Course Staff
26su ver.
Note: this is for the Summer 2026 iteration of CSE 121. Looking for a different quarter? Please visit https://courses.cs.washington.edu/courses/cse121/.
Instructors¶
Hayden Feeney he/him/his
Hi, I’m Hayden! I just graduated from UW after studying computer science for the last four years. Before Seattle, I was born and raised in Tacoma WA where I have lots of family I love to spend time with. I’m both nervous and excited to be learning alongside everyone this quarter as I explore teaching a college course for the first time. This summer I hope to do a lot of dancing, exploring Seattle, and keeping myself healthy with good food and exercise in addition to teaching computer science with everyone. Please feel welcome to drop by my office hours to talk about whatever you have top of mind. I look forward to getting to know everyone!
Teaching Assistants¶
Anisha Vaish she/her
Quiz Section: AD
Hi everyone! I’m Anisha, and I am second-year majoring in CS. In my free time I like listening to music from almost all genres, cooking, and playing badminton. I am looking forward to meeting everyone!
Cayden Zhan he/him/his
Hello everyone! I’m a second-year majoring in computer science from Bellevue, WA. Outside of class, I enjoy puzzle hunts, learning fun facts about languages, and sawing away on my violin. I’m super excited to be a TA this quarter and I look forward to meeting you all!
Savannah Garrard She/her
Quiz Section: AB
Hello! My name is Savannah and I am a junior from Kirkland studying Computer Science. Some of my hobbies include playing video games, hiking with my dog, and experimenting with recipes! Please feel free to come talk to me about your favorite musical artists or for advice on taking CS classes. I hope you all have an amazing quarter! :)
Tamsyn Henke she/her
Quiz Section: AC
Hi guys! I’m Tamsyn, an incoming junior studying computer science and math, and this will be my fourth time TAing CSE 121! This summer, I’m doing research with the MATH department, but in my spare time, I will finally be achieving my goal of playing all the Resident Evil games. I also enjoy competitive swimming as well as watching anime. Nice to meet you!
William Baird He/Him
Quiz Section: AB
Hi, I’m William and I’m a 2nd year student excited to teach and learn with you all! Outside of classes I enjoy hiking, biking, skiing, reading, and video games. Feel free to reach out to me if you have ever have questions about the course or just want to chat!
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 only)
- Ed Discussion board (asynchronous)
Tip
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.