Leah Pistorius
April 21, 2025
Human Centered Design & Engineering students Grace Carina Bunarto, Mishti Dhawan, Damini Sheth, and Mina Zavary have been named to the University of Washington’s 2025 Husky 100. This annual recognition honors 100 students across the UW’s three campuses who demonstrate a commitment to leadership, community engagement, and applying their education to make a meaningful impact.
“The one thing they share is that they actively connect what happens inside and outside of the classroom and apply what they learn to make a difference,” wrote UW Provost Tricia R. Serio in the announcement. “Through their coursework, research, volunteer and leadership efforts, internships, and jobs, they have created their own unique Husky Experience.”
This year’s HCDE honorees represent all three of the department’s academic programs—Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy. Since the program’s inception in 2016, 25 HCDE students have been recognized. View all past HCDE Husky 100 honorees »
2025 Husky 100 Honorees
Grace Carina Bunarto
BS, HCDE
Bothell, WA
Throughout my time at the UW, I have combined my passion for engineering and outreach to become a dedicated advocate for inclusive STEM education. I’m incredibly grateful to have been part of Human Centered Design & Engineering K-12 initiatives, where I’ve worked closely with students and educators to create engaging and accessible learning experiences. Driven by my passion for mentorship and innovation in education, I strive to support and inspire the next generation of STEM leaders.
Mishti Dhawan
BS, HCDE & Data Science
Bellevue, WA & Chandigarh, India
I am driven by my commitment to using design and research as tools for advocacy and social change. My Husky Experience has been a journey of stepping into challenging spaces to tackle complex social issues through a community-centered design approach. I am eager to continue using my skills in design, research and engineering to reimagine and build a more inclusive, compassionate and joyful world.
Damini Sheth
MS, HCDE
Mumbai, India
Advocating for inclusivity has always been at the heart of my work — whether it’s through building accessible products, amplifying underrepresented voices or empowering underserved communities. This passion led me from being a tech-focused engineer to being a user-centered problem-solver driven by curiosity and empathy. At the UW, I’ve had the opportunity to dedicate myself to making technology accessible as a research assistant and advocating for international students through CIRCLE. I aim to combine technology, business strategy and a user-first approach to design solutions that drive meaningful change.
Mina Zavary
PhD, HCDE
Seattle, WA
Despite facing significant accessibility challenges during my undergraduate studies, I remained committed to my education while advocating for more inclusive teaching and learning. Today, I am a Ph.D. student in Human Centered Design & Engineering, and my research focuses on how grades as a form of measurement impact those who are required to navigate such systems, in and out of the classroom. Along with leadership in research, teaching and mentorship, I strive to create meaningful change in higher education by reimagining institutional measurement and designing tools and pedagogical practices to support student learning and flourishing.