HCDE Graduate Student Association
The HCDE Graduate Student Association (GSA) is a registered student organization founded and operated by HCDE graduate students. The GSA's mission is to support learning, socializing, volunteering, and career-path opportunities for HCDE graduate students, and engage with the student body.
GSA Officers Links & Resources GSA Goals GSA Benefits GSA Events
2020-2021 GSA Officers

President
Honson Ling
HCDE Researcher | UX Researcher
honsoneo@uw.edu
LinkedIn | ResearchGate
- GSA responsibilities »
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Point person for communication for students, faculty, and department administrators. Oversees and facilitates meetings. Sets vision and priorities for the GSA. Liaison to the HCDESA (Undergraduate Student Association).
- Free Time & Passions »
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Side Research Projects (currently Robots and Chatbots), Guitar, Books, Gym, Concerts, Potlucks, and Asian American Indie Films and Music
- Chat with me about »
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Connections to different UW departments, DUB Sci-fi Book Club, Tech Talks Happening on Campus

Vice President
Ethel Xu
UX Designer
- GSA responsibilities »
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Assists and coordinates volunteer, recruitment, and social events. Responsible for communicating with the department and discussing any concerns or ideas from community members. Takes proactive steps to increase and develop HCDE representation and awareness on and off campus. Maintains relationship with RSO.
- Free Time & Passions »
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Outdoor: I love hiking, swimming, and just wandering around in the city; Trying out new things and getting myself into very unfamiliar spaces (that applies to work, school, travel and social interactions too...).
- Chat with me about »
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Storytelling tactics; Psychology & weird cold facts lol

Community Relations Officer
Patriya Wiesmann
Designer | Engineer | Linguist
- GSA responsibilities »
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The main point of contact with people outside of GSA and HCDE, and maintain relationships that GSA has already built. Build new relationships with professionals in the UX field. Coordinate marketing efforts for GSA events, including maintaining email lists, social media accounts, and print advertising.
- Free Time & Passions »
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Hiking with my dog, Zelda; Live Tech Talks & Podcasts; Learning New Languages; Diversity & Inclusion; Musicals, Singing, & Piano
- Chat with me about »
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AI, VUI Design, Engineering, Mentorship, Outreach, Study Abroad, Tech Groups, Hack-a-thons, Design Jams

PhD Student Officer
Jay Cunningham
UX Researcher | PM | Amateur Designer
Jaylcunningham.com | jaylcham@uw.edu | LinkedIn
- GSA responsibilities »
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Connects HCDE Master's students with HCDE PhD students. Identifies relevant areas of collaboration between the entire HCDE graduate student body.
- Free Time & Passions »
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Youth Mentoring; Nature (snowboarding, hiking, swimming); Private Pilot’s License (training); Diversity awareness and advocacy
- Chat with me about »
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Inclusive Technology Research, UX, Program Management, Diversity Programming, Leadership, Mentorship

PhD Student Officer
Susanne Kirchner
HCI researcher and psychologist
- GSA responsibilities »
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Connects HCDE Master's students with HCDE PhD students. Identifies relevant areas of collaboration between the entire HCDE graduate student body.
- Free Time & Passions »
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Lots of hiking and some (indoor) bouldering, biking and running, occasional camping; Baking but not cooking; Drawing and painting, playing piano
- Chat with me about »
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Family research in HCDE; Qualitative research; German/European culture; Psychology; Hiking

PhD Student Officer
Neilly Herrera Tan
HCI researcher (currently) | UX Designer (formerly)
nhtan@uw.edu | LinkedIn | Twitter
- GSA responsibilities »
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Connects HCDE Master's students with HCDE PhD students. Identifies relevant areas of collaboration between the entire HCDE graduate student body.
- Free Time & Passions »
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Drawing and painting; Cooking, baking, watching cooking youtube; Enjoying art + going to museums; Watching reality tv lol
- Chat with me about »
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Personal informatics research, privacy and surveillance studies, critical computing, diversity in HCI, being Filipino

International Student Representative
Xuan Song
UX Designer | UX Researcher | Design consultant
- GSA responsibilities »
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Representing and advocating for the international student body for GSA. Talk to people from different cultures and see how GSA can better serve our international students. Get more international students involved in GSA and help them get connected to the broader UX community in Seattle.
- Free Time & Passions »
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Weight training & yoga; Photography; Fashion design; Visual arts
- Chat with me about »
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HCI, UX design career, design consultant, job interview, portfolio review preparation, Asian and western culture, foods, workouts

MS Curriculum Representative
Shelby
UX Designer | UX Research
shelbyz@uw.edu | Linkedin | Web
- GSA responsibilities »
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Representing HCDE Master's students on the HCDE MS Curriculum Committee.
- Free Time & Passions »
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Yoga & Mindfulness; Visual Design; Diversity & Inclusion; Community Centered Design
- Chat with me about »
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Using community centered design approaches to empower under supported communities, visual design, UX and selfcare.

Treasurer
Taylor
Research/Design
taylorux@uw.edu | LinkedIn | Web
- GSA responsibilities »
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Responsible for keeping records of financial transactions, coordinating with the department regarding funding, and ensuring that HCDE GSA events can be funded. Tracks RSO resources and submits funding requests. Manages the bank account and takes lead of fundraising and funding. Help maintain GSA online accounts.
- Free Time & Passions »
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Cooking; Fashion; Social impact; Mental health; Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Chat with me about »
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Food, cooking, queerness, personal finance, reach out if you want to vent lol

Connect with the GSA
Every HCDE graduate student can be involved in the GSA, not just the officers. The GSA mission is involvement, so please email the HCDE GSA at hcdegsa@uw.edu with ideas for activities.
Links & Resources
- GSA 2020-2021 Overview and Past Events
- HCDE UX Salary Survey Form (Result Sheet): an ongoing anonymous UX Salary survey with updated results
- GSA Events Calendar Sign Up: Sign Up to be added to GSA Events automatically
- Past GSA hosted talks recordings and podcasts episodes
GSA Goals
- Foster community in the HCDE program
- Act as a voice for graduate students in HCDE
- Organize skill shares, happy hours, UX for dubbies, social events, and more
GSA Benefits
- Make lasting connections with UW colleagues
- Learn from and work with industry leaders in UX
- Add value back to the HCDE department
GSA Events
- UX for dubbies (workshops to increase UX skills for dub programs, in conjunction with iSchool and MHCI+d grad programs)
- Happy Hours/Meetups
- Skill shares
- HCDE Department events, such as a Welcome BBQ and Winter Celebration (in conjunction with undergraduate student association)
- Social outings like Husky games, hikes, etc.