Hello! I'm Annie, a senior studying Human Centered Design and Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Graduating in June 2025, my passion lies in utilizing the intersection of creativity and technology to empower people by enhancing their experiences. I’m excited to bring that into the industry—whether through UX design, web development, product management, or similar paths.
I love exploring new ways to create meaningful experiences, and I’m eager to keep growing and learning in this ever-evolving UX space.
MY STORY
As the people around me see it, one of my most defining traits is my passion for traditional Chinese dance, an art form I have done since I was 8 years old. In my time under the guidance of Qing Yang at Qing Yang Dance Studio from 2011-2021, I developed a keen eye for detail as I learned new choreography and intricate parts of Chinese ethnic culture. I realized that something as small as a chin tilt, the shape of your hand, or the specific way your eye gazes can play a significant impact on the dance expression. I focused less on technique and more on artistry, the smaller details that are typically overlooked but can truly make or break the impact of a dance. It was important to me that I got it right because I wanted to correctly portray the style of the Chinese group I was representing — it was the closest connection I had to my culture.
When I discovered this career path of human-centered design, I knew right away that it was the one for me. I want to design for all humans. I want to ensure that no voice is left unheard or unrepresented in the creation process so that the product or service can cater to the needs of everyone.
Some fun facts about me: I'm from New Jersey (Central Jersey exists!), I'm an Eagles fan, my free time is spent reading romance novels, I love playing volleyball, and almost all the clothes in my closet are thrifted!
MY PROUD MOMENTS
Founding Traditional Chinese Dance (TCD) at UW
TCD's mission is to build a community of passionate dancers by providing an inclusive and supporting environment for UW students to learn Chinese dance styles. We also aim to spread Chinese culture in the UW and Seattle communities through various performances, events, and workshops.
In 2021, alongside five amazing women, I co-founded TCD because Chinese dance was always a meaningful way for us to connect with our heritage. For me, it was my only connection. When we realized there wasn't a community at UW for this, we decided to create one. Our goal is to offer a safe, supportive space where dancers can reconnect with Chinese culture and heal from past dance experiences.
As Artistic Director for the past two years, I focused on fulfilling this mission. I emphasized equality by ensuring every dancer had a chance to shine, avoiding the traditional hierarchy of "star" dancers. Every person on the team got a moment in the front row. I established trust so everyone knows we are all on the same trajectory: to become the best and happiest dancers. I’m so proud of our community. Everyday I have proof of my success as our groupchat is constantly active with members showing and verbalizing their love and commitment for each other and this team. You should see our recent Showcase program - in everyone’s introductory blurb, we wrote about how much we love each other rather than about ourselves.
Our success is not only shown through our incredible team camaraderie — our sense of fun, safety, and willingness to support each other — but also in our external community we've built. Now, TCD has supporters coming to every single performance around campus to cheer us on and our workshops have such a high volume turnout that our studio is completely full!
One of the most meaningful moments for me was when someone went out of their way to email me: "Your performance was so beautiful and had a huge impact on me. It reminded me of the beauty and diversity of Chinese culture, which I, as a Chinese person, had forgotten to appreciate and be proud of…" Looks like we're doing something right :)
MY DANCE CAREER IN BITS AND PIECES
