our State.

Njeri Thande, ’19, is a graduate of the UW Evans School of Public Policy and Governance and is passionate about inclusion and equity. In her current role, she is a program manager who works to increase diversity in the tech talent pipeline. Prior to enrolling at the UW Evans School, she worked in business operations roles across different tech companies; outside of work, she was involved in coordinating conversations around racial equity and inclusion across different sectors. In her spare time she enjoys exploring Washington state by bike, finding new restaurants to experience, and new recipes to make.

Why I serve: The relationships I’ve developed at the University of Washington, and particularly at the Evans School, have been some of the most enriching to me and my work. I hope to help foster a good community for GOLD Alumni that is similarly enriching for them so that more of us can have a welcoming network we can connect with far after graduation.

Nancy Thomas, ’14, is an engineer at BlackSky, a geospatial intelligence company in her hometown of Seattle. She earned her BS in Physics and Astronomy with minors in Mathematics and Earth & Space Sciences at the University of Washington and then her MS and PhD in Planetary Science at the California Institute of Technology. As an image processing engineer, she applies her remote sensing expertise to the analysis of images from the BlackSky satellite constellation. Outside of work, Nancy loves attending football games with her family to cheer on the Huskies. She also enjoys traveling, skiing, and book clubs.

Why I serve: I am a fourth-generation Husky and I attribute so much of my current career success to my time as an undergraduate, taking advantage of opportunities like the Honors Program and Washington NASA Space Grant. Like others in the GOLD community, I am still growing and finding my way, but I know the UW still has resources to help me. I hope to connect with other GOLDs and help them find the tools they need to achieve success.

Gina Topp, ’17, ’21, is a double degree Dawg, hailing a B.S. in Biology and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Washington. During her time at the University of Washington Gina particularly enjoyed participating in an externship with the Washington State Legislature. It was during this externship where she fell in love with public policy. Currently Gina serves the people of King County as the Legal Counsel and Policy Advisor to the King County Executive. Aside from work, she enjoys all sports- particularly tennis- and being a new mom.

Why I serve: I am passionate about the idea that together, across campuses and across the globe, the University of Washington community can make this world a better place. As a UW alum I am grateful for the support I receive from the relationships that I made while at the UW and through the network of UW graduates. It is this support that has allowed me to make a difference in my community. I want to pay my appreciation forward by supporting other GOLD graduates. Together we can make this world a better place.

Luis Vicencio, ’21, is a program coordinator with the Foster School of Business MBA admissions team. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Operations & Supply Chain Management and Marketing. Additionally, he earned a diversity minor. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with his dog S’more, watching movies, learning about cars, and napping.

Why I serve: As a first-generation college student and transfer student, I am interested in learning how the UWAA can build better, more engaging relationships with students before they become alumni. I feel there is a lot of opportunity to connect alumni with current students, to share knowledge, resources, and networks. Additionally, I am interested in better understanding why BIPOC students choose to — or choose not to join the Alumni Association — and what the Alumni Association can better do to attract, serve, and retain these students when they become alumni.

Simone Willynck ’13, ’19 is a double degree Dawg hailing a B.A. in Communication from the University of Washington in 2013 and a Masters in Education from UW Bothell in 2019. She currently serves as the Manager in the Office for Faculty Advancement at the University of Washington and Regional Director for the Greater Washington State Higher Education Recruitment Consortium. In this role, she focuses on equitable recruitment and retention practices for faculty/staff by collaborating and partnering across the UW tri-campus and greater Northwest region to inform and promote tools and resources that support diverse hiring efforts.

Why I serve: I serve to ensure GOLD alumni from across the tri-campus have a voice at the table, are provided opportunities to engage and feel connected to the UW Alumni Association. As an alum from two of the three campuses and a current employee at UW Seattle, the UW was and continues to be a significant part of my community. A community that thrives in an accessible, equitable and inclusive environment, is my North Star in my drive to serve.

Claytin (Dingyu) Zhang, ’21, earned his master’s degree of Mechanical Engineering at the UW. He currently works at MediaTek USA. He is originally from Xinjiang, China and finished his undergraduate degree in Beijing. During his free time he likes playing basketball and outdoor activities.

Why I serve: As an international graduate student at the UW, I always find myself passionate about the school life at the UW. Although I only stayed at the UW for 2 years and most of the time was online, I still tried my best to experience this different school life from my own culture. For many graduate students like me, our UW life might be shorter than others. I hope we can connect more and more alumni like us together and continue to make our support for this big family. This will also be a great opportunity that allows students who already graduated to be involved in school life again!

What you could accomplish as a GOLD Council member:

• Strengthen the voice of GOLDs! Support the UWAA in ensuring that our GOLD events and programs are aligned with the GOLD communities’ values and interests.
• Grow the alumni community! Encourage your networks to attend UWAA events and programs and become UWAA members.
• Run with the pack! Steward a diverse Husky alumni community that welcomes grads from all walks of life.

Who is eligible? What are the requirements of the Council?

Eligibility

• Have an active membership with the UW Alumni Association by the start of GOLD Council term.
• Have received a degree or credential from the UW within the last ten years at the time of application.

Requirements

• Attend quarterly GOLD Council meetings (evenings, four times per year).
• Attend annual GOLD Council retreat (once per year).
• Promote and attend three to four UWAA-sponsored events (per year).
• Sit on council working groups, as needed (may require additional meetings).

What are the terms of service?

GOLD Council members serve for a term of two years.

What can I expect from this experience?

Members of the GOLD Council will be able to get to know and work alongside other actively engaged alumni and community leaders who are passionate about UW, the Alumni Association, and contributing to a thriving Husky community. GOLD Council members will have the opportunity to meet with UW Alumni Association staff and campus leadership to gain a better understanding of current programs and initiatives, institutional goals, and how the work of the Council fits within these frameworks.

What will my impact be on the GOLD Council?

The GOLD Council plays a vital role in increasing awareness of UWAA programs and initiatives amongst the recent graduate population. This impact can be felt in-person where Council increase participation of the GOLD population at UWAA events; virtually as Council members activate their network to promote upcoming programs and UWAA membership; and continually, as Council members enhance the GOLD brand identity. The GOLD Council plays a vital role in outreaching to members of the GOLD population who may be less active with the UWAA and fosters a Husky community that welcomes all members.

What are the selection process and criteria?

The selection process will include an online application and an individual interview for those who move forward in the selection process. The GOLD Council reflects the diversity of the GOLD population, including UW campuses, schools/colleges, identities, and communities. We are seeking new members with the energy, skills, and passion to advance the GOLD Council’s goals.

GOLD Council History

The GOLD Council launched its inaugural group in 2017. Since then, the Council has created and refined its goals and internal structures, created a GOLD presence at UWAA marquee events, and promoted GOLD-specific events and programs to recent graduates.

How can I get additional information?

Please contact the Alumni & Student Programs team at asengage@uw.edu for more information.