Honors Staff

Director

206-543-2016

ses9@uw.edu

Here in Honors I… oversee all aspects of the program in my role as Director but focus especially on working with partners on and off campus to make sure we have the resources we need to serve as many students as we can.

I like thinking about & studying… I majored in African Studies as an undergrad and then earned a PhD in U.S. History with a focus on the transatlantic slave trade and slavery, so I spend a lot of time in my research thinking about the intersections of colonialism, slavery, race, and capitalism. I especially enjoy designing courses that help students understand how those aspects of the distant past profoundly shape our world today. I also really enjoy learning about gardening in the Pacific Northwest, and love to be outdoors tossing a ball for my dog.

My first week in college… I signed up for calculus because I didn’t understand that I was finally able to choose what I wanted to study. I’d done horribly in calculus in high school, and no surprise, I failed it my first semester as an undergrad. I think my jaw dropped when an academic advisor told me I could have just dropped the class.

Assistant Director
Director of Academic Services and Student Affairs

206-221-6074

aleym@uw.edu

Here in Honors I… contribute to the overall leadership of the program as well as oversee our academic services and student affairs efforts for students. This includes leading our advising program, meeting with students, brainstorming and implementing ideas for student leadership development & experiential learning programs, and working across the UW to help Honors students develop their education & connect with their community in meaningful ways.

I like thinking about & studying… I studied English literature as an undergraduate and Education as a graduate student. It is no surprise that I really like stories. I like reading stories. I like hearing stories that students have to tell. And I like helping students develop their own unique story through education. I am also especially interested in the intersections of arts, culture & the natural world and do a lot of thinking and direct action in those areas.

My first week in college… was really exciting! I was excited to have moved to a new part of the country. I was nervous because I didn’t know a single person. I was in awe of the size and scope of UW. I was already deeply in love with the Pacific Northwest. I also drank A LOT of coffee.

Assistant Director
Director of Strategy and Operations

206-221-6131

bbkelly@uw.edu

Here in Honors I… work on operations, admissions, scholarships, international programs, advising students and much more. I’ve worked for the Honors Program for many years, so have done just about everything there is to do here and am always happy to help!

I like thinking about & studying… gender equality, national parks, human rights, maternal health, tramping the high country, zymurgy, global & local politics, traveling to remote places, growing my own food, cooking & canning, reading (good fiction & outdoor adventure stories are my favorites), and working on my house.

My first week in college… I managed to sit through an entire hour of the wrong class because I was too embarrassed to get up & leave when the instructor said “Anyone who isn’t here for Poli Sci 200 should leave now.” Turns out I was in the right place – just an hour early!

Counseling Service Coordinator

wijss@uw.edu

Here in Honors I… advise and support students in academic planning and pursuing professional goals. I also manage Honors by Contract and Experiential Learning processes and provide support for student community opportunities and the Honors Living Learning Community.

I like thinking about and studying… the relationship between literature, culture, and what is considered valued knowledge, especially as it shows up in science fiction and fantasy writing. In particular, I enjoy analyzing what works of fiction take for granted and where they deviate from established socio-cultural narratives. However, I also love learning about history, sea creatures, and outer space!

My first week in college… I tried as many different restaurants on the Ave as I could (and got food poisoning) and went to a Dawg Daze event every day!

Counseling Services Coordinator

liliant@uw.edu

Here in Honors I… advise and support students in planning their academic and professional goals. I am also the instructor for HONORS 100 and the accompanying Peer Educator program.

I like thinking about & studying… mental health, especially how intergenerational trauma shows up in immigrant and refugee communities. I love thinking about different healing practices we can utilize that center community. I also really enjoy being out in nature and learning about different ecosystems!

My first week in college… I went to a club event or meeting every day, attended my first football game, and stepped foot in a gym for the first time in my life.

Undergraduate Student Assistant

anikan4@uw.edu

Here in Honors I…assist with communications-related projects, from telling Honors stories to connecting with alumni and community members, and administration to support the Honors team. 

I like thinking about & studying…anything related to writing, reading, and education! I am currently a sophomore planning to double major in English and Law. I enjoy analyzing, writing and consuming stories. I am also interested in educational disparities, especially in rural communities, and the steps we can take to solve them.

My first week in college…my roommates and I accidentally stumbled upon the marching band doing their Friday performance before the football game. We were so excited to find something school-spirit-related, so we canceled our plans and followed the parade the rest of the night.

Undergraduate Student Assistant

uwhonors@uw.edu

Here in Honors I…provide peer-to-peer advice and encouragement to students, and I work on various projects to support the Academic Services team and Honors staff!

I like thinking about & studying…sociopolitical power structures that fuel oppressive systems, how marginalized communities interact with the law, and how we can create a sustainable and liberative present and future.

My first week in college…was a whirlwind of new friends, exciting experiences, and challenging classes! I lived on every possible dining hall combination of cheese, bread, and tomatoes for way too long.

Web Computing Specialist

ilopez11@uw.edu

Here in Honors I… support all areas of the Honors unit by performing various computer system-related activities, including database and web application development. I manage the program’s internal and external web applications that support admissions, scholarships, course registration, academic services, and outreach.

I like thinking about & studying… the intersection of technology and biology, especially learning how advancements in biotechnology and bioinformatics are revolutionizing healthcare and our quality of life. I also enjoy learning as much as I can about the cultural tapestry of Mexico, exploring its history, traditions, and contemporary dynamics through books and frequent trips to my parent’s native land in Oaxaca, Mexico.

My first week in college… was when I realized I wanted to pursue a career in computer science. Before that, I was unsure what I wanted to dedicate myself to. That was until I wrote my first program and discovered all the incredible things possible through computer programming.

Honors Curriculum and Academic Operations Manager

amgilb@uw.edu

Here in Honors I… collaborate with and support Honors faculty as they create exciting, engaging courses that will challenge and inspire our students. I help develop the Interdisciplinary Honors curriculum, assist with Departmental Honors across campus and manage the Honors Program’s academic operations. I also help oversee programmatic operations in the Honors office to keep things running smoothly!

I like thinking about & studying… adaptations! My PhD work at UW focused on literature and adaptation studies: how historical novels are reimagined into films, comic books, plays—you name it. I love tracing how stories travel over time and across different cultures, exploring how adaptations reimagine both their source texts and the power structures at play within them. I have a particular soft spot for nineteenth-century adaptations, from Jane Austen miniseries to schlocky Dracula movies. I’m also a big horror fan (the campier, the better!), I love teaching and working with students, and at any given moment, I’m thinking about the chicken shawarma sandwich at Al Bacha. 

My first week in college… I signed up for a jogging class, when I’ve always, always hated running. I was so determined to knock out my physical education requirement that it never occurred to me that I could wait and see what courses would be offered in later semesters. I spent fourteen weeks sweating in the Tennessee heat instead of backpacking or salsa dancing.

Undergraduate Student Assistant

mayaf4@uw.edu

Here in Honors I…work at the front desk, doing administrative work and assisting the Honors Staff with various projects.

I like thinking about & studying…how technology and accessibility interact and intersect. I am interested in using my creativity and STEM background to build things! I am currently a junior majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Disability Studies. I also enjoy reading and writing poetry, and participating in most creative activities, whether that’s attending a dance performance at Meany Hall or taking an Honors class about art and activism.

My first week in college…I discovered that the IMA had free activities on Fridays! I went to the IMA to roller-skate with my roommate, and we had an amazing time skating to the music while trying to not fall down.

Communications Intern

kmp1223@uw.edu

Here in Honors I… work on communications-related initiatives, such as managing social media, writing articles, and other special projects to promote the Honors program.

I like thinking about & studying… aging and health disparities among marginalized populations. Having been born and raised on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, I grew up closely connected to my elders, which fostered a lasting respect for their wellbeing and healthcare. I am especially interested in examining how historical factors have influenced present-day health disparities and how health policy continues to shape the unequal distribution of healthcare across populations.

My first week in college… I decided I wanted to major in Public Health–Global Health! After the first day of taking an Honors class on safety-net hospitals, I knew I wanted to study this field further. I also discovered my new favorite study spot at the Hans Rosling Population Health Building!