Alyssa Spomer
HuskyADAPT Student Chair
5th year PhD student | Mechanical Engineering
Why you joined HuskyADAPT? I was initially inspired to pursue an engineering degree because it gave me the opportunity to develop solutions to everyday problems to promote equity for all. Throughout my undergraduate and into my graduate program, I have maintained the same passion for accessible design and development, which has lead me to HuskyADAPT. I was inspired to be a part of HuskyADAPT as it has successfully developed a community of open-minded people passionate about disseminating the importance of inclusive design with the broader UW and Seattle community. My involvement has allowed me to continue exploring my passion for engineering and accessible technology and helped me surround myself with others who believe in the same thing.
What do you look forward to this year? I am very excited to continue building on the momentum that our club has developed and offer more opportunities to engage students, community partners, and industry leaders in our efforts to improve access to accessible tech. The club's growth over the last few years has been incredible and really speaks to the need for more accessible tech solutions in Washington. This year's exec board and ambassador team are filled with students that are passionate and motivated to strengthen our existing programs and have brought a lot of new ideas to the table to further engage UW students and the broader community; I am thrilled to work with them to realize these ideas!
Fun Fact(s): I have biked across Italy!
Molly Mollica
HuskyADAPT Past Student Chair
6th year PhD student | Bioengineering
Why you joined HuskyADAPT? I am passionate about accessibility and education. Toy adaptation and design projects are such fun and engaging ways to learn engineering and clinical concepts while making a positive impact on your community.
What do you look forward to this year? I look forward to enhancing our community connections and getting more accessible play solutions into our Seattle community!
Fun Fact(s): I love to hike with my dog and take photos along the way; I call it phodography.
Nicole Zaino
Toy Adaptation Chair
4th year PhD | Mechanical Engineering
Why you joined HuskyADAPT? I joined HuskyADAPT because of the broad spectrum of disciplines across campus that work together for the main goal of accessible design. I also love being able to use my education and knowledge to serve the community, make a positive change, and promote inclusion.
What do you look forward to this year? I look forward to growing our adapted toy donation program to our greater community.
Fun fact(s): I have sea kayaked through the Norwegian fjords.
Sam Mak
Toy Adaptation Chair
4th year undergraduate | Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology
Why you joined HuskyADAPT? I joined HuskyADAPT because I think that emphasizing accessible design is very important. I also really enjoy both adapting toys myself and teaching people the process of toy adaptation.
What do you look forward to this year? I think that knowledge and instruction on how to modify toys to be accessible should be readily available, so I really look forward to connecting with groups in our community and teaching more people how to adapt toys.
Fun fact(s): I am a performing member of Taiko Kai, UW's first taiko ensemble.
Maddie Sloan
Toy Adaptation Chair
4th year undergraduate | Electrical Engineering
Why you joined HuskyADAPT? I love that HuskyADAPT promotes accessible design in ways that also make a direct positive impact on the community. It’s a great chance to learn while also making a difference. I especially like the hands-on nature of toy adaptation.
What do you look forward to this year? I’m excited to have in-person toy adaptation events again. I look forward to helping people learn the adaptation process and providing more toys to the community.
Fun fact(s): I love crossword puzzles! (This doesn’t mean I’m good at them)
Katie Borgia
Design Chair
2nd year Master's | Human Centered Design & Engineering
Why you joined HuskyADAPT? I joined HuskyADAPT because I am passionate about creating innovative design solutions that everyone can use.
What do you look forward to this year? I am looking forward to learning more about toy adaptation.
Fun fact(s): My favorite food is cheese.
Kaya Bramble
Design Chair
4th year undergraduate | Industrial Engineering
Why you joined HuskyADAPT? After attending my first toy adaptation, I knew I wanted to get more involved with HuskyADAPT. It is rewarding to work with other students to promote accessible design for our community while gaining experience that's applicable to engineering.
What do you look forward to this year? I look forward to developing more accessible design solutions for our community, and I hope to meet a lot of new students and community members along the way!
Fun fact(s): I like to crochet my own clothes!
Tom Mikolyuk
Design Chair
3rd year undergraduate | Mechanical Engineering, Interdisciplinary Honors
Why you joined HuskyADAPT? I am constantly looking for ways to blend my interests in industrial design, accessible human-centered design, rapid prototyping, and tinkering with things, all while putting my engineering skills into service and teaching others to do the same. I believe HuskyADAPT ticks those boxes while allowing me to work and learn with talented engineers, designers, and professionals and pushing me out of my comfort zone—to design empathetically for lives I might never experience.
What do you look forward to this year? Teaching passionate students from a wide range of disciplines to design for accessibility, adapting lots of toys, helping spread the HuskyADAPT gospel far and wide... and, if all else goes well, launching a new kind of design experience for the UW community B-)
Fun Fact(s): I am a sucker for potato bourekas, a filled puff pastry from my home country. Bake me some and you’ll have my eternal respect and admiration.
Anya Prasad
GoBabyGo Chair
3rd year undergraduate | Mechanical Engineering
Why you joined HuskyADAPT? My favorite part of HuskyADAPT is that not only do we get to challenge ourselves by practicing skills like circuity, reverse engineering, and soldering, but we also have the opportunity to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of toys for young children in our community.
What do you look forward to this year? I’m excited to be developing the GoBabyGo Program at UW and continuing to build upon the adaptations to make ride-on cars even more inclusive, accessible, and fun!
Fun Fact(s): A few years ago, I visited Patagonia and had the chance to explore the southernmost town in South America, nicknamed the “End of the World”.
Alicia Chen
Communications Chair
4th year undergraduate | Economics
Why you joined HuskyADAPT? HuskyADAPT brings together people regardless of background, area of study, or level of engineering experience to promote inclusivity. In addition to toy adaptation workshops, one of the aspects I love the most about HuskyADAPT is that HuskyADAPT advocates and gives exposure to events, talks, seminars, lectures with faculty and other opportunities for students to learn more about creating accessible spaces, universal design practices and more.
What do you look forward to this year? I look forward to meeting new people at HuskyADAPT events and expanding our community at UW and beyond.
Fun Fact(s): I have a scar on my wrist that's shaped like a stapler remover!