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Upcoming speakers
The free Alumni Speaker Series brings alumni back to campus to share their stories and career advice with current students and fellow alumni. Speakers have earned a University of Washington Tacoma degree, professional certification, or in special cases, have attended a University of Washington campus for at least two years and have graduated from another accredited college or university. This also includes UW alumni who live and/or work in Tacoma or the South Sound and have a positive impact on UW Tacoma, Tacoma, and the South Sound.

Daniel Gray (BS '16; MS '17)
Musician & Music Educator
April 10, 2025
6 - 7:30 p.m.
Daniel Gray holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering and a Master’s in Computer Science. During graduate school, Daniel excelled academically, earning a student assistantship that waived tuition and provided a stipend while enabling research under esteemed professors Martine De Cock and Anderson Nascimento. This research, conducted in partnership with Infoblox and the University of Washington Tacoma, led to a published paper at IEEE and a full-time software engineering position at Infoblox, where Daniel spent four years honing skills in efficiency, leadership, and autonomy.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, Daniel shifted focus to personal well-being and creative pursuits. Immersing in martial arts and music, Daniel became a sought-after guitar instructor, teaching at multiple music stores and currently at Ted Brown Music. Balancing physical training in jiu-jitsu with regular musical performances, including leading innovative projects like the lo-fi duo "Fun Vegetables to Cook With," Daniel has embraced a life of diverse passions. The duo is preparing to tour internationally and pursue opportunities like NPR's Tiny Desk Concert.
Through these transitions, Daniel has learned valuable lessons about adaptability, pursuing the intersection of outcomes and fulfilling processes, and the importance of diverse experiences and meaningful relationships.
PAST ALUMNI SPEAKERS
Milgard School of Business
- Megan Ackaert (MBA '05) – March 2022
- Jessica Barry (BABA 16) – March 2021
- Anne Kerker (MBA '10) – March 2023
- Mohamed Rashed (BA/BABA '11) – October 2021
- Ty Reed (BA '98, MBA '09) – November 2021
School of Education
- DeAnn Dillon (Ed.D. '23) – November 2024
- Alicia Porter (MEd '10) – February 2023
School of Engineering & Technology
- Eric Barone (BS '11) – October 2024
- Steve Stermer (BS '16) – September 2022
- James Stevens, (BS '20) – January 2022
- Matt Tolentino (MS '04) – May 2020
School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences
- Courtney Acoff (BA '10) – December 2021
- Akua Asare-Konadu (BA '15) - March 2025
- Omari Amili (BA '14, MA '16) – June 2020
- Nick Brooks (BA '16) – October 2023
- Nadia Caldwell (BA '16) – October 2022
- Paolo Campbell (BA '10) – May 2022
- Jeff Dade (BA '11, MACP '20) – April 2022
- DeAnn Dillon (BA '17) – November 2024
- Joseph Evans (BA '00) – January 2023
- Mark Glenn (BA '95, MSW '01) – April 2020
- Ngoma Howard (BA '98) – January 2021
- Michael Jordan (BA '14) – February 2022
- Chana Lawson (BA '07) – May 2020
- Bonita Lee (SIAS '06) – December 2023
- Alicia Porter (MEd '10) – February 2023
- Mohamed Rashed (BA/BABA '11) – October 2021
- Ty Reed (BA '98, MBA '09) – November 2021
- Dee Sonntag (BA '13) – January 2024
- Angela Suresh (BA '17) – December 2020
- Nuk Suwanchote (BA '17) – May 2024
- William Towey (BA '15, MA '17) – January 2025
- Jeremy Williams (BA '14) – April 2024
- Yolonda Williams (BA '05) – February 2025
School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership
- Peterson Chum (BA '14) – May 2021
School of Social Work & Criminal Justice
- Alishia Agee-Cooper (MSW '17) – October 2023
- Mark Glenn (BA '95, MSW '01) – April 2020
- Armando Mejia (BASW '08, MSW '11) – June 2020
- Josette D. Parker, LICSW, CDVT (MSW '11) – November 2020
- Jonathan Teeter (BA '15) – April 2021
School of Urban Studies
- Nick Brooks (BA '16) – October 2023
- Jeff Dade (BA '11, MACP '20) – April 2022
Other UW alumni
- Natalie Hart (BA '11, M.Ed. '15) – December 2024