25su ver.
Note: this is for the Summer 2025 iteration of CSE 121. Looking for a different quarter? Please visit https://courses.cs.washington.edu/courses/cse121/.
Instructors¶
Hannah Swoffer she/her/hers
Hi all, I’m Hannah! I graduated from UW with a BA in Mathematics and a minor in data science. I had very minimal programming experience when I came to UW, but my passion for the subject solidified when I took CSE 121. Working on P2: Prioritizing Patients showed me how I could combine CS with something I really care about–accessible healthcare. I was a dental assistant in high school, which sparked that interest!
Throughout my undergrad, I was a TA for CSE 121 (5 quarters), CSE 122, and CSE 312, and I was the Vice President of Husky Math Club for a year.
Outside of teaching, I love binge-watching tv shows with my roommates, reading cheesy romance books, and playing racket sports. I am also a big fan of corgis–be prepared to see lots of corgi pictures! I’m really excited to get to know all of you this quarter. Please reach out if you ever want to chat!
Teaching Assistants¶
Abby Williams she/her/hers
Quiz Section: TBD
Hi everybody, my name is Abby and I’m from Tacoma, WA! This is my 6th quarter TAing for CSE and I am excited to get to know all of you. Outside of class I enjoy cooking, eating, crocheting, and keeping active. Reach out if you have any questions or would simply like to chat!
Hannah Hempstead she/her/hers
Quiz Section: TBD
Hi! My name is Hannah and I’m majoring in computer science. I’m super excited to be a TA this quarter and meet you all! Outside of classes I like to hang out with my friends, be outdoors, and eat popcorn. I also really like fish (both looking at and eating). Feel free to reach out anytime – I can’t wait to get started :)
Julia Kharchenko she/her/hers
Quiz Section: TBD
Hello everybody! I am so excited to be TAing CSE 121 this quarter:)) this’ll be my 10th quarter as a TA overall and 9th quarter as a TA for CSE 121 specifically! I’m currently in my last quarter of my CS MS in UW but before then I was a double major in CS (with a data science focus) and Informatics! I love CS because it is a field that can empower you to pursue whatever you want, including me currently with research into languages! Feel free to reach out to me anytime (cat pics and Eurovision hot takes are always welcomed); it’ll be a great quarter!:)
Merav Frank she/her/hers
Quiz Section: TBD
Hi, my name is Merav! I’m entering my junior year, and I’m applying to computer science this summer. I’m from Bellevue, WA, and this is my 4th quarter as a TA for CSE 121. This summer, while I’m not in classes, I plan to be hiking, baking (especially brownies), and going to the lake. I’m excited to meet all of you throughout the quarter!
Trey Adams he/him/his
Quiz Section: TBD
Hey everyone, I’m Trey! I’m a fourth-year studying ACMS. In my spare time I like gaming, reading, hiking, and weightlifting (find me at the ima)! This is my 5th quarter teaching CSE 121. I hope you’re all as excited as I am for this summer! Feel free to contact me through email if you have any questions :)
Getting Help¶
Having questions or getting stuck on something is entirely expected in the learning process. If you find something challenging with your studies, that is a sign you are learning! Learning is not something that you need to do alone though! In fact, connecting with your peers or asking a member of the course staff for help can add extreme depth to your knowledge.
Outside of lecture and quiz section, there are three resources in this class specifically designed to answer your questions:
- TA office hours (the “IPL”) (synchronous, in-person only)
- Instructor office hours (synchronous, in-person and remote)
- Ed Discussion board (asynchronous)
Note: a common misconception is that you can only go to office hours with specific homework questions. That is not true! If you have any questions about course concepts (e.g. from class that day), you are super encouraged to go work on that concept with a member of the course staff at office hours! Getting help with a concept earlier, when you first are feeling unsure, is much better than saving it until you need it on the homework.