Melissa Ewing
September 4, 2026
Mentor students, share your expertise, bring a real-world project to the classroom, or reconnect with the HCDE community.
HCDE is kicking off the 2026–2027 academic year with several ways for alumni, industry professionals, and organizations to connect with our students and community.
Whether you’ve partnered with us before or are looking for a way to get involved for the first time, opportunities range from mentoring and guest speaking to sponsoring student projects and sharing professional feedback. Explore the opportunities below to find ways to get involved as an individual, with your organization, or as an HCDE alum.
Opportunities for organizations
Propose a usability study
Partner with HCDE master's students to evaluate how well your website, app, or other tool works for the people you serve.
January–March 2027
Propose by December 20
Sponsor a capstone project
Bring students a real-world challenge they can explore through research, ideation, design, and prototyping.
January–June 2027
Propose by November 15
Review student portfolios
Gather a few colleagues to provide feedback as students prepare to enter the professional world.
Interested?
Contact Melissa Ewing to participate.
Opportunities for individuals
Mentor HCDE students
Share your experience with a small group of current students through HCDE's Mentorship Pods program. Mentors meet with their pod once a month for conversations about portfolios, interviewing, networking, and other career topics.
January–May 2027 · Once a month
Speak to an HCDE class
Share your expertise and professional experience with current HCDE students. Before each quarter, we provide faculty with a list of professionals interested in guest speaking and connect speakers with relevant opportunities.
Opportunities throughout the year
Opportunities for HCDE alumni
Join our Seattle alumni volunteer event
Connect with fellow HCDE alumni while giving back to the community. We'll help clean up the NE Seattle Tool Library, with drinks and appetizers provided.
September 30, 2026 · 4–6 p.m.
Help review graduate admissions applications
For HCDE master's alumni
Give back to HCDE from wherever you are by helping review applications to the HCDE master's program.
January–February 2027
Get involved
Not sure which opportunity is the best fit, or have another idea for working with HCDE? Contact Melissa Ewing, HCDE Outreach & Strategic Partnerships Manager, at mewing3@uw.edu to find a way to connect with our students and community.