Accounting Alumna Proud to Give Back BY DAVID LEDER
BY ROBIN BURCK
From CWU to Tech Trailblazer
Richard Wang delivers coding education to underserved populations
n the ever-evolving landscape of technology and programming, leaders who envision the future and
Coding Dojo with the thought of giving everybody an opportunity in this digital age, because coding is really the language for economic building in the 21st century. This is what I saw as a way to hack the system and give everybody an opportunity.” At age 13, Wang was the first member of his family to immigrate from China to the United States. As a young adult, he became the first member of his family to attend a university. Having not prepared for the SAT, Wang got rejected from many of the colleges he applied to, but one gave him a conditional acceptance for being a first-generation student: CWU. “The generations before me really sacrificed everything for me to be able to come to the United States,” Wang said. “Coming here was one of the lottery tickets I won in life.” Wang taught himself English after witnessing firsthand how English literacy could create economic mobility for individuals in China.
He believes digital literacy could offer the same economic lift for those around the world, and he strives to create opportunities to help others transform their lives. With a passion for empowering individuals through coding skills, Wang has not only led Coding Dojo to new heights; he has also become a notable figure in the tech education sector. He was the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021, and he was recently included in Puget Sound Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Awards. Now, he can add a CWU Distinguished Alumni Award to the list. “Receiving this award was a testament to all the work and also my appreciation to the College of Business for the recognition,” said Wang, one of CWU’s 2024 award recipients. “It gives first-generation immigrants a spotlight and shows that if you put your hard work into practice and dedicate yourself, there are still opportunities to make it in this country.”
M
ichelle Quisenberry (’90) knew she wanted to come to CWU before she ever
Quisenberry’s career success and commitment to giving back have earned her national recognition. Among her accolades, she has been named one of the “Top 40 Under 40” and a “Woman of Influence” by the Puget Sound Business Journal. She was also recognized by the Points of Light Foundation for the impact she has made on her profession and her community. Quisenberry looks back fondly on her time at CWU, where she received a well-rounded education that was complemented by hands-on experience through internships and leadership roles. “The close-knit community at Central enabled me to form genuine connections with both faculty and peers,” Quisenberry said. “These connections — along with the focus on critical thinking, leadership, and communications skills — provided me with a solid foundation for my career.” Over the past two years, she has found new opportunities to give back to her alma mater, including a partnership with Distinguished Professor of Business Andy Parks on the Reaching New Heights grant. CWU was one of only five institutions nationwide to receive funding from the KPMG U.S. Foundation in 2022, and Quisenberry proudly serves as the Partner Champion. “Doing this work has inspired me to continue working to support Central’s mission,” she said. “Being able to help our students prepare to enter the workforce and land incredible jobs is something that is very important to me, and I hope we can continue to work together to improve the lives of young professionals.”
drive innovation play a pivotal role. Business administration alumnus Richard Wang (’08) stands out as a visionary leader who has been instrumental in shaping the coding education industry. Wang is the CEO of Coding Dojo, a virtual software development coding bootcamp that covers programming basics, web fundamentals, Python Full-Stack, JavaScript Full-Stack, and more. As a leading education and technology executive, Wang is committed to creating economic mobility for underserved communities and increasing opportunities for individuals to reskill or upskill so they can participate in the digital economy. “Coding Dojo is about transforming lives through digital literacy,” Wang said of the company he founded in 2013. “Talent is evenly distributed but opportunities are not. I started
set foot on campus. The accounting program came highly recommended, but the Port Orchard native was also drawn to the Ellensburg community. “Having grown up in a small town, coming to Central just felt like a natural transition for me,” said Quisenberry, who now serves as a partner at KPMG, one of the Big Four global accounting firms. “I loved the small class sizes, and I had an opportunity to bond with my peers and professors alike.” Over the years, Quisenberry has stayed in contact with her former mentors and classmates, including retired Department of Accounting chair Gary Heesacker. “Gary’s mentorship played a significant role in shaping my career journey,” she said. “His guidance and personal investment in my development not only enriched my academic experience; it also helped me navigate important career decisions.” Quisenberry spent her early career serving as a controller for three Seattle-based tech startups before joining Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s executive leadership team to open the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop). She then ran her own consulting firm for 10 years, serving clients in the biotech and technology industries. Today, she leads KPMG’s risk consulting practice for the Northwest, guiding the delivery of consulting services to a diverse client base.
19
18
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker