Student Connections
DATA FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD
Through connected learning, students turn data into impact.
THE OFFICE OF CONNECTED LEARNING fosters high-impact experiences that contribute to innovative and influential teaching, learning and research.
Students in the “Data for Public Good” program, for example, recently worked with the Latino Educational Training Institute, a nonprofit looking to expand its services in Everett. Their project was to analyze data that would help guide the organization’s decisions on resource distribution for Latino communities.
The students focused on healthcare access mapping, economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs, and eviction prevention and housing stability.
Sabrina Prestes Oliveira, a Data Visualization major, found the experience eye-opening. “This wasn’t just a class project,” she said, “It was real work with real impact.”
The work even inspired her to pursue a Mary Gates Leadership Scholarship that allowed her to continue her work with LETI, researching how data can empower underrepresented communities.
Beyond research, the Data for Public Good students worked closely with faculty mentors who guided them through problem-solving challenges. Professors Jin-Kyu Jung, Baaska Anderson and Sue Kraemer helped students navigate complex datasets and develop meaningful insights.
And by working with their professors as collaborators, rather than just as instructors, the students gained new perspectives on how to apply their education beyond the classroom.
This hands-on research was possible thanks to donor funding from Drs. Kenyon Chan and Shirley Hune. Support students like Sabrina through the UW Bothell Connected Learning Fund.
FINDING YOUR PEOPLE
Student clubs foster community and lasting connection.
WITH MORE than 400 club events hosted this last academic year, UW Bothell clubs are not just a way to meet people — they are a place to belong. Students can choose from more than 75 active clubs, including academic groups such as the Pre-Med Club, cultural organizations such as the Black Student Union and special interest communities such as the Tabletop Gaming Club.
For student Hainhi Doan, joining the Vietnamese Student Association was about more than attending events. It was about creating a home away from home. “VSA is a place where we build friendships that last beyond college,” Doan said.
Student leadership roles and outreach opportunities also give VSA students a way both to shape the club’s future and to strengthen their ties to UW Bothell, she said.
The club brings students together to celebrate Vietnamese culture while creating space for meaningful connections — through meetings, larger community gatherings and a Spring Culture Show. “Seeing the hard work, creativity and passion of our members come to life on stage highlights the strength of our community and the lasting impact of our club on campus,” Doan said.
According to Stacey Butler, director of Student Engagement & Activities, club participation at UW Bothell has increased more than 60 percent in the last two years, and student organizations like VSA are thriving. As she described it, “At UW Bothell, clubs are more than just activities — they’re communities.”