Upcoming speakers
The Alumni Speaker Series brings alumni back to campus to share their stories and career advice with current students and fellow alumni.
Anne Kerker (MBA '10)
Director of Human Resources, Farallon Consulting
Mar. 9, 2023 @ 6 p.m.
William W. Philip Hall, UW Tacoma campus
Light snacks and networking after the event
Interviewed by student Camille Martinez
Anne Kerker is the Director of Human Resources for Farallon Consulting, an employee-owned environmental consulting firm. She has over 20 years’ experience in human resources, working in a variety of industries over her career from plastics manufacturing to luxury jet travel. Anne earned her undergraduate degree in Finance from Mercyhurst University in Pennsylvania and her Master of Business Administration from UW Tacoma in 2010. She holds two professional certifications, the Senior Professional in Human Resources and the Senior Certified Professional. Anne currently serves on the board of the non-profit Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST) and on the advisory board of the Center for Leadership & Social Responsibility at the Milgard School of Business. In her free time, Anne participates in competitive dog sports including sheepherding and agility. When she’s not at dog trials she enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband Bryce, also a UWT graduate.
PAST ALUMNI SPEAKERS

Alicia Porter (SIAS '08, MEd '10)
arrow_drop_down_circle
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)
arrow_drop_down_circle
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)
arrow_drop_down_circle
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.

Nadia Caldwell (SIAS '16)
arrow_drop_down_circle
Nadia Caldwell (SIAS '16)
Senior Account Executive, GMMB
Recorded 10/13/22 – Interviewed by ASUWT President Jai'Shon Berry
Nadia Caldwell graduated in 2016, with her bachelor’s degree in Communications. She went on to receive her master’s degree from the University of Southern California in Strategic Public Relations. Upon completion, she returned to Washington to put her skills to use for her home state and local communities. Nadia has an extensive background in civic engagement, strategic communications, and youth advocacy. At GMMB, Nadia specializes in work around education, supporting major philanthropies and non-profit organizations – that work to create a positive impact on the education landscape – with their communications and marketing. Nadia prides herself on being a strategic and effective communicator. As a champion for social justice, she endeavors to communicate across boundaries through an equity lens.
Watch Nadia now
Steve Stermer (SET '16)
arrow_drop_down_circle
Steve Stermer (SET '16)
Software Engineer, Qualtrics
Recorded 9/14/2022
Steve is a Computer Science graduate currently working as a Software Engineer at Qualtrics, one of the worlds leading experience management companies, where he currently leads initiatives around pipelining omni-channel data. Originally a student of audio engineering, Steve dropped out of college at the age of 20 and spent subsequent years as an executive chef, carving out a living in the grueling kitchens of the culinary industry. Making the choice to go back to school for his bachelor's degree, Steve started at UWT in 2014. While here, Steve served as a teaching assistant, running the computer lab and offering tutoring to students. Steve credits his education at UWT as a driving force behind his ability to excel in the tech industry today.
Watch Steve now
Paolo Campbell (SIAS '10)
arrow_drop_down_circle
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.
Watch Paolo now
Jeff Dade (SIAS '11, MA '20)
arrow_drop_down_circle
Jeff Dade (SIAS '11, MA '20)
Director of Community Development, Forterra
Recorded 4/6/22 – Interviewed by Vanessa Umana, student
A dreamer who learned to lead, Jeff "JD" Dade is a community real estate developer, an Accredited Financial Counselor®, and a regional leader in the movement for racial economic equity who serves as Director of Community Development at nonprofit Forterra NW. Growing up in a working-class, active-duty military family eventually brought Jeff to Washington. His active sites in Tacoma and Tukwila prioritize Blackness as they foster inclusive, restorative economics and prosocial solutions like social impact investing, greentech, and cooperatives. He is a passionate advocate for anti-displacement via community-driven design and Black ownership as the people face Transit-Induced Displacement (TID). Jeff serves as Board Director for Greentrike (aka The Children's Museums of Tacoma and JBLM). He is also a Fellow with the Environmental Leadership Program and the American Leadership Forum.
Watch Jeff now
Megan Ackaert (MSB '05)
arrow_drop_down_circle
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.
Watch Megan now
Michael Jordan (SIAS '14)
arrow_drop_down_circle
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.
Watch Michael now
James Stevens (SET '20)
arrow_drop_down_circle
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.
Watch James now
Mohamed Rashed (SIAS/MSB '11)
arrow_drop_down_circle
Mohamed Rashed (SIAS/MSB '11)
Vice President - Branch Manager, Banner Bank
Recored 10/12/21 – Interviewed by Bengisu Cicek
Mohamed Rashed is a Vice President - Branch Manager of Banner Bank with a history of working in the financial services industry. He grew up in Egypt and moved to the U.S. in 2006. He attended UW Tacoma and graduated in 2011 earning a dual degree in International Business and Politics. During his time at UW Tacoma, he was President of the Muslim Student Association (MSA). He went on to attain a dual master's degree in Business and Public Administration at Eastern Washington University. Currently, he is working on his Ph.D. focused in Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University and plans to graduate by 2024.
Watch Mohamed now
Ty Reed (SIAS '98, MBA '09)
arrow_drop_down_circle
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.
Watch Ty now
Courtney Acoff (SIAS '10)
arrow_drop_down_circle
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.
Watch Courtney now
Peterson Chum (NHCL '14)
arrow_drop_down_circle
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.
Watch Peterson now
Jonathan Teeter (SWCJ '15)
arrow_drop_down_circle
Jonathan Teeter (SWCJ '15)
Entrepreneur
Recored 4/8/21 – Interviewed by Steven Simmons
Jonathan Teeter is a U.S Army veteran and first generation student who earned his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and a minor in Law and Policy in 2015. Originally from sunny California Jonathan came to Washington in 2007 when he joined the Army, doing a tour in Iraq in 2009. The first thing he did as a civilian was enroll in community college. He attended Tacoma Community College before transferring to UW Tacoma. During his time at UW Tacoma, he volunteered at Remann Hall Juvenile Detention Center. His time and experience there led him to pursue other positions in the Criminal Justice field, from a lawyer’s assistant, corrections officer to positions in the Department of Homeland Security. He has a passion for photography and videography, and hopes to one-day film a documentary about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous women and girls in Washington state. Currently, he is taking time to explore entrepreneurial opportunities in the Puget Sound. During his free time, he volunteers with the United Indians of all Tribes Foundation as a videographer.
Watch Jonathan now
Jessica Barry (MSB '16)
arrow_drop_down_circle
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)
arrow_drop_down_circle
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.
Watch Ngoma now
Angela Suresh (SAIS '17)
arrow_drop_down_circle
Angela Suresh (SAIS '17)
Communications Specialist, Boeing
Recorded 12/10/20 – Interviewed by student Alex Geronimo
Angela Suresh is a first-generation Indian-born American who earned her Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media Communications and a minor in Nonprofit Management. During her time as UWT, she was the News Editor of the Ledger where her notable pieces included having interviews with former President Barack Obama, Governor Jay Inslee, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and Edward Snowden. After graduating, Angela went onto to pursue her graduate degree from Johns Hopkins University and recently has been accepted at Penn State as a PhD candidate for strategic communications. Angela currently works at Boeing as a communications specialist focusing on culture and values. Since graduating, Angela had received several notable awards including 425 Business Magazine's 30 under 30 Honoree and the India Press Club of North America's presidential award.
Watch Angela now
Josette D. Parker, LICSW, CDVT (MSW '11)
arrow_drop_down_circle
Josette D. Parker, LICSW, CDVT (MSW '11)
Payómkawichum/Luiseño, Clinical Director/Owner, Advantages Plus Counseling
Recorded 11/12/20 – Interviewed by student Mindy Roman
Josette Parker is an enrolled member of the La Jolla Band of Mission Indians of Southern California/Mexico. She is the owner/clinical director of Advantages Plus Counseling, Inc., a small mental health practice located in University Place, WA. While enrolled in her master's program, she interned at the American Lake Veterans Hospital and also at First Creek Middle School. She was also a CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocate) for Pierce County Juvenile Court with a focus on Native American children in foster care. She is involved in the work of the Race & Pedagogy Institute/University of Puget Sound as a community partner to forward the work of re-imagining the art of education through a social justice lens as an act of revolution.
Watch Josette now
Omari Amili (SIAS '14, MA '16)
arrow_drop_down_circle
Omari Amili (SIAS '14, MA '16)
Author and speaker
Recorded 6/25/20 – Interviewed by student Kirsten Hargett
Omari Amili graduated from UWT in 2014 with two IAS degrees, one in Psychology and one in Self & Society. He graduated from UWT again in 2016 with a Master's in Interdisciplinary Studies. Upon graduating Omari has become a published author, a community leader, and an advocate for formerly incarcerated people. He has worked as a faculty member at South Seattle College and Tacoma Community College and as a Juvenile Justice Researcher with the ACLU of Washington in addition to various public speaking and consulting work around the state of Washington.
Watch Omari now
Armando Mejia (BA '08, MSW '11)
arrow_drop_down_circle
Armando Mejia (BA '08, MSW '11)
Community Investor, Boeing
Recorded 6/11/20 – Interviewed by student Augustine Canales
Armando Mejia has applied his personal and academic experiences to a variety of military events as a guest speaker and advocate to military service members, families and communities within the Pacific Northwest. He has been recognized for his community service with the Distinguished Alumni Award from Pierce College and the Washington State Outstanding Service to Veterans Award, for his time and energy devoted to improving the lives of Washington’s veterans. Currently, he is a Community Investor with Boeing Global Engagement Team which implements Boeing’s charitable giving and employee community engagement strategies in the Puget Sound region.
Watch Armando now
Matt Tolentino (MS '04)
arrow_drop_down_circle
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.
Watch Matt now
Chana Lawson (SIAS '07)
arrow_drop_down_circle
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
Watch Chana now
Mark Glenn (BA '95, MSW '01)
arrow_drop_down_circle
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.
Watch Mark now