9/16/2026
Meet the 2026-27 Programming Team!
The Concierge Team at Siebel Center for Design is a student-powered group that plays a vital role in shaping how people experience SCD. This semester, we are welcoming one of our biggest groups of new students to date. The Programming Concierge team is in charge of helping run events, building operations, and providing frontline support and guidance to students, faculty, and community members. They are the helping hands of SCD that make the building an inviting and friendly experience for our visitors.
Continue reading to learn more about the team members, and come stop by the front desk to say hi and grab a piece of candy!
Amelia Buhle
Amelia is a Sophomore from Glen Ellyn, IL, studying Industrial Design. She joined the Programming Concierge team because she loves engaging with Human-Centered Design. Amelia hopes to continue to engage with HCD processes and thinking throughout her career. She is most excited to go on walks around campus and enjoy the scenery this semester.
Fun Fact: Amelia’s favorite color is yellow!
Ania Waszynska
Ania is a Senior from Buffalo Grove, IL, studying Architecture with a minor in Business. She joined the Programming Concierge team because she believes HCD is a big part of her major’s work and is important in developing design and interpersonal skills. She hopes to become a structural engineer in her future career. This semester, she is most excited to apply to graduate school and make DIY crafts using the machines in The Shop.
Fun Fact: Ania loves baking, dachshunds, and coffee!
Dennis Hoskin
Dennis is a Junior from Chicago studying Aerospace Engineering. He joined the Programming Concierge team this year because he was excited by the opportunity to gain hands-on technical experience while also helping other students bring their ideas and projects to life. Dennis hopes to pursue a career in the aerospace industry, particularly in an area related to manufacturing, propulsion, or advanced aerospace systems. He is most excited about gaining more hands-on engineering experience, learning new technical skills, and getting involved in projects that challenge him to apply classroom knowledge.
Fun Fact: Dennis has played basketball for 10 years!
Gabriela Kapusta
Gabriela is a Junior from La Grange, IL, studying Accounting and Marketing. She loves working at SCD because she gets to learn a lot about art and design through seeing all the different projects and events that go on in the building. After graduating, she hopes to become a Certified Public Accountant and spend time working abroad. This semester, Gabriela is most excited to see all the different projects the students will be working on.
Fun Fact: Gabriela has two Boston Terriers!
Grace Bernstein
Grace is a Senior from Elmhurst, IL, studying Journalism with a minor in Public Relations and Business. Grace has been on the Programming Concierge team since her freshman year when she fell in love with the building. After graduation, she hopes to get a job at a non-profit doing PR or event planning. This semester, she is excited to be living in an apartment with her friends after being in her sorority house for the last two years.
Fun Fact: Grace owns a Volkswagen Beetle!
Hannah Vogt
Hannah is a Sophomore from New Lenox, IL, studying Kinesiology. She joined the Programming Concierge team because she loves the friendly and welcoming community within SCD. As she continues to learn more about HCD, she hopes to apply the principles to her future career as an occupational therapist, where empathy and collaboration are incredibly important. This semester, Hannah is excited for Reading Day and the events the building will be hosting. She is also looking forward to exploring more of what The Shop has to offer.
Fun Fact: Hannah can solve a Rubik’s Cube!
Jaymeson Barham
Jaymeson is a Senior from Springfield, IL, studying Accounting. She loves working at SCD because she loves connecting with people and the opportunity to enhance her experiences at SCD. Working in an environment where everyone is focused on continuous improvement and learning is incredibly inspiring and motivating for her future career plans as a Certified Public Accountant. This semester, she is most excited to make the most of her senior year and soak up every last moment at SCD.
Fun Fact: Jaymeson has been skydiving!
Josie Fitzgerald
Josie is a Freshman from Chicago studying Graphic Design. She joined the Programming Concierge team to gain experience using human-centered design to better understand how spaces serve the people who visit them, which she knows will be helpful in her long-term goal of becoming a creative director for a museum or a graphic designer. This year, she’s looking forward to participating in student RSOs like The Collective Magazine.
Fun Fact: Josie loves to print photography in the darkroom!
Kaliyah House
Kaliyah is a Junior from Chicago studying Speech and Hearing Sciences. She loves being on the Programming Concierge team because she enjoys getting to interact with visitors and other students on campus. She hopes her experiences at SCD will translate to how she interacts with patients in her future career as a physician assistant. This semester, she is excited to be living in an apartment and to go to football games.
Fun Fact: Kaliyah is on the UIUC Cheerleading team!
Maeve O’Connor
Maeve is a Sophomore from Evanston, IL, studying Industrial Engineering and German. She joined the Programming Concierge team this year to gain experience in a service position while also getting to focus on the things she is passionate about, like HCD. She hopes to pursue a career in manufacturing and believes HCD skills are integral to achieving her goal. This semester, Maeve is most excited to do her favorite fall activities and visit Curtis Orchard.
Fun Fact: Maeve was once a scare actor at a haunted house!
Malia Henriot
Malia is a Sophomore from Round Lake, IL, studying Advertising with a minor in Art & Design. She joined the Programming Concierge team because she wanted to expand her network and learn more about project management. She loves getting to see all the work the clubs that meet at SCD are doing. At SCD, she continues to build connections with a diverse community of people every day and develop a nuanced understanding of event experiences, project opportunities, and design work, which she hopes to translate into a career as an art director for an advertising agency. This semester, she hopes to grasp a better understanding of SCD, its guests, and how she fits in, while also getting to bond with her new coworkers.
Fun Fact: Malia loves banana bread!
Milla Kutsin
Milla is a Senior from Grayslake, IL, studying Advertising with a minor in Art & Design. She joined the Programming Concierge team this year after previously working on the Marketing Team. She loves working at SCD because she feels constantly inspired by the creative people around her and her amazing coworkers. Milla hopes to pursue a career as an art director for an advertising agency in Chicago. She is excited to make the most of her senior year and say “yes” to everything. This year, she will be an exec member for the National Student Advertising Competition Team, and she can’t wait to build a campaign she can be proud of.
Fun Fact: Milla is a black belt in MMA!
Millie Chu
Millie is a Junior from Hsinchu, Taiwan, studying Statistics and Data Science. She loves working at SCD because the space gives her so much inspiration, and she loves being a part of that community. She wants to pursue a career where she can apply statistics to solve problems, either through research or by building and developing statistical models and incorporating the HCD principles she’s learned during her time here. This semester, she is excited to strengthen the relationships she’s built over the past two years while also growing academically, personally, and professionally.
Fun Fact: Millie has a long bucket list of places she wants to travel stored in her Google Maps!
Navin Nielsen
Navin is a Junior from Frankfort, IL, studying Political Science with a minor in Legal Studies. He joined the Programming Concierge team because he thinks SCD is the coolest place on campus and that HCD principles are fundamental to the study of law. He hopes to use HCD as he pursues a career as a lawyer in immigration and human rights law. This semester, Navin is most excited about the cool thrift events and other happenings on the Quad.
Fun Fact: Navin thinks books are the best gift to give!
Paria Mokarrami
Paria is a Junior from Wilmette, IL, studying Landscape Architecture. She loves working at SCD because she loves the environment and energy within the building. She has always been passionate about design and art and is looking to learn more about Human-Centered Design. She hopes to pursue a career as an architect and design places for people to get connected with nature and relax. This semester, she is most excited about her studio classes and the design projects she’ll be working on, as well as attending conferences.
Fun Fact: Paria can speak four languages!
Saliha Ansari
Saliha is a Junior from Evanston, IL, studying Accounting and Data Science. She joined the Programming Concierge team because she enjoys the welcoming community, environment, and getting to interact with people face to face. Working at SCD allows her to immerse herself in an environment where she can thrive while developing communication and interpersonal skills. Saliha hopes to pursue a career in corporate accounting and believes her work at SCD allows her to have a creative outlet and connect with her creative side that she doesn’t always get in her line of work. This semester, Saliha is most excited to grow, learn new things, and expand her knowledge in new areas. She looks forward to discovering new interests, gaining new experiences, and continuing to develop both personally and professionally throughout the semester.
Fun Fact: Saliha has a cat named Hobo!
Samuel Hass
Samuel is a Junior from Arlington Heights, IL, studying Sustainable Design and Urban Planning. He joined the Programming Concierge team because the building has so many interesting things happening within it. Samuel believes there is a lot to learn about both sustainable planning and community support from SCD that he can apply to a future career as an urban designer. This semester, Samuel is excited to get involved with Habitat for Humanity and help build houses in the area for those in need.
Fun Fact: Samuel comes from a family of two sets of twins, all of whom have studied at UIUC!
Sarah Wheeler
Sarah is a Senior from Canton, IL, studying Information Sciences and Data Science. She loves working at SCD because of all the incredible events the space hosts. As a concierge team member, she has grown to appreciate the breadth of work that goes on here, our mission, and the HCD thinking process. After graduating, Sarah hopes to pursue a career in Human-Computer Interaction research, specifically looking into AI governance and safety. This semester, Sarah is excited to get working on some creative projects in The Shop.
Fun Fact: Sarah can name every country in the world and is working on learning their capitals!
Sharmel Alexander
Sharmel is a Senior from Chicago studying Communications with a minor in Business. She joined the Programming Concierge team to get experience with helping create user-centered experiences, providing customer support, planning and executing events, and team collaboration, as these are all fundamental skills of the field of work she wants to pursue: business consulting. This semester, Sharmel is looking forward to enjoying the fall weather and wearing tracksuits.
Fun Fact: Sharmel loves to cook and dance!
Suhana Amin
Suhana is a Junior from Bartlett, IL, studying Supply Chain Management + Information Systems. She joined the Programming Concierge team because she was excited by the opportunity to meet new people, build connections, form lasting friendships, and make a meaningful impact through human-centered design while also contributing her own ideas and skills. Suhana hopes to open her own business in the future that has a strong, welcoming community and a positive impact on others. This semester, Suhana is excited to make new friends and try new experiences on campus. She also plans to study abroad in the spring and is excitedly looking forward to it.
Fun Fact: Suhana loves sports and watching NBA games!
Tara Giblin
Tara is a Senior from Crestwood, IL, studying Sustainable Design. She joined the Programming Concierge team because she believes human-centered design is a core component of her studies. Tara wants to pursue a career in architecture after graduating. This semester, she is most excited about completing the capstone project for her major.
Fun Fact: Tara enjoys baking scones!
Trisha Choda
Trisha is a Senior from Aurora, IL, studying Economics and Statistics with a minor in Informatics. She loves working at SCD because it has been her favorite building since freshman year. She loves getting to see and be a part of all the events and the way we interact with students to elevate their experience at the University. [CAREER GOAL NEEDED] This semester, she is excited to experience her senior year and see all the events that are coming up.
Fun Fact: Trisha used to be an I-STAR tour guide!
Victoria Kim
Victoria is a Sophomore from Northbrook, IL, studying Mathematics. She joined the Programming Concierge team because she fell in love with SCD’s space design her freshman year and would constantly spend her time studying and hanging out in the building. Victoria hopes to pursue a career in academia where she can teach, research, connect with students, and explore new ideas. This semester, she is most excited to spend time with her friends and make new memories.
Fun Fact: Victoria is double-jointed in all 10 fingers!
Xenia Mongwa
Xenia is a Junior from Champaign, IL, studying Sustainable Design with a minor in Architecture. She joined the Programming Concierge team because she is passionate about HCD and she enjoys collaboration and making cool things happen. Xenia hopes to pursue a career in a sustainability-related field, whether through architecture or something similar. This semester, she is most excited to work with her teammates planning fun events for the year.
Fun Fact: Xenia plays the piano and has a black belt in Taekwondo!
Yusra Ansari
Yusra is a graduate student from Evanston, IL, studying Human Nutrition. She loves working at SCD because it is a fun, lively environment that fosters collaboration and productivity. She loves seeing all the cool projects people are working on and getting to help people discover the space. After graduating, Yusra plans to work in healthcare. This semester, she is most excited to enjoy the fall season with activities like visiting Curtis Orchard and taking walks around campus.
Fun Fact: Yusra has a grey tabby cat named Hobo!
Stay tuned to meet the rest of our student teams!