Alumni Speaker Series

Alicia Porter (SIAS '08, MEd '10)

Educator, Bethel School District

Interviewed Feb. 7, 2023

Alicia Porter is a graduate of UW Tacoma, earning her undergraduate degree in 2008, and her Master in Education in 2010. Her experience in teaching over 10 years has taken her through both the private and public sector as an educator. Starting two new businesses this past year, she is also an entrepreneur. While a student at UW Tacoma she was involved in the UW Tacoma’s Student Activities Board, and was a member of the Black Student Union. She works with students as a club advisor for the Associated Student Body, Highly Capable Students, and the Black Student Union at the middle school level, and is also a member of the district Equity Team. Her hobbies are ballroom dancing and working to build and market her new business. As we celebrate during Black History month, she will share her journey as a black educator, parent, and community leader.

Joseph Evans (BA '00)

Pierce County Superior Court Judge

Interviewed Jan. 12, 2023 by current student Amber Gajadhar

Joseph Evans grew up in Tacoma and started at UW Tacoma after finishing the Running Start Program at the age of 16. After graduating from the Liberal Studies program at 18, Evans took a couple of years to work before going to law school at Seattle University. For 15 years, Evans served as a criminal defense trial attorney with Pierce County’s Department of Assigned Counsel representing individuals charged with serious felonies and later as a supervisor with the Juvenile Delinquency Unit. In 2020, Evans served as a project manager for the Pierce County Criminal Justice Task Force, a work group that is reviewing current criminal justice policies and focusing on identifying disparities to improve the justice system. In 2021, Evans was appointed a Pierce County Superior Court judge by Gov. Inslee. Evans is a member of the Tacoma-Pierce County Black Collective, he’s a past president and board member of the Pierce County Minority Bar Association, and a former contributor to the board of Lawyers Against Systemic Racism. Since 2019, Evans has also volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound as a Big Brother mentor.

Shakima Tozay (BA '06, MSW '09)

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Presented 11/10/22 (due to the location, we were not able to record Shakima's talk)

Shakima “Kima” Tozay is a native New Yorker from the Bronx. She is a U.S. Navy veteran and Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She moved to the Pacific Northwest in early 2000 during her military service. With more than 15 years of service to veterans, service members and their families, Kima strives to always be compassionate, respectful and trauma-informed in her approach. She currently serves aging Veterans and their caregivers as a Medical Social Worker with the VA Puget Sound Healthcare System.  Prior to her current position, she worked for the Department of the Navy as the Chief of Clinical Services at Navy Fleet & Family Support Center, Naval Station Everett. She also has worked in a variety of settings and practice areas including non-profit, private, county and federal agencies. Kima earned a B.A in Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences in 2006 and Master of Social Work (MSW) degree in 2009.  She was a New Step Scholar and member of Phi Alpha Honor Society. She is a Washington Systems of Care Kagen Leadership Fellow through the Washington State Health Care Authority. Currently pursuing a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) degree from the University of Alabama, her ultimate goals are academic teaching, organizational leadership and policy engagement at the state and federal levels.  In her free time, Kima enjoys writing, reading, volunteering, hiking, taking road trips with her husband, and caring for her pets.

Paolo Campbell (SIAS '10)

Owner & Chef, The Chicken Supply

Recorded 5/25/2022 – Interviewed by Briann Santos, student

Paolo Campbell graduated from UW Tacoma with a degree in Psychology in 2010. During his time at UW Tacoma, he was a very active student leader on campus and served on the Student Activities Board as the Entertainment and Random Fun Committee Chair. After graduation, he began to venture into the culinary arts and completed his culinary education at the Seattle Culinary Academy. His experience includes working at Revel, Opus Co., and Adams as a sous and executive chef at Ethan Stowell’s Restaurants. During the pandemic, he used his skill of cooking to feed people and families in the Greenwood neighborhood in Seattle. Now a business owner and chef, he co-owns The Chicken Supply restaurant with a friend and colleague that he attended culinary school with. Paolo lives in Seattle with his wife, son, and dog. 

Megan Ackaert (MSB '05)

PNW Middle Market Region Manager JP Morgan Chase & Co.

Recorded 3/10/22 – Interviewed by Vanessa Dasuki, student

Megan Ackaert is a Pacific Northwest native who is the Managing Director and Region Manager for JP Morgan Chase’s Middle Market team overseeing the Pacific Northwest. Megan has held various roles within the Middle Market business. In early 2017, she relocated to Las Vegas to open the first JP Morgan Chase commercial banking office in Nevada. In late 2018, she moved to Phoenix to oversee Arizona and Nevada. In August 2020 she had the opportunity to return to Seattle to lead the Pacific Northwest. Megan and her team work with public and privately held companies to provide financial service solutions both domestically and internationally. She has worked with organizations in a variety of industries and has assisted with working capital, capital expenditure and acquisition financing. Given her passion for affordable education, Megan is currently on the board of the Seattle Colleges Foundation and an advisory board member for Ascend.

Michael Jordan (SIAS '14)

Business Consultant & Professional Photographer

Recorded 2/10/22 – Interviewed by Nick Brooks, student

Michael is a consultant focused on helping close the economic wealth gap for Black people. He does this through business consulting, DEAI work, and Equitable Economic Initiatives. He is working with BIPOC businesses in process development, helping organizations work to be purposefully equitable, and helping them take meaningful steps. He is involved with several community groups in Tacoma/Pierce County, including the Tacoma Pierce County Black Collective, Pierce County Community Engagement Task Force, and Two Way Racial Healing Project. He is in Class 28 American Leadership Forum (BACE). He spent most of 2021 directing the BIPOC engagement workstream of A Mindful State Project. Clarity Consulting teamed with the Economic Development Board Tacoma Pierce County to put on the first BIPOC Business Executive Roundtable in late October. Michael lives in Puyallup, Washington, with his three daughters. His hobbies include dancing, photography, cooking, playing and writing music, and other adventuresome activities. He is also working on the first phase of “The Black Gold Project,” a platform for the African Diaspora's emotional, cultural, and economic healing.

James Stevens (SET '20)

Business Owner & Patent Agent

Recorded 1/12/22 – Interviewed by Hunter Treloar, student

James started his professional career as an Information Technology professional with the U.S. Army Special Forces. During his 12 years serving in the Army, James traveled around the world designing, implementing, and managing large-scale networks in both friendly and hostile environments. James is most proud of his 82 airborne jumps earning him the title of Senior Jumpmaster. James earned his Electrical Engineering degree from UW Tacoma in 2020. During his time here, he led diverse teams that built a Mars rover, an autonomous surface vehicle, invented a hands-free e-reader, and published his first scientific paper for harvesting energy from trees. James made the Dean's list and was presented with the 2020 Undergraduate Leadership Award. Since graduating, James has obtained his patent agent license and now owns and operates Stevens Patent Law offering patent legal services. 

Ty Reed (SIAS '98, MBA '09)

Founder & Executive Director, Recovery Career Services

Recorded 11/16/21 – Interviewed by Leland Adams

Ty Reed is a proud UW Tacoma alumnus who accomplished graduating with two degrees. Since entering recovery in 2016, he has used the lessons he learned in his journey to inspire and educate others about addiction, recovery, and the importance of second chance employment. Through his nonprofit, Recovery Career Services, which is dedicated to helping people in recovery find and keep employment, he provides career coaching and development to assist individuals in rebuilding and rescuing their professional lives. He also works for Workforce Snohomish as a Business Engagement Project Manager. Ty uses public speaking, storytelling, workshops, and webinars to communicate his message to those in recovery, their families, and the business community about the importance of desperation, hope, and second chances. His message is simple: no matter what happened in the past, there is always hope for healing and redemption.

Courtney Acoff (SIAS '10)

Pierce County District Representative

Recorded 12/7/21 – Interviewed by Alex Geronimo

Courtney Acoff currently serves as the Pierce County District Representative for Congressman Derek Kilmer’s Office (WA-6). She graduated with her bachelor's degree in communications and was part of the first graduating freshman class at the Tacoma campus. She loves spending time with her family and friends and attending her kids sports games. She previously worked for 13 years at Metro Parks Tacoma in a range of roles, including as the Community Outreach and Engagement Specialist, which broadened her work on behalf of serving marginalized communities. As a Certified Diversity Consultant, her focus is to acknowledge the intersectionality of life, along with the complexity those intersections bring to service organizations. Courtney currently sits on the Board as an At-Large-Trustee to the University of Washington Alumni Association, serves as a Commissioner to the Human Rights Commission for the City of Tacoma and is an active leader of Pierce County Community Engagement Task Force.

Peterson Chum (NHCL '14)

Social Service Specialist

Recorded 5/13/21 – Interviewed by Vincent Da

Peterson Chum is a first generation college graduate. His family were refugees and fled from a genocide in Cambodia, later settling in Seattle. He graduated with a BA in Healthcare Leadership and and minor in Business Administration at UW Tacoma, which has led him to a career in Social Services. His current role is Social Service Specialist at the Department of Social Health Services. He has worked as a community organizer putting on the Cambodian New Year Street Festival and connecting communities to social services. As well as owning his own balloon business creating balloon arrangements for families and communities. He loves spending time with his family, traveling, and trying new food.

Jessica Barry (MSB '16)

Real Estate Agent, Coldwell Banker Real Estate

Recorded 3/11/21 – Interviewed by Madilyn Pawlowski

Jessica Barry graduated as a First Generation student in 2016 with a degree in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing. During her time at UW Tacoma, she was the president of the Marketing Society. After graduating, she became a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Bain focusing on luxury, waterfront properties. She received the International Sterling Award in 2019 and was recognized and elevated to the International Diamond Society for 2020. She is also a Coldwell Banker Bain International Luxury Home Marketing Member based on her sales achievement. Born and raised in Washington, Barry is passionate about local industries. In her free time, she makes the effort to shop small businesses and support local businesses in the community.

Due to a technical issue, we were not able to record Jessica's talk.

Ngoma Howard (SIAS '98)

Educator, Puyallup School District

Recorded 1/14/21 – Interviewed by student Jason Glenn

Ngoma Moses Howard is an educator, administrator and community engagement advocate who lives in Puyallup. Howard, who was born in Uganda and came to Tacoma when he was eight years old. A Lincoln High School alum, he earned his bachelor’s degree at UWT, master's degree in teaching at City University, and his Principal Certification at Seattle Pacific University. A 25-year educator and school administrator, Howard currently teaches math at Edgemont Jr. High School in Puyallup. He is a frequent and key contributor to that district's diversity committee where he strives to bridge the equity and access gap to marginalized students of color in the community. Ngoma Howard is an educator who uses his profession to make a positive impact on students and communities.

Matt Tolentino (MS '04)

Assistant Professor, School of Engineering & Technology, UW Tacoma

Recorded 5/28/20 – Interviewed by student Tatiana Linardopoulou

Dr. Matt Tolentino (MS '04) went on to earn his Ph.D. at Virginia Tech and then returned to UW Tacoma in 2016 as an assistant professor in the School of Engineering & Technology and a research associate in the Center for Data Science. He has also worked as a software architect and research scientist at Intel. Tolentino founded and led the Intelligent Platform & Architecture (IPA) Lab that focuses on workload analysis for edge computing systems. Locally he has worked with the Tacoma Fire Department on using technology to protect firefighters.

Chana Lawson (SIAS '07)

Assistant Director, Alumni Relations & Annual Giving, UW Tacoma

Recorded 5/14/20 – Interviewed by student Sarah Smith

Chana Lawson is known as a connector — whether as a leader in the nonprofit world, a guiding hand connecting alumni to campus, and linking students to higher education and career opportunities. Always busy, Lawson has had a longtime passion for helping others while celebrating the past and future, which began on campus as a founder of the MLK Unity Breakfast while she was a student working with the Black Student Union. After collaborating with over 26 nonprofit organizations in Pierce and King County and receiving the City of Destiny Award for Equity and Empowerment, Lawson is ready to be back at UW Tacoma to make a difference for the campus community

Mark Glenn (BA '95, MSW '01)

Chief Information Officer, Washington Military Department

Recorded 4/30/20 – Interviewed by student Sarah Smith

Mark Glenn, known as "Sergeant Husky" at UW football games, is the Chief Information Officer at the Washington Military Department. He is also a U.S. Army veteran and was a first-generation student. He talks with us about his career and education.