HCDE recognizes Aleenah Ansari with 2026 Outstanding Alumni Award

The Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) is proud to recognize Aleenah Ansari as the recipient of the 2026 HCDE Outstanding Alumni Award. The award honors graduates whose careers reflect HCDE’s values through leadership, creativity, service, and meaningful impact in their communities and fields.

A Seattle-based writer and creative strategist, Aleenah Ansari focuses on stories that help people feel seen. Her work highlights BIPOC authors, creatives, entrepreneurs, and small business owners, exploring everything from creative careers and entrepreneurship to identity, belonging, and the experiences that shape who we become.

Ansari traces many of the ideas that shape her work today back to her time in HCDE, where she earned her bachelor's degree in 2019. 

“HCDE gave me language for values I already had, along with tools to practice them,” she said. “Keeping people at the center of my work, seeing everything as iterative, and staying curious about the people I learn from are principles that continue to show up every day in my work.”

Storytelling through a human-centered lens

Early in college, Ansari began noticing parallels between journalism and user research. Both, she realized, depend on asking open-ended questions, setting aside assumptions, and creating space for someone else's story to unfold. HCDE helped her bridge those disciplines and approach storytelling through a human-centered lens.

After graduating, Ansari worked at Microsoft, telling stories about the people who build, deploy, and maintain technology. She says she loved the challenge of making complex topics accessible while showing how technology could help people connect, learn, and be more productive. At the same time, she knew she wanted to create something of her own, eventually launching her own business as a writer and creative strategist. “I continue to be a storyteller in every context,” she said, “and HCDE is a big part of why I know how to approach that work with intention.”

Amplifying stories that matter

Today, Ansari’s work spans writing, interviews, speaking engagements, coaching, and creating content. Much of her recent work highlights BIPOC-owned businesses, authors, and creatives in Seattle and beyond, particularly those forging unconventional paths and building something of their own.

“I hope my stories leave people feeling a little less alone and a little more informed about the steps they can take in their own lives,” Ansari said. “Whether they’re starting a business, learning about financial wellness, or simply treating every day like an adventure.”

Having lived in Washington her entire life, she also sees her work as a way to support the local communities, organizations, and small businesses that help shape the region. In the coming months, her stories will appear in publications including Joysauce, The Seattle Times, and University of Washington Magazine. Her reporting has ranged from covering independent bookstores and local business profiles to conversations with authors, comedians, and entrepreneurs about their careers and creative journeys.

Advice for current HCDE students

When reflecting on advice for current HCDE students, Ansari encouraged students to create opportunities for themselves rather than waiting for permission. “If the opportunity doesn't exist yet: create it,” she said. “Build things that feel wholly yours and share the process as well as the final product.”

Ansari also encourages students to become comfortable advocating for themselves and their ideas. “Knowing how to pitch yourself is a skill, and you build resilience every single time you put yourself out there,” she said. “It gets easier, and it also gets more worthwhile.”

Above all, she encourages students to stay connected to the reasons they began their work in the first place. “I started writing because I wanted to read the stories I needed when I was younger, and to make sure other brown girls would feel seen in stories about entrepreneurs, authors, and creatives building incredible things,” she said. “That's why it has kept me grounded in curiosity and connection.”

“Our award committee was impressed by Aleenah's multidisciplinary career grounded in storytelling, connection, and advocacy,” said Julie Kientz, professor and chair of HCDE. “Whether through her writing, public speaking, community engagement, or entrepreneurial work, she has consistently sought to create opportunities for others and amplify voices that might otherwise go unheard. We are proud to recognize her achievements and celebrate her as a member of the HCDE alumni community.”