CCRI will work with two- and four-year institutions across WA state to build partnerships that support transfer experiences for low-income STEM students.
Community College Research Initiatives, a program within Undergraduate Academic Affairs, received a $1,173,375.00 grant from Ascendium Education Group to work towards equity in STEM education for low-income learners across Washington state.
Community College Research Initiatives (CCRI) conducts research in order to facilitate the advancement of equity in higher education. Ascendium invests in initiatives designed to increase the number of students from low-income backgrounds who complete postsecondary degrees. Ascendium’s work is particularly focused on supporting learners from rural and low-income backgrounds, making them a fitting partner for CCRI.
CCRI is an influential contributor in community college and transfer partnership research identifying strategies that help students transfer to four-year institutions and complete their bachelor’s degrees. This project will create a state-wide consortium of partnerships between two- and four-year institutions. These partners will specifically focus on creating programs that will help low-income STEM students transfer and earn their bachelor’s degree. This grant will enable them to animate their findings by building partnerships between two- and four-year institutions throughout Washington state, ultimately increasing the retention and graduation of STEM transfer students.
We belong together. I made that statement at this year’s New Student Convocation, an annual event filled with academic flourishes to mark the beginning of a student’s university journey. This year’s event was decidedly different and intentionally formatted for public safety. We are still trying to emerge from a pandemic, after all, so this year’s event was under a tent with new students only. I hope their families and loved ones were watching the livestream so they could share the moment. These times are still not yet “normal” and require all of us to continue to adjust our sails.
But we belong together. The University of Washington’s leaders made that important declaration when we determined that we could bring our campus community back together safely with public health protocols and expectations for caring for our common good in place. I am encouraged about the year ahead.
In Undergraduate Academic Affairs, much of our work is centered around creating a sense of belonging among students. To that end, we come together to serve every student, no matter how they got here. From finding common ground through Advising & Orientation to developing and leading co-curricular experiences so undergraduates can access a truly transformational education alongside their peers, faculty and staff. Connecting, finding belonging amidst the many opportunities at the UW is foundational for undergraduates.
Together, and only together, can we create the kinds of classrooms, community-based opportunities, research spaces and campus that will enable deep learning for all our students. Together, we support students from the time they are admitted through graduation. Today’s undergraduates are tomorrow’s teachers, business people, civic leaders, doctors, nurses, scientists, artists. UAA’s reach across campus and into research spaces and the community is an intentional move toward connecting students to the big issues that are affecting people and the people who are working on solutions to these issues. In this way we take steps toward a future that is equitable and just, healthy and whole, innovative and informed. This work can only be done together.
Welcome to campus. We belong together, and together, we are strong, healthy, brave and boundless.
The diagnosis came on her first day of fall quarter. Cancer. Maha Alhomoud, newly arrived from Saudi Arabia had two options: Return home for treatment or stay in Seattle, attend the University of Washington and receive cancer treatment in the states.
Maha Alhomoud at the UN General Assembly as a youth delegate for Saudi Arabia for the United Nations Youth Assembly in February 2019. // Photo courtesy of Maha Alhomoud
Alhomoud’s goal of attending university abroad began when she was 12 years old. She bolstered her admissions chances through summer programs, robotics competitions, independent study programs such as the Saudi Research Science Institute (SRSI) at King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST), and had a strong educational foundation in STEM, thanks largely to the King Abdulaziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, known informally as Mawhiba. She studied English in school from a young age and prepared for a career in STEM, most likely mechanical engineering. Yet participating in Model United Nations piqued her interest in international relations. Throughout these Model UN conferences, she represented Iran, France, South Korea and Bahrain and valued the broad perspective this gave her. She got her first taste of using her voice to drive change through participating in Toastmasters.
Alhomoud stands next to her research poster in the Saudi Research Science Institute (SRSI) in 2015, a six-week research program at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).
This strong foundation in math, science and international relations had Alhomoud considering a double major in engineering and political science when she first came to the UW. But the diagnosis meant she’d be splitting her time between the hospital and class, making it difficult to take any lab classes. Even so, she continued preparing for a possible career in both fields, taking math and political science courses.
She received treatment in Seattle throughout her freshman year. Her dad, who initially came just to help her move, stayed for the next 12 months to care for her. That year consisted of eight months of an intensive chemotherapy regimen, additional medications, hair loss, chronic pain and weakness, plus additional conditions — all while going through her first year of college.
“I was constantly studying at the hospital listening to my lectures that were recorded specially for me, and immersed in my studies,” recalls Alhomoud. “In a way, it was a distraction from my illness and in studying political science, I had found subjects that I truly loved and enjoyed studying, even throughout the most traumatic experience of my life.”
Finally, good news: The cancer went into remission and the treatments were complete.
Maha, holding the red lantern, and her friend at a Light the Night walk organized by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Cancer survivors carry red lanterns and their supporters carry white lanterns. Photo taken pre-pandemic. // Photo courtesy of Maha Alhomoud
Throughout her sophomore year, Alhomoud debated majoring in engineering — the more straightforward career path — or political science. “I’ve had people tell me that there wouldn’t be many opportunities for women in political science in Saudi Arabia,” explains Alhomoud. “But, through my diagnosis and my own experiences, I realized that for me, the most important thing was to speak my truth and pursue my passions. Going from there, I decided that regardless of the obstacles that I would face as a woman, I would still pursue political science. And, today in Saudi Arabia, there are continuously new and exciting opportunities for Saudi women to participate in policymaking and politics.”
Political science and international student advocacy work become the new hallmarks of Alhomoud’s Husky experience.
Finding a home 7,000+ miles away from home
Back to that first day of school. She attended classes after spending the night in the emergency room due to difficulty breathing. The ER doctors strongly suspected cancer. As soon as they say this, Alhomoud senses it’s true, though the specifics of the diagnosis still needed to be confirmed. After her political theory class ended, Alhomoud shared the impending diagnosis with Associate Professor Emeritus Christine Distefano who responded, “Can I give you a hug?”
“This was my first time feeling welcomed on campus,” remembers Alhomoud. “Professor DiStefano’s warmth was reflected in the rest of the political science department. I felt I had found my home.”
Professor DiStefano continued to champion Alhomoud throughout her freshman year, inviting her to participate in an upper-level seminar. “As we got to know each other, we talked more about where I came from and what opportunities were available to me on campus. She also gave me a few books written by scholars about women in the Middle East, which gave me the confidence to incorporate my background and interests into my own work.”
As Alhomoud continued her studies, she met several political science professors who worked in Middle Eastern politics; several of whom had done extensive field work. They encouraged her to take graduate level classes, apply for departmental honors and participate in the Center for American Politics and Public Policy program. This gave Alhomoud a platform to deepen her understanding of the ways her home country’s economy, religion, language and politics have established the current state, and how they will continue to factor in as Saudi Arabia pursues its Vision 2030 transformation program to diversify its economy and improve the standard of living for its citizens.
Learning how to turn research into meaningful policy
Alhomoud’s departmental honors thesis examines the evolution of extractive and distributive institutions in Saudi Arabia since its establishment. “By studying how political, economic and social forces shape the institutions found in the Kingdom today, I am hoping that my future work enables me to evaluate current policies and predict which policies can strike a balance between ensuring economic diversification and inclusive reform that provides opportunities for every citizen.”
Her goal is to leverage her research into policy that shapes the development of sustainable, inclusive and progressive healthcare and employment policies, particularly for those from groups that are disproportionately marginalized in the Middle East. This work represents a bridge between Alhomoud’s studies at the UW and her next step as a junior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Middle East Center.
The Carnegie Gaither Junior Fellowship is a highly competitive program in which Alhomoud will join approximately 12 other students from across the country to work alongside the Foundation’s senior fellows. She’ll sit in on meetings with politicians, assist in research, contribute to their publications and get a firsthand view of how research becomes policy that benefits peoples’ lives.
“With the Carnegie Endowment, most of the scholars are experts in the region and have done extensive field work there,” shares Alhomoud. “I’m thrilled to be working in an environment where there is a shared experience of being Middle Eastern and where there is a focus on local narratives, citizen perspectives and incorporating primary Arabic sources.”
Undergraduate research project: Corruption, Foreign Direct Investment, and Tax Revenue: Survival and growth of the World’s Oil-Rich Nations
Maha presented her research at the 2020 Undergraduate Research Symposium. Watch her presentation: https://youtu.be/RotAK9gaSho
Leading the way to the ASUW’s first international student office
Student government wasn’t something Alhomoud grew up with in Saudi Arabia. She was unaware it existed until a friend introduced her to ASUW her junior year. As she became involved in the UW’s student government, she saw an opportunity for better representation of international students. She co-founded the International Student Advocacy Group at UW and worked to give voice to the unique experiences and needs of international students. The advocacy group surveyed 270 international students to see if they were interested in having an ASUW office. A resounding 94.9% said yes.
In 2020, Alhomoud earned a Mary Gates Leadership Scholarship to form a task force to establish the first ASUW Office of International Student Advocacy led by students, for students. This marks the first time in ASUW history that international students have had a permanent voice and home in ASUW.
Mary Gates Endowment Leadership Scholarship project presentation: ASUW Office of International Student Advocacy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0lEYbyA3Aw
Representation for this diverse group of students matters. International students make up 15.5% of the UW’s student population and come from more than 100 countries. Some, like Alhomoud, are sponsored by their home government; some are refugees and asylum seekers; some want to return to their home countries after graduation; some are DACA recipients and others are hoping to immigrate to the United States. This diversity means there are many needs to represent in student government: financial, language barriers, representation and advocacy on campus, post-graduate career support and visa support.
Alhomoud graduates this spring and has worked this year to build the office’s foundation so it’s ready to launch next year. She’s defining the mission statement and goals, positioning the office within ASUW, determining the budget, creating job descriptions, and building relationships with long-standing campus entities that also serve international students. She’s building infrastructure to make sure needs are regularly assessed through constituent surveys and to build community and deepen cross-cultural understanding.
“I’m a little sad that I won’t be here to see the office kickoff its first year,” shares Alhomoud. “But I’m very happy that I’m going to graduate knowing that I created a tangible impact on our campus that will benefit international students and the broader UW community for years to come.”
Alhomoud is now three years into remission and reflects: “Freshman-year-me lying in the hospital never thought I would see myself being listed as a graduate with honors, and I cannot be more thankful for my family who supported me throughout treatment and my entire life.”
Maha Alhomoud, Class of 2021!
After completing her Carnegie fellowship, Alhomoud plans to pursue a dual degree program, earning a masters degree in political science and a law degree. From there, she hopes to create opportunities for women in politics in Saudi Arabia and that “her work contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the Middle East, and leads to more inclusive reform as countries diversify beyond oil, with a focus on sustainability.”
“What’s next, what’s next!” exclaimed Yuna as she jumped up and down in her seat. My heart filled with joy as I saw the story unfold on her face.
Kylee-Ann Tawara in the Quad, pre-pandemic. // Photo courtesy of Kylee-Ann Tawara.
I thought back to the beginning of the year. It was 2018, my first year at the University of Washington and my first year serving at the Denise Louie Education Center in South Seattle as one of five Jumpstart Corps members whose jobs are to help kids be kindergarten ready. In the fall, I met Yuna as the most energetic preschool kiddo … who seemed to be disinterested in books. But in our last few months of teaching, I got to see her new excitement to learn and read new books.
The next year, I transitioned into Jumpstart’s volunteer coordinator role where I administered the end-of-year literacy tests. When I tested Yuna, she passed with flying colors! Not only did she understand vocabulary at a kindergarten reading level, she had confidence in her knowledge. I saw that a seed of excitement to learn took root in her and shaped her to grow as an eager student. Yuna had a strong preschool education foundation and was now ready to succeed in kindergarten.
Teaching as an AmeriCorps member in the classroom fueled my enthusiasm about Jumpstart’s mission and desire to share the work we do. When I was introduced to the volunteer coordinator role, I saw that it combined my passion for serving children with what I hoped to do: Engage college students and build relationships with community members to help young children learn and grow. Events like card making for Seattle Children’s Hospital patients, STEM activities at Seattle Children’s Museum, serving meals with Youth Care and Read for the Record focused on serving kiddos through promoting early childhood education and development. However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought changes to our programming.
Many of the families we serve in Jumpstart qualify for free or reduced lunch. This group also often has many barriers that make access to high quality education much more difficult than those from more affluent and privileged backgrounds, an inequity that some may argue starts as early as in the womb and can have long term impacts.
The kindergarten readiness gap between children from lower income families and children from higher income families shows that children face disadvantages in their education at an early age. The burden of these inequities is more often shouldered by communities of color.
In Jumpstart, we see firsthand how academic opportunity and performance are impacted by racial disparities. This opportunity gap grows exponentially over time and leads to students falling behind in elementary, middle and eventually high school. But study after study has highlighted how quality early childhood education can interrupt that trajectory for the better. Jumpstart’s curriculum specifically focuses on literacy and socioemotional skills because those skills are shown to impact preschoolers’ future school success across all subjects. Knowing that, we remained dedicated throughout the pandemic to making sure our preschoolers were given the opportunity to succeed and build key literacy skills. The new question was how?
Check out Jumpstart’s work from this year in the virtual showcase for the Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) Center.
Before the pandemic, our work mainly involved community outreach. But, COVID-19 prevention precautions meant that many community organizations weren’t hosting volunteers, and even if they were, we were taking every precaution we could to avoid community spread, especially since COVID-19 disproportionately affects the very community we aim to serve.
As volunteer coordinators, we adapted to changes and broadened our outreach to include preschool families. We partnered with our preschool family advocates and educators to learn about our preschool families’ needs, and how we can meet them. We held virtual events such as our annual Read for the Record, planned and packaged 250 learning kits and safely dropped them off to the families in Seattle’s International District all the way to Highline. During Read for the Record, I loved seeing the creativity of the postcards that kiddos made. My heart was warmed watching how proud they were of their work. I loved watching kiddos learn to juggle at our Spring Literacy Celebration.
What Jumpstart looked like pre-pandemic, left, and how corps members’ work shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Left: A Jumpstart corps member reads a story to preschoolers. Right: Jumpstart corps members follow COVID-19 safety precautions to assemble Earth Day activity kits. // Photos courtesy of Jumpstart
We planned and held a COVID-19 vaccine forum with pediatric residents from Seattle Children’s Hospital for our preschool families to learn more about the vaccine and discuss their concerns and questions. I felt proud hearing from a COVID-19 vaccine forum attendee who said: “I enjoyed that it gave those who are unfamiliar with the vaccine and the medical field in general a place to go where they could ask questions or start up a conversation about the vaccine.”
“Accessibility is key, so for all of our family outreach, we provide information in the four most commonly spoken languages of our preschool families.” Jumpstart corps members translate the materials into Vietnamese, Spanish and Chinese. // Fliers courtesy of Kylee-Ann Tawara
Seeing the pride in Yuna’s eyes as we read Elisa Kleven’s “The Lion and the Little Red Bird” showed me firsthand the power of early intervention. Knowing I played a small part in shaping Yuna’s trajectory fills me with pride, and has deepened my belief in the importance of early intervention.
Kylee-Ann Tawara in 2019 on a medical brigade to Honduras.
I’m majoring in public health, and the reason I’m drawn to it is that, like Jumpstart, it focuses on upstream interventions to improve population health. Pediatrics is especially meaningful to me after my work in Jumpstart because of the impact health education at a young age can have on future adult health outcomes. As a future pediatrician, I will bring what I learned about the cycle of poverty and the importance of intervening early through early childhood education to improve future health incomes to my work. I will be dedicated to serving my communities with compassion, equity and the belief in each patient’s ability to thrive.
About Jumpstart
Jumpstart is a leading national nonprofit organization working toward the day every child in America enters kindergarten prepared to succeed. Jumpstart at the University of Washington was launched in September of 2003 as a collaborative effort between Undergraduate Academic Affairs, the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity, the College of Education, and the Work Study Office. Since 2003, UW undergraduates have worked with Seattle preschool children through the Jumpstart program.
Kylee-Ann Tawara is majoring in public health-global health. She’s completing her third year at the University of Washington and in Jumpstart.
University of Washington junior Sophia Carey was recently selected for the Beinecke scholarship! Carey, who is majoring in English and comparative history of ideas and minoring in theatre studies, was selected from 95 applicants to join this year’s class. Each year the Beinecke Scholarship offers 20 scholarships to undergraduates who intend to pursue a master’s or doctoral program in the arts, humanities or social sciences. The selected students receive $30,000 to be used for graduate study and $4,000 in their senior year. The last time a UW student received this award was 2011.
Carey entered the UW through the Early Entrance Program at the Robinson Center for Young Scholars and has since focused her interdisciplinary studies in the arts, humanities and social sciences into a passion for community-based theater and the intersections between public policy and the performing arts. She is also in the Interdisciplinary Honors Program.
Research and leadership experiences have been hallmarks of her time as a UW student. Her past research includes the paper “Performing Beyond Utopia,” which explored how residents of Lima, Peru, in the 1970s used community-based theater to resist and transcend dictatorial state agendas. Outside of performance studies, Sophia’s research has been featured in an open glossary of law, society and justice terms, and in 2019, she won the UW Library Research Award for Undergraduates for her paper investigating barriers to Latin American youths’ access to educational support services.
Sophia is currently the president of the Early Entrance Drama Society, a student-run drama club at the UW. In almost three years of involvement in the club, she has co-facilitated the translation of a 2020 production into a virtual format, performed in and directed several productions, and hosted drama-related events designed to build community and provide performance opportunities for students interested in arts and arts leadership. In addition to her work with the Early Entrance Drama Society, Sophia has acquired significant experience with local nonprofit and community-directed theater, as a directing intern at Stone Soup Theater, a development assistant at ArtsWest, and currently as a volunteer at the Seattle Rep.
She plans to continue studying the potential for community-based theater to bring about material and political change through graduate research in a Ph.D. or MFA program that combines practical approaches and critical scholarly research methods in the study of theater.
About the Beinecke
The Beinecke Scholarship program is open to juniors in studying the arts, humanities and social sciences. The scholarship provides funding for students to pursue a masters or Ph.D. in these fields. Since 1975 the program has selected more than 664 college juniors from more than 110 different undergraduate institutions for support during graduate study at any accredited university.
About the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards
The Beinecke application process is supported by the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards (OMSFA), a UAA program. OMSFA works with faculty, staff and students to identify and support promising students in developing the skills and personal insights necessary to become strong candidates for this and other prestigious awards.
Congratulations to University of Washington junior Daniel Chen, whom the Goldwater Foundation honored with its undergraduate scholarship for students studying the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering. Chen, who is majoring in informatics and microbiology, is one of 410 undergraduate students selected for the award from a pool of 1,256 students nominated by 438 institutions across the country.
UW junior Daniel Chen was selected for the competitive Goldwater Scholarship. (Photo taken following public health guidelines at the time.)
Goldwater Scholarships are granted to sophomores and juniors who show exceptional promise and plan to pursue research careers in math, engineering or the natural sciences. These scholarships award up to $7,500 a year to help cover costs associated with tuition, mandatory fees, books, room and board.
Chen on a snowy hike above Pratt Lake in Washington.
Chen’s interest in challenging himself can be seen through his academic choices: In addition to majoring in two disciplines, informatics and microbiology, he is pursuing departmental honors in microbiology. Chen has previously been awarded the Levinson Emerging Scholars award and the Mary Gates Endowment Research Scholarship, and is also listed on the annual Dean’s List.
He began his college path early, entering the UW after middle school through the Early Entrance Program. To balance out his rigorous academic and research work, Chen enjoys hiking in nature preserves and crocheting amigurumi animals, hobbies that suit the environment of his hometown of Sammamish, WA.
“This news is simply wonderful,” says Undergraduate Academic Affairs Vice Provost and Dean Ed Taylor. “Through his involvement in undergraduate research, Daniel has shown a dedication to furthering science and understanding as well as to the purpose of making people’s lives better. As a University community, we couldn’t be more proud of him. I extend my warmest congratulations to Daniel as well as his faculty mentors and others who have supported him on his journey so far.”
Chen currently conducts research under Dr. Yapeng Su and Professor Jim Heath in the Heath lab at the Institute for Systems Biology. His research is focused on using the single-cell multi-omic paradigm to analyze COVID-19 peripheral blood mononuclear cells to identify the disease state effects of SARS-CoV-2 on patient immune systems. Such research has also branched out into investigating heterogenous patient responses to COVID-19 in convalescence along with interrogation of patient epigenomes to identify the early-stage immune cell subpopulations responsible for humoral immunity formation and the epigenomic changes that may guide such. In combination with Chen’s previous research investigating melanoma subpopulations using single-cell transcriptome (scRNA-seq) and epigenome (scATAC-seq) data, his current research projects have continued to push and develop his passion for biomedical informatics particularly when applied to clinically relevant problems.
After his undergraduate studies, Chen intends to pursue an M.D.-Ph.D. centered on leveraging computational resources and advances to solve human medical challenges such as cancer and infectious diseases. He particularly looks forward to identifying best practices and applications for such research to develop more accessible medical solutions for the given problem. He eventually hopes to pursue a faculty position at a university to conduct translational research in biomedical-informatic oriented fields.
For more information, contact Robin Chang, director of the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards, at robinc@uw.edu.
From the thousands of undergraduate students at the University of Washington, three are selected each year for the prestigious President’s Medalist Award.
Sam Colgan, Natasha Lavides and Nuria Alina Chandra are the medalists for 2019–20, selected by a committee for their high GPAs, rigor of classes and numbers of Honors courses. All three are students in the Honors Program completing the Interdisciplinary Honors track.
Each medalist has carved a unique path at the UW, but they’re united in their passion for their chosen areas of study — from psychology to computer science to economics and English. While the pandemic prevents us from holding the customary UW Undergraduate Medalists Reception, each recipient received their medal, along with a message from University President Ana Mari Cauce and a special celebratory gift, at their home. Read on for more about these exceptional students who embody the Husky Spirit.
Meet this year’s medalists:
Sam Colgan, junior medalist
Majors: English and economics Hometown: Seattle, WA
Twelve years after Sam Colgan moved to Seattle, he began his first quarter at the UW — just a mile from his family’s first home in the Ravenna neighborhood. Coming full circle made Colgan think about how the city has changed over the last decade.
“Much of my time at the UW has involved critically reexamining the city by learning about early Seattle history,” says Colgan, who was inspired to dive deeper into how redlining and gentrification have shaped the city’s race and class dynamics.
Driven to better understand Seattle history as well as the current housing crisis and rising cost of living, Colgan decided to study economics. Double-majoring in English as well, he’s learning how to explain those greater forces at work through his own story — and the stories of others.
“I’m particularly interested in the causes and consequences of gentrification, globalization, homelessness and urban decay,” says Colgan, an Interdisciplinary Honors student whose sights are set on graduate school for economics. “I think I could be effective at representing the economic dynamics for a popular audience.”
Colgan credits the UW’s emphasis on interdisciplinary education for broadening his horizons and encouraging him to study subjects outside his majors, from epidemiology to artificial intelligence.
In his free time, Colgan writes short fiction and enjoys jotting down story ideas and developing character sketches. He has also interned on a political campaign and volunteered as a tutor for students who are first-generation Americans.
Natasha Lavides, sophomore medalist
Major: Psychology Minor: Education, learning and society Hometown: Kirkland, WA
Growing up on Seattle’s Eastside, Natasha Lavides fantasized about attending college in a different city or state. All that changed when she started applying to schools.
“I realized how much I appreciated where I grew up and how meaningful it was to stay close to home,” says Lavides about why she chose the UW. Beyond the proximity to family and friends — her support system — the University’s breadth of programs gave the psychology major the chance to discover her calling.
“I love working with people, and if there’s one thing I want to do for the rest of my life, it would be that,” explains Lavides, who currently helps other students as a peer academic advisor and advising student associate.
For Lavides, finding a supportive community at the UW has been as meaningful as finding her major. In addition to advising students, she’s worked as a research lab assistant and interned with the Asian Student Commission, giving her the opportunity to interact with a wide cross-section of campus.
After graduation, she’s thinking about a gap year before pursuing a graduate degree in clinical psychology. Whatever her career path, she will likely be a mental-health advocate.
“I hope that I can combat the stigma surrounding mental illness in marginalized communities and work on removing barriers for these groups,” Lavides says about her goals.
Nuria Alina Chandra, freshman medalist
Major: Biochemistry (current); computer science (intended) Minor: Global health Hometown: Olympia, WA
When a chemistry professor introduced Nuria Alina Chandra to the Python programming language, she was immediately hooked — and inspired to take more computer science courses.
Soon the biochemistry major, who had originally envisioned a career in medicine, realized that computer science better reflected her interests and strengths.
“Computer science combines my love of math and quantitative problem-solving in powerful ways that can reshape systems and improve people’s lives,” says Chandra, who grew up in Olympia and is minoring in global health. Being around fellow students and professors who care about their chosen field helped Chandra feel supported in her decision to switch majors.
Outside the classroom, Chandra is sharpening her skills as both a researcher and a writer. At the Seattle Children’s Pediatric Pain and Sleep Innovations Lab, under the mentorship of UW Medicine anesthesiologist Jennifer Rabbitts and with the support of the Mary Gates Research Scholarship, she is investigating how acute pain becomes chronic pain. She also writes for The Daily and edits for Voyage UW, a student-run travel magazine.
Although Chandra is still exploring possible career paths, she wants to combine her creativity and computational thinking to fix issues stemming from structural inequalities.
“I’m still very interested in medicine and health-care inequality,” says Chandra. “I hope to have a career that allows me to use the methods that I love to help solve problems that I care about.”
Note: All photos featured in this story were taken following appropriate safety protocols.
Each and every Husky goes through their own journey, undergoes their own unique experiences and, most importantly, has their very own story to share. Husky Stories is a mini-series in which Huskies share their successes, failures, experiences — their stories. There is no one way to be a Husky. Indeed, the culmination of individuals’ stories shape the picture of what it means to be a Husky.
Black History Month is our annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a devoted time to recognize Black achievements in U.S. history. Known as African American History Month, the period grew out of “Negro History Week,” born of the idea of historian Carter G. Woodson and other notable African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has designated the month of February as Black History Month. Canada and the United Kingdom also devote a month to celebrating Black history.
The “celebration” is often framed as a time to honor the achievements of individual Black Americans, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells; now Barack and Michelle Obama and Kamala Harris are among the many iconic figures. Given our experience of 2020 and now 2021 and the magnitude of the challenges before us, recognizing individual achievements seems too narrow. Recognizing Black History Month in context calls us to, indeed, recognize individuals and to turn our view toward our nation, community and our campus. I do believe James Baldwin is right: “American history is longer, larger, more various, more beautiful and more terrible than anything anyone has ever said about it.” We have reason to celebrate, yet we need not conceal the challenges in our midst.
My experience as an African American man is not singular. I am proud of my country and at times aghast at what I see. I am a proud Husky, and yet I have moments when I do not quite feel I fit. I feel at home in my community and at my University and at times frustrated by the divisions in my community. My campus feels familiar and safe, then there are far too many moments I feel uncertain. I often feel the particular sensation that W.E.B. Du Bois described in “The Souls of Black Folk” (1903), the concept of double consciousness — defined as the struggle African Americans face to remain true to Black culture while at the same time conforming to the dominant white society. Du Bois writes, “It is a peculiar sensation, this double-consciousness … One feels his two-ness, an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two un-reconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder.” Double consciousness is no longer limited to the lives of African Americans, many of us have lived and grown weary of living a divided life which is why we persist in our search for purpose and meaning in our lives and work.
I love the UW. I love the work I do. I try to merge into the values of our community and our campus with care. I hope that I lead and learn with integrity. I will celebrate Black History Month and in so doing, feel restrained. I am daily grateful that I can celebrate this month with all of you. I invite you to read Lucille Clifton’s poem, “won’t you celebrate with me.” She begins with a call to action, “won’t you celebrate with me” and she gives the reasons, against all odds, to celebrate.
Editor’s note: This reflection was originally part of an email to UAA staff published on February 5, 2021.
“It can be a very intimidating process, especially because college there’s so many people here and just you know putting yourself out there in front of a bunch of people you don’t know, that can be very nerve-wracking. Try things that you’ve never done before. You might find that you’re really, really passionate about something that you’ve just never tried before. Yeah, just just don’t be afraid to do.”
University of Washington junior Sophia Carey was recently selected for the Beinecke scholarship! 
Majors: English and economics
Major: Psychology
Major: Biochemistry (current); computer science (intended)