Trish Millines Dziko, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Technology Access Foundation, delivered the 2024 graduation address for the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering. View the full text of the address and the recording on YouTube below.

Trish Millines Dziko
Co-founder and Executive Director, Technology Access Foundation

Trish Millines Dziko delivering the HCDE Graduation Address on June 7, 2024.

Good morning! What a fine day the universe has given us to celebrate our amazing graduates.

It is an honor to stand before you on your special today. I am here to celebrate your achievements and share a message that I hope will inspire and guide you as you take your first steps on the next chapter of your lives. Today, I want to draw upon the timeless wisdom of James Baldwin, particularly his profound "A Talk to Teachers," to frame our conversation.

Baldwin’s letter was written in1963 and it speaks volumes about the purpose of education and the responsibilities that come with it. He begins with a very powerful assertion: “The paradox of education is precisely this—that as one begins to become conscious one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated.” Let me read that again.

Today, as you don your caps and gowns, you are not just celebrating the acquisition of knowledge. You are celebrating the awakening of your consciousness, the honing of your ability to see the world with a critical eye.

Human Centered Design has come a long way – particularly in the tech space. I remember back in the day when Windows was just emerging. I was a program manager and went to battle weekly with the user interface folks about those icons, drop down boxes, text boxes, you name it. Back then it was like torture because it was new and all we wanted to do on the development side was get the product done and in the box. Of course, they were doing the right things as they were on the cusp of the profession of UX Design.

Fast forward, a couple years later I ended up in the hardware group to design software for a kid’s mouse. That’s where I met industrial engineers who took us all through the design journey where they observed kids and parents doing learning activities together, how kids hands navigated the adult mouse, and all those routine movements. They designed an amazing mouse called the “easy ball”. THAT is where I learned to appreciate human centered design.

And now look where we are! You’re graduating in large numbers with various degrees in this discipline! You are the leaders of the next wave of engineering and technology. You’re going to change how we connect with community, how we include all voices, how we collaborate, and how we bring others along at the most important stages – ideation and creation.

You’re going to use all those skills you’ve learned throughout your academic journey, particularly the ability to question, to critique, and to push boundaries. This critical consciousness that Baldwin speaks of is now yours to wield. It is a tool that allows you to look beyond the surface, to understand the deeper forces at play in our society, and to imagine how you can contribute to its improvement.

Baldwin emphasized the transformative power of education, not merely as a means to accumulate facts, but as a catalyst for change. He believed that education should empower individuals to challenge the status quo and to fight for justice. He wrote, “It is your responsibility to change society if you think of yourself as an educated person.” This is a profound responsibility that now rests on your shoulders.

While we have seen so many innovations over the last 30 years, we’ve also seen them misused in ways that further marginalize our most vulnerable communities. The emergence of AI is shining a huge light on the inequities in our society and our behaviors, because all our historical and current biases are currently the baseline for information. Graduates, we’re counting on your gifts of understanding whole communities and including all voices and viewpoints to reverse this trend and look towards the positive. We’re counting on you to make the world a better place. You are the agents of change that Baldwin envisioned. Your actions, decisions, and voices have the power to shape the future.

Baldwin also reminds us of the importance of self-awareness and authenticity. He writes about the need to confront reality and accept oneself fully. In a world that often seeks to define and confine us, embracing our true selves is an act * of * resistance. By being true to who you are, by honoring your values and beliefs, you set an example for others to do the same. This authenticity is a powerful force for good, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive.

We are at an age where the expectation is for one to have at least 5 careers in a lifetime. I’d advise you, as early in your 5 careers as possible, to strive to work for a company that appreciates who you are as much as what you can do. In the workforce, it is not only important to be true to yourself, but also to understand your “why”. If you haven’t already, take the time to define why you chose this field. When things get tough, linking your “why” to your job will help you fight harder than ever, instead of bailing out. Personally, I wouldn’t be able to work in the K-12 public education space for 28 years without that connection.

It’s also important for you to understand what is needed to thrive in and contribute to the work environment. In my day to day work, I see so many young people enter the workforce unprepared. They have all the academic credentials and not much else. They are afraid to speak up, they wait for someone to give them assignments with so much detail, their manager may as well have done it themselves, and they have limited self-advocacy skills.

Don’t let that be you! Continue to learn, to question, and to grow. Be curious. Be proactive. Don’t wait for someone to tell you what to do, figure it out and get it done. If you see something that needs to be improved, don’t stand on ceremony – find people who can help you take smart and strategic action.

When you’re not working, find the time to engage with various communities, advocate for those without a voice, and use your talents to make a positive impact. Baldwin calls us to be courageous in the face of adversity, to hold onto hope even in the darkest times, and to remain resilient as you strive for justice.

Baldwin's insights are particularly relevant today. We live in a world filled with challenges and complexities – most of them self-inflicted – but also with incredible opportunities for change. You have the tools, the knowledge, and the passion to address these challenges head-on. The world needs your innovation, your empathy, and your unwavering commitment to justice.

Even though I’m not one of your professors, and you are technically done with class, I do have one last assignment for you: read Baldwin’s "A Talk to Teachers". Let Baldwin’s words inspire you to embrace your role as educated individuals who are ready to make a difference. The world is in your hands, and I have no doubt that you will rise to the occasion. Go forth with courage, compassion, and conviction.

Have hella fun along the way!
Congratulations, Class of 2024!

Recording