My time working with local non-profit agencies, early education centers and research institutes has sparked a passion for disrupting intergenerational cycles of inequity.
Six University of Washington College of Education students were named in this year’s cohort of the Husky 100. These students each embrace their personal backgrounds and passions as guides for helping disadvantaged groups reach new levels of education and equality.
Representing the College are:
- Ashley Cowan D’Ambrosio (Minor, Education, Learning and Society)
- Mariela Galvan (BA, Education, Communities and Organizations)
- Cece Hoffman (BA, Education, Communities and Organizations)
- Maria Fe Andrea “Eya” Manansala Lazaro (BA, Early Childhood and Family Studies)
- Stacie Tao (BA, Early Childhood and Family Studies)
- Anthony Washington (MEd, Special Education)
D’Ambrosio, a minor in the interdisciplinary Education, Learning and Society, uses literature-based inclusive design principles to fuel advocacy for distance learning integration in her role as director of the ASUW Student Disability Commission.
Alongside her Disability Studies program, she translated her classroom experience to address access barriers for disabled individuals.
“Through the startup Nursing Evolutions,” D’Ambrosio said, “I led a review of state law to open up a facility that would improve the quality of life of children with disabilities.”
Galvan, the daughter of Mexican immigrant farmworkers, grew up working in apple and cherry fields before pursuing a degree in Education, Communities and Organizations.
“I’ve been to places I never thought I could see, conducted research, worked for programs in the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity and dedicated my time to serving others as a mentor and peer advisor,” Galvan said. “These experiences sparked my passion to empower underserved communities through action and leadership.”
Hoffman, who is also studying Education, Communities and Organizations, is from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. She uses what she’s learned at the UW to create deeper connections with her communities and better understand the world around her.
“Navigating between Western ways of knowing and Indigenous philosophies, I aspire to work with communities to build a brighter future together,” Hoffman said. “To me, this future lies at the intersections of environmental justice, educational equity and Indigenous resurgence.”
Lazaro, the first from her mixed-status immigrant family to enter the U.S., is a senior in Early Childhood and Family Studies and a recipient of the College's Robert L. and Catherine M. Zesbaugh Endowed Scholarship.
“My experiences as a student of color in a predominantly white institution showed me that the education I have is still withheld from many,” Lazaro said. At the UW, she said she’s defined her passion for advocacy and activism.
“My goal is to change inequitable policies so that higher education is accessible to the communities I serve,” Lazaro said.
Tao, also in Early Childhood and Family Studies, has explored her interests in the intersection of social work and early education through the resources at the UW.
“My heart and work are centered around seeking trauma-informed policies and practices to better serve children in the child welfare system,” Tao said. “My time working with local non-profit agencies, early education centers and research institutes has sparked a passion for disrupting intergenerational cycles of inequity.”
Washington, a graduate student in the Special Education in High-Incidence Disabilities program, chooses to focus his career and research on disproportionality and equitable practices in education.
“The disproportionate numbers of Black and Brown kids being suspended and expelled in schools in Seattle, as well as nationwide, mirror the disproportionality embedded into the criminal justice system,” Washington said. “This is one of many issues that I plan to focus my energy on going forward.”
The Husky 100 recognizes 100 students from the Bothell, Seattle and Tacoma campuses who are making the most of their time at the UW. These students use their passions, creativity and leadership to make a difference on campus, in their communities and in the future.
Story by Olivia Madewell, marketing and communications student aide.
Contact
Dustin Wunderlich, Director of Marketing and Communications
206-543-1035, dwunder@uw.edu