12 New DFA Fellows Support Studio Sustainability
Join us in welcoming twelve DFAers to the 2023-24 Fellowship Program! Made up of active DFAers and recent alumni, the new cohort joins the long history of DFA Fellows supporting, uplifting, and growing the Network.
Fellows are focusing on three high-priority topic areas: Design Education, Studio Leadership, and Community Partnerships. During their tenure, they’ll work closely with students and studios across the network as mentors, bridge builders, and thought-partners. This approach centers and values DFA students’ lived experiences as a means of strengthening studio and network experiences. The Fellows program empowers active DFAers––already experts in running thriving studios––to collaborate in building studio infrastructure, working toward long-term studio sustainability, and strengthening community ties across the Network.
We can’t wait to learn and grow with these twelve amazing Fellows. To introduce them, we’ve asked each Fellow to reflect on their excitement for the program, the strengths they bring to the Network, and their hopes for a stronger, more daring DFA.
Kera Daughtery
School: Texas State University - San Marcos
Specialization: Community Partnerships
What are you excited about for this program?
I'm excited to engage with a diverse group of individuals who are passionate about the design thinking process and group collaboration. I’m especially interested in networking with other studios in the country and helping them blossom into successful, sustainable, well-oiled machines!
What are the strengths you're bringing into the program?
My strengths come from my background in team development and morale, along with my adaptable interpersonal communication skills. Additionally, I bring experience in leading pilot programs and a pristine taste in music to add a touch of light-heartedness and enthusiasm to the program.
What are the top three (3) things you want to have accomplished by the end of the program?
At the end of this program, my top three goals are to establish a well-rounded network of DFA professionals, successfully contribute to the growth of my studio(s) by expanding their membership and community partnerships, and gain the confidence to share valuable insights derived from my own personal experiences.
Alastair (Ally) Merrett
School: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Specialization: Design Education
What are you excited about for this program?
There is so much to be excited about! I am deeply excited for this program because of my desire to proliferate design thinking education and help DFA studios flourish. I am thrilled to be working with such a great organization whose mission aligns so closely with mine. It’s amazing to be a part of a team dedicated to meaningful projects where I can learn from people who have different perspectives than I do. Meeting great students and recent grads is icing on the cake!
I’m also excited about potential professional development opportunities throughout the year. The program's focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and the integration of various design disciplines also excites me, as it offers a holistic and comprehensive approach to design thinking.
What are the strengths you're bringing into the program?
In addition to professional design thinking experience, I bring a deep addiction to design thinking education and love of teaching. Over the past five years, I have worked with the DFA UIUC studio to create a wealth of educational materials that have cemented the studio’s foundation and helped them grow as designers. I also bring a deep understanding of team building – everywhere I go, I try to build community and inspire deeper and more vulnerable conversations. My love of music, comedy, laughing, design, arts, movies, bar trivia, exercise, sleeping in, eating donuts, eating fried rice, eating ribs, and being in DFA helps me inspire others to share their passions!
What are the top three (3) things you want to have accomplished by the end of the program?
I am inspired by this fellowship opportunity to devote time and energy to passionate students who want to make lasting change in their community. My #1 desired takeaway is to help a studio become the strongest version of themselves.
The second thing I want to accomplish is to grow as a leader, design researcher, and educator. This can be done through working with other studios and my fellow fellows. I am excited to add more tips and tricks to my toolkit and to share my current practices with the Design for America community.
I also believe this fellowship will offer valuable networking opportunities with professionals and students who share my passion for design thinking education. By actively participating in events, conferences, and engaging with the broader design community, I aim to build lasting connections and learn from individuals who have made significant contributions to this field.
Riddhi Singhania
School: Vanderbilt University
Specialization: Community Partnerships
What are you excited about for this program?
I am excited to form relationships with other DFA chapters and learn from their ideas and challenges. I am looking forward to expanding my connections/network and learning from other DFAers.
What are the strengths you're bringing into the program?
I can generate creative ideas for starting partnerships by making new connections with people and organizations. Moreover, I can brainstorm ideas for designing events and activities centered around design thinking. While I am involved in many student organizations on campus, I have directly/indirectly dipped my fingers in almost every executive role in DFA (recruitment, funding, partnerships, logistics, etc.), so I understand the challenges that come with these aspects. I have also had experience leading design thinking boot camps both in-person and online that I’m excited to bring into the fold.
What are the top three (3) things you want to have accomplished by the end of the program?
First, to ensure that all the DFA Chapters I am working with have their desired number of projects running, ideally with a community partner (or support them in devising an internal project or an alternative plan for the semester as productive as a project). Second, to have made life-long connections with peers involved in the DFA community who I can reach out to for advice any time. Lastly, I hope to not only be able to share my DFA experiences with others, but also communicate my learnings from this role to Vanderbilt DFA in the future.
Joel Yong
School: Rhode Island School of Design
Specialization: Community Partnerships
What are you excited about for this program?
I am a firm believer in the potential DFA has to nurture a new generation of thoughtful, socially-minded designers. It's an honor to help further the DFA mission and meet more people across the DFA network!
What are the strengths you're bringing into the program?
I value communication, visualizing ideas, and fostering meaningful relationships with others.
What are the top three (3) things you want to have accomplished by the end of the program?
I would like to have contributed to sustained engagement in DFA studios across America, created foundational guides to help DFA studios approach community partnerships, and bolstered the infrastructure and relationship that DFA studios have with DFA National.
Keerthana Ravikumar
School: New York University
Specialization: Studio Leadership
What are you excited about for this program?
I am eager to see how all the different DFA studios are helping make an impact, and provide a platform to help scale up the projects by connecting studios to work and collaborate with one another.
What are the strengths you're bringing into the program?
I am great at providing guidance on overcoming challenges when studios face declining engagement from both students and community partners. My experience at DFA NYU will help them work through trial and error and find meaningful learning points and next steps to rebuild that engagement!
What are the top three (3) things you want to have accomplished by the end of the program?
I would want to first, build a sense of close community between a few studios. Second, I want to create a sustainable structure/ space for innovation and collaboration between studios. Lastly, I’d like to develop an understanding of what DFA National can provide to these studios and understand how I can be a part of it all.
Erica Fu
School: Carnegie Mellon University
Specialization: Studio Leadership
What are you excited about for this program?
I am excited to meet other DFA members and build each other up through fellowship and collaboration.
What are the strengths you're bringing into the program?
My experiences come from building up a studio of zero members during the COVID era. My unique experience can help upcoming studios that are trying to start out and get on their feet.
What are the top three (3) things you want to have accomplished by the end of the program?
First, I’d love to establish asynchronous communication between multiple studios. Second, I hope we can build a repository for students to access and reference different resources from other studios. Lastly, I hope to build long lasting relationships with the other fellows!
Maddy Ward
School: Northwestern University
Specialization: Studio Leadership
What are you excited about for this program?
I'm looking forward to meeting the other fellows and collaborating to ensure every studio has what it needs to be successful.
What are the strengths you're bringing into the program?
I have a lot of prior experience building back up a studio during covid. I will be able to help both studios that are starting up and rebuilding based off of what I learned. I also have experience translating the work students do with DFA to their post graduation time in the workforce.
What are the top three (3) things you want to have accomplished by the end of the program?
I would like to have helped at least 3 chapters establish a firm membership base that they are content with. I’d love for every chapter I work with to establish a documentation standard, and for all members to have something they’re excited to include on their resume or within their portfolio.
Avani Guduri
School: Carnegie Mellon University
Specialization: Design Education
What are you excited about for this program?
I'm super excited to connect with other studios and DFAers—I think there's a lot we can learn from each other!
What are the strengths you're bringing into the program?
My experience as a teaching assistant allows me to bring a new perspective about teaching that isn't just focused on design education. I'm open to trying new ideas and taking risks which can help drive innovation. I'm also especially thoughtful in reflecting, which can help us improve as we go.
What are the top three (3) things you want to have accomplished by the end of the program?
1. Confidence. I hope DFA studios feel more confident in how they teach design and DFAers feel more confident in (and comfortable with) practicing design. 2. Connection. I hope DFA studios feel more connected to each other and feel comfortable reaching out to each other for advice, collaboration opportunities, and shared learnings. 3. More personally: I hope to grow as a mentor and designer!
Lindsay Gleason
School: North Central College
Specialization: Design Education
What are you excited about for this program?
I am most excited to deepen my connections within the DFA Network and to learn new things!
What are the strengths you're bringing into the program?
As a theatre maker and teaching artist, I bring a unique lense to teaching and facilitation that fosters engagement and discovery! This perspective also makes me an engaging storyteller both in the design process and sharing findings. Additionally, I bring a creative approach to collaboration and problem solving that centers mission and shared values!
What are the top three (3) things you want to have accomplished by the end of the program?
During my time as a DFA Fellow, I am hoping to develop a community of inspired and inspiring colleagues, provide mentorship to studio leadership, support them in identifying their own strengths and growth areas, and champion studios in taking on new approaches to their educational process!
Shruthi Chidambaram
School: University of Cincinnati
Specialization: Community Partnerships
What are you excited about for this program?
I am excited to meet other students across the country who share my passions and goals, and create new ways for DFA to thrive! I hope to create new relationships that are mutually beneficial and inspire growth in our own chapter at UC.
What are the strengths you're bringing into the program?
I have a multidisciplinary background and enjoy communicating and cooperating with people with diverse skills and interests. I also have experience guiding studios through periods of change, and can bring a growth mindset into the studio in order to better fit student needs and goals. I feel that my down to earth communication style helps other students feel welcome in a potentially intimidating space and allows for productive and open conversation.
What are the top three (3) things you want to have accomplished by the end of the program?
First, I would like to have a direct relationship with other studios, where myself and future leadership members would feel comfortable leaning on one another for support. Second, I would like to have a firmer grasp on what it takes to facilitate a strong community partnership as a student organization. Third, I would like studios to feel more like part of a nationally established organization than just a club at their university.
Tanvi Jadhav
School: Rice University
Specialization: Design Education
What are you excited about for this program?
I'm excited to contribute back to the DFA community, learn with my cohort, and see the creative ways we can support local studios.
What are the strengths you're bringing into the program?
My strengths are strong teamwork skills, design mentorship and product management.
What are the top three (3) things you want to have accomplished by the end of the program?
First, I want to help create sustainable, useful systems for design education training within the DFA studios. Second, I hope to have a better understanding of my own ability to teach, mentor and manage relationships between many different stakeholders within a system. Lastly, I’m eager to foster a stronger community and network with DFA national, studios, and this fellow community.
Jessica Moskowitz
School: Oberlin College
Specialization: Studio Leadership
What are you excited about for this program?
I'm excited to meet and learn from passionate designers around the country and help them build sustainable studios.
What are the strengths you're bringing into the program?
My strong project management, communication, and leadership skills, coupled with my experience working in marketing, can help the program create structures and processes to create and maintain sustainable studios.
What are the top three (3) things you want to have accomplished by the end of the program?
I would like to have established work-flow processes through the use of project management tools and documentation to help students transfer knowledge and ensure smooth leadership transitions from year to year. I would also like to have created documentation of successful and unsuccessful recruitment and retention strategies. Lastly, I would like to have felt that the students felt proud of their work and confident in their abilities to lead future studios.
