I graduated in June 2020 with a dual PhD in Chemical Engineering and Nanotechnology & Molecular Engineering. I planned to travel after graduation to South America and South East Asia but now during pandemic life I’m moving to Bozeman and will spend some time off backpacking and learning how to ski. One of the projects I’m most proud of during my time at UW was the Puerto Rico Project created by Professor Lilo Pozzo. After Hurricane Maria, the electrical grid was knocked offline in some places for over a year. This project creates solar and battery systems that we gave to certain homes and community centers to power medical devices such as oxygen concentrators for those with asthma or mini fridges to store vaccines. The other project I’m most proud of came out of the Clean Energy Institute giving me the Graduate Education and Outreach Fellowship where I created and spearheaded different outreach events and demos. This is where I started the “Introduce a Girl” fair that I have held for four years now and have had topics ranging from photonics to nanotechnology to robotics.
When I received the Husky 100 recognition, the speaker said that in our careers, awards are given to at an individual’s peak. This award is different because it’s awarding not only what you have achieved, but also your unlimited potential. I see this recognition as saying “What you have been striving for, we see you and can’t wait for what you do next.” What can I do now? I used my PHD in a new area to benefit different communities. I attended Alene Moris New Women’s Leadership Institute at UW where I was trained to better lead and maybe (one day) run for political office. This institute was also where I learned the phase “Lift as you climb.” The world tells you that there is only enough room for some women at the top and pits you against each other, but that is a fallacy we need to undo. The more success you have the more responsibility you have to help others. A perfect embodiment of “lift as you climb” is Dr. Elizabeth Nance in the chemical engineering department who started as a professor the first year of my PHD program. When she started, she founded Women in Chemical Engineering as a mentor and support group in the department that would act as a space to share knowledge and experience and she acts as a voice making sure women are recognized.
“The criterion I connect the most with is Connect the Dots, because my educational journey is not just about the classroom, it is about my family and community as well. I have been able to connect the many places I learn from and thrive within through undergraduate research, registered student organizations, study abroad, and community events both on and off campus. I am thankful that my learning is not confined to one space but flows between places and people.” 
“My Husky Experience allowed me to connect the dots between all of my trajectories and interests… Through my work as an Achieving Community Transformation Service Chair, I was able to combine my knowledge of population demographics, areas that needs more resources and the needs of communities in conjunction with my pre-dental path.” 
“I think I particularly embody the criteria of Connect the Dots. I have embodied this through my thesis work with the Seattle Aquarium. I applied much of my classwork on advocacy, data visualization and nonprofit work to designing a series of advocacy infographics for the Southern Resident Orcas. I was only able to sift through a huge amount of scientific data on these whales to find data I wanted to visualize because of the skills I learned as an undergrad in Biology at UW. Through my thesis, I applied skills from class I have taken over the six years I have spent at UW.” 
“I embody the ‘Connecting the Dots’ criterion, as I try to relate my studies and work both to my lived experience and my hope for the future. I come from an agricultural background, and now study Urban Design and Planning. Some may think those things are disparate, but I want to remind people how that is not the case—we are all interrelated, and my work in agriculture has actually made my understanding of even the most technical of topics in my field extremely understandable, relatable, and human! I have also tied my experiences into my work here on campus—through managing the ASUW Student Food Cooperative I work to collaborate with any group on campus, which shows that food permeates all facets of life.” 
“Through the several solar array installations that I coordinated on campus I learned how to ‘connect the dots’ by bringing together faculty and staff from several different campus organizations. As a student, I would communicate with various building managers, campus engineers, facility managers, sustainability advocates, solar contractors, and donor organizations to meet their needs and expectations. As I learned more about engineering in the classroom, I was able to apply that knowledge to the projects I was working on.” 
“Thinking outside the box has definitely always been how I succeeded, and applying that here at UW, with its vast resources and community connections, allowed me to find innovative pathways for dealing with vexing issues around transgender subjectivities.” 
“I believe that ‘discovery mindset’ means being focused on possibility. Further, someone with a discovery mindset should have perseverance and be able to tackle tasks by questioning the ‘why’ while exploring the ‘how.’ A Husky 100 candidate is willing to explore opportunities with purpose and face barriers with hope and courage to make a difference.” 
“As I worked on my application, I realized the importance of reflection. I was able to observe myself growing through the years as a person. Although not obvious at the time, I now see the importance of my ongoing effort over the years in my studies and extracurricular activities. I also recognized what activities are most meaningful for me that helped me reach my future goals. With this newfound knowledge, I am further empowered to continue striving for self-improvement and utilizing my capacities to benefit my community.” 
“Through my work at the UW and globally, I have been able to bridge gaps between fields like STEM and Arts, and Eastern and Western cultures through music and activism. I take my learnings from the UW beyond our campus and bring my perspective and experiences to make the UW better… I believe that during my time here I brought this huge campus closer together by bridging gaps between departments, cultures, and people. Beyond simply my classwork, this unity is the work that I am truly proud of and that carries the greatest meaning for my future.” 
“To me, the most important of these criteria is ‘A commitment to an inclusive community’… Through my continued leadership in Diversity In Clean Energy (DICE), I am able to organize and host events, conversations, and opportunities for my fellow students and myself to learn about life beyond school and how to make that transition. Through my work in Puerto Rico and Guatemala, I am able to share sustainable and resilient electricity with communities that need it most. To me, the embodiment of the Husky 100 is somebody who sees a need around them, steps up to address it, and (crucially) works to make sure everybody has access to the solution.” 
“Throughout my Husky Experience, I was heavily involved in research, leadership, and mentorship roles for study abroad and younger children. I traveled to Japan last summer to develop a lighting control system operated by a battery-less, wireless sensor network. Through the unplanned spontaneity of studying abroad and living in a state of unfamiliarity, I recognized my broader role as a multipolar citizen of the globe rather than as a lone female engineer. It was through the collection of past moments of unsureness and challenge that I was able to realize the true heart of my Husky Experience: to not exist in dread of who I am, but to live in celebration of who I can become.” 
“Along with academics, representing UW for E-sports (CS:GO) in 2018-19 helped me evolve my zeal for E-sports. While presiding over UW Umang, being in the student organization gave me a chance to promote diversity. I envision becoming a data scientist and advancing the scope of Data Science applications to not just technology but for medicine and social good.” 
“I hope that my Husky 100 experience demonstrates that first generation college students, like myself, can pursue degrees that spark from their curiosity and interests, without needing to hold back.” 
“One of the most significant Husky 100 criteria that I embodied in my experience is ‘Ready for What is Next.’ The Husky 100 are ‘undeterred by the risk of failure, they pursue their own goals with savvy and fortitude.’ All of the information that I learned in the classrooms at UW were taken and applied to the opportunities I pursued during my undergrad years. I took the knowledge I had just learned and looked for opportunities where I could apply this knowledge to real life experiences such as study abroad, three different internships, and a research assistant position. Each application I submitted had the risk of rejection and that was a risk I was willing to take. One of the biggest lessons I learned in the classroom is that you cannot achieve anything if you don’t try… Because of these experiences I took a risk on, I ended up learning and practicing the key experiences and skills I needed to get my dream job.” 
“I am taking all that I have learned in the Health Studies major, as well as my minors in Health Education and Promotion and Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies, and applying them directly to the work I do in my community. I recently presented a Sexual and Reproductive Health Education session at a youth shelter drop-in. It was tailored to the needs of youth experiencing homelessness. This was a huge accomplishment for me, and I am hoping to continue on this path after graduation.” 
