Officers & Advisors

SWE 2025-26 President: Sonali Fernando (she/her)

Sonali is currently pursuing a Ph.D in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a focus on hardware security. She has been involved with Society of Women Engineer for the past few years and priorly served as the Secretary. She brings both collegiate and society-level SWE experience, having organized events that support student success and well-being. Her work has focused on creating inclusive spaces, fostering leadership and building a strong community for women in STEM. As this years President she is committed to continue paving the way for growth, connection, and opportunity. 

Email: narmada@pdx.edu

SWE 2025-26 Secretary: Yara Hussein (she/her)

Yara is currently a post-bacc student studying Data Science. She currently is working at Office of Information Technology at Portland State. Originally she was pursuing a pre-medicine degree and found that a Data Science Degree would align better with her long term career goals. She seeks to use her background in health and science to use a data driven approach to improve the overall quality and treatment in healthcare. 

When not working or studying Yara enjoys playing trumpet, dancing with the PSU ballroom team, baking treats and hanging out with her cat Weasley. 

Email: yarah@pdx.edu

SWE 2025-26 Treasurer: Stella Gaisford (she/her)

Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, Stella came to Portland to attend Portland State University to pursue a degree in Enviromental Engineering. Stella enjoys rollerblading, hiking, doing yoga and bouldering. She has a cat named Goblin and many houseplants. Stella loves learning because it inspires her to create change. She strongly believes that equity, inclusion and diversity are essential for the future of our communities, society and planet. 

Email: gaisford@pdx.edu

SWE 2025-26 VP of Professional Development : Deshna Maharjan (she/her)

Originally from Nepal, Deshna came to PSU to pursue a Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering. During her free time Deshna enjoys painting, doing arts and hiking. She is a passionate and self-motivated student who takes every opportunity to grow, get involved, and contribute as much as she can. Deshna is here to learn, explore, and make the most of her college experience by engaging in activities that align with her goals. She tries to take full advantage of the opportunity she receives and always gives her best effort. She believes that every path she takes is part of the learning process that helps her see herself as a better person. She loves connecting with people, being involved on campus, and attending events to build community and expand her perspective. 

Email: deshnam@pdx.edu

SWE 2025-26 Tabling Coordinator: Prevail L (she/her)

Prevail is the Tabling Coordinator for SWE, where she helps promote community engagement and ensures SWE maintains a visible and welcoming presence on campus. Currently, she is studying Data Science and is passionate about outreach to students who are interested in STEM. Through her work with SWE, she is committed to building an inclusive environment that empowers students, strengthens peer connections, and encourages more women and gender minorities to pursue engineering and technology fields. 

Email: prevail@pdx.edu

SWE 2025-26 Communication & Social Media: Destiny Stepp (she/her)

Destiny is currently pursuing a bachelors in Data Science. She is currently working at a Veterinary Hospital and in the IT department at Portland State University. She is passionate about the ever growing use of data to shape real world decisions. Outside of school and work Destiny can be found relaxing with her cats, balloon sculpting, going on walks and cooking. 

Email: desti@pdx.edu

SWE 2025-26 Faculty Advisor: Yuchen Huang (she/her)

Yuchen is an Assistant Professor of Practice and Director of Computer Architecture graduate program track in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department. She worked at Intel Corporation for 21 years before joining PSU. Teaching is her passion. She loves teaching and finds teaching intellectually stimulating and thinks teaching is the most rewarding job.

“I am honored to be the Faculty Advisor for the PSU SWE organization. I will do my best to support this organization, help grow the organization and help this student section to be a success.” 

Email: yuchen@pdx.edu