HCDE Graduate Ambassadors are current students who share their personal experiences in the program and offer an informal, student-to-student perspective.
Depending on where you are in your exploration of the HCDE program, you may want to consider meeting with a peer advisor first. Both peer advisors and graduate ambassadors are current students who can share their experiences and help you explore whether our program aligns with your academic and career goals. The key difference is that peer advisors are trained staff members with in-depth knowledge of the admissions process, including specific details about application requirements, materials, and deadlines. If you need detailed information about applying, we recommend meeting with a peer advisor. Graduate ambassadors offer an additional opportunity to connect with current students and hear about their personal experiences in the program.
Schedule a meetingGraduate ambassadors
Alefiya Haveliwala
Hi, I'm Alefiya (she/her), a MS student in HCDE. I completed my undergrad in product and industrial design before spending three years as a product designer, designing features and systems for enterprise-scale tools, an experience that pushed me to think beyond individual
interfaces, toward how design decisions scale across products, teams and organizations. That question is what brought me to HCDE, where I'm exploring systems design and how UX design and research can meaningfully shape product strategy.
What drew me to this program specifically is its interdisciplinary structure, bringing design, engineering, and strategy into the same space. It also sits at an intersection wide enough that no two students are doing the same thing, which is what makes it so interesting. I've found that extends beyond the classroom too. Outside of coursework, I've been involved in directed research groups, hackathons, campus events, and communities. Experiences that I’m happy to share more about if that’s helpful.
If you have questions about the program, specific faculty, campus life, or just want to talk through whether HCDE is the right fit for you, feel free to reach out at ahaveli@uw.edu. Happy to share what I know and point you in the right direction.
Arundhati Ramesh
Hi! I'm Arundhati (she/her), a second-year MS student in Human Centered Design & Engineering.
My path to HCDE was unconventional; I studied Textile Design in India, spent two years designing civic and education platforms, and arrived here wanting to understand the deeper "why" behind design decisions. HCDE gave me the frameworks to do that.
In my first year here I researched how AI interprets non-western languages and cultures. I am currently designing for Indigenous civic tech (non-profit), and figuring out how UX research can genuinely shift systems — not just improve interfaces.
If you're wondering whether HCDE is right for you, especially if you're coming from a non-traditional design background, an international context, or you're early in your career pivot — I'd love to chat. You can reach out to me on mail or LinkedIn!
Chinyere Munonye
HI! My name is Chinyere Munonye (she/her), a Washington D.C. native! I am a first year Master's student in HCDE with a background in psychological and brain sciences, fine arts, and computer science. I chose to do the HCDE program at UW because of it's interdisciplinary approach to design, diverse course selection, dedicated and enthusiastic faculty, and the amazing resources that we have here to further my academic and career journey! The program’s emphasis on holistic learning strongly align with my goals as an aspiring UX and Product Designer! I am very interested in the research and intersection of design and accessibility! I aspire to give back to under resourced communities by designing platforms such as resourceful websites, growth strategies, and accessible products that spotlight organizations that are instrumental to my youth leadership and community development!
Jocelyn Le
Hi! I'm Jocelyn (she/they), a second-year MS student in the HCDE program with a BS in Computational Media from Georgia Tech. I'm super passionate about the intersections between technology, education, children, and QTBIPOC communities, as well as designing for a more accessible world. I also really love teaching and coding for the GameBoy Advance, so let me know if you'd ever like a crash course or want to game jam :)
Connect with me on LinkedIn or reach out to me at juyenle@uw.edu for any questions or if you just want to have a little coffee (or matcha) chat!
Melanie Song
Hi! I'm Melanie (she/her), a master's student in Human Centered Design & Engineering at UW. Before coming to HCDE, I worked in product and business operations, which sparked my interest in understanding how people interact with technology and how thoughtful design can make those experiences better.
In HCDE, I've had the opportunity to explore both UX research and product design through projects focused on healthcare, accessibility, and inclusive technology. I'm especially interested in accessibility and designing experiences that support people with different needs, abilities, and ways of navigating the world.
One of the things I love most about HCDE is the people. The program brings together students from a wide range of backgrounds, creating a collaborative environment where everyone learns from each other's perspectives and experiences.
Outside of school, you'll usually find me trying new recipes, working on creative projects, running outdoors, or hanging out with my mini Goldendoodle. If you're curious about HCDE, graduate school, career transitions, or life in Seattle, I'd be happy to chat!
Stuti Shah
Hello! I am Stuti (she/hers). I've lived between the US and India, and am perpetually confused about introducing myself as a native of a specific city :) I started off as an industrial designer in my undergrad back in India but pivoted to UX Design soon after the pandemic hit! because I enjoyed tinkering with storytelling and interaction design a lot more than being covered in sawdust. Bearing a year long professional experience as a UX Designer within gaming, B2C and SaaS domains - my current focus at MS HCDE is to orient myself with posthuman and feminist design theories and exploring ways in which they can be augmented within mainstream interaction design strategies.
I personally don't believe that there is a set definition for HCDE, because every individual has a unique way of expressing themselves and for me that is currently through smart assistive products, design research and visual design; but fundamentally world literature + cinema. I am excited to share what the MS HCDE program at UW has to offer, and how it can add value to your design journey! If you have any questions about life at HCDE, feel free to reach out : stutisha@uw.edu
Silang Wang
I left China for Singapore at 14 to pursue English education as a complementary worldview and lifestyle, and then I left Singapore for the US at 25 to pursue Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) education as a transcendent life-long practice that bridges the flesh and the metal.
My name is Wang Silang (he/him), or William. I'm a first-year MS HCDE student, and my research spans XR, AI, and information retrieval. We are at a historical moment in modern times where we could redefine the future of our "Live, Work and Play" with emergent technologies like crypto, AI, and XR. However, successful integration of such technologies into our society require visionary design, robust engineering and empathetic social frameworks. The HCDE program at UW offers one of the most comprehensive HCI and human-centered design education in the world at the intersection of design, engineering and social sciences, which provides me with a perfect environment to pursue my transhumanist passions. If you are someone who also wants to redefine the future of "Live, Work and Play", reach out to me via email (swang233@uw.edu).