Maya Cruz, Lead Research Analyst

Former Research Assistant Maya Cruz (she/her) was promoted to Researcher in July 2024. Maya graduated from high school in Tacoma in 2021 and from UW Seattle in June 2023, with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Labor Studies. She was a member of the 2022 Union Summer cohort, working with the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE Council 28). Since joining the research team in June 2023, Maya has worked on several projects, including a brief connecting reproductive justice to racial and economic justice, providing research support for collective bargaining, and helping lead the State of the UW Student Worker - the Center’s ambitious study regarding student workers’ perspectives and experiences. Maya also onboards and supports interns selected for the new MLK Labor People’s Organizing Center (POC)/Harry Bridges Center Research Assistant Internship.

Kait Johnson, Research Assistant

Kait (they/them) is a Research Assistant at the Bridges Center and a 4th-year majoring in Law, Societies, and Justice with Interdisciplinary Honors. Their work with the Center has focused on workforce development and migrant issues. They are also a community organizer in the national democratic movement for a sovereign, democratic Philippines.

Inhauck Choi, Graduate Research Assistant

Inhauck Choi (he/him) was a graduate research assistant with the Bridges Center from October 2025 to March 2026, and he’s a graduate student studying Human-Centered Design and Engineering. Inhauck has several years of experience in community organizing and supporting immigrant communities in California. Inhauck's research at the Bridges Center focuses on non-citizen student workers’ experiences and aims to bolster social justice movements at the UW. During his spare time, Inhauck likes to climb rocks, run marathons, and is currently trying to find all trolls in the PNW.

Jonathon Reyes, Research Assistant

Jonathon Reyes (he/him) was a Research Assistant from October 2025 to March 2026. He is a double major in Philosophy and American Ethnic Studies, with a minor in Labor Studies. Jonathon contributed to the "State of the Student Worker" follow-up project, focusing on undocumented and international students at the UW. In this role, he helped write survey questions, did outreach with student organizations and individual students, and wrote part of the report. Jonathon comes from a mixed-status family and is especially passionate about migrants' rights issues. He has been involved with organizations including Purple Group, Communities for Our Colleges, the Seattle Office for Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, and others. He plans to attend law school after graduating to pursue a career in labor and employment law with a particular interest in the intersection between immigration status and workplace exploitation. 

Jake Yunfeng He, Research Assistant

Jake was a research assistant on the Student Workers Report. He is currently pursuing a B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology at UW. In this role, He was primarily responsible for assisting with questionnaire design and data analysis, aiming to identify key issues related to student workers’ lived experiences, employment challenges, and working conditions. He also played a crucial role in outreach, supporting participant recruitment and engagement. In addition, He assisted with note-taking for the focus group and collaborating with the research team on thematic analysis and reporting. Through this work, Jake had developed strong skills in qualitative and quantitative research, with particular interests in labor justice, international students, and social inequality.

Joice Tang, Graduate Research Assistant

Joice Tang is a Ph.D. Candidate in Human Centered Design and Engineering at the University of Washington. Her work with the Bridges Center focuses on exploring whether and how artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the workplace can affect workers differently based on their backgrounds and identities. Outside of her work with the Bridges Center, Joice's research focuses on how AI will (and already does) affect academic workers and teachers, driven by the ultimate goal of supporting workers to have an organized response to AI. She is a proud member, organizer, and Recording Secretary of UAW Local 4121, the union of academic workers at the UW.

​MLK Labor People’s Organizing Center (POC) Interns

Iris Miller-Sherman, Research Assistant 

Iris Miller-Sherman (they/them) is a graduating senior majoring in Environmental Science with a minor in Law Societies and Justice. They are one of two research assistant interns with MLK Labor's People's Organizing Center and the Harry Bridges Center. They were inspired by Labor 480, which they took in Winter 2025, and this spurred their interest in the internship. Throughout their internship, they worked on multiple long-term projects, conducting research to support worker-led initiatives. They built skills in community organizing, power mapping, and financial analysis.  

Vanessa Alvarez, Research Assistant

Vanessa Alvarez (she/her) recently graduated from the University of Washington as a Spanish Major and Labor Studies Minor. The MLK POC/ Bridges Center Internship taught her valuable research skills and redefined the work behind labor organizing strategy. Now she utilizes her newfound skills to continue the work in her community.

LABOR 480
Applied Labor Research

Explores applied labor research skills to support worker-focused improvements at worksites and beyond. Includes a collaborative project with a worker-focused organization. View course details in MyPlan: LABOR 480.