Program Manager: David Keiser-Clark
Student Workers: Danny Hinh ‘28, Catherine Li ‘28, Harris Longfield ‘27, Valeria Menjívar ‘26, Diana Pernalete ‘28, Stepher Sabio ‘28, Sam Samuel ‘26, Divya Sijwali ‘28, Alice Sore ‘27, Izzie Tarantino ‘28, Divine Uwimana ‘27, Milton Vento ‘26

David Keiser-Clark

I am the Makerspace Program Manager and a member of the Office for Information Technology (OIT) staff. I build relationships with faculty and staff and assign their incoming project requests to my student workers. I foster an inclusive environment and mentor my student workers as they learn to use traditional and emerging technologies to complete projects that enhance academic courses or campus initiatives.

— Read: David’s blog posts

Danny Hinh ‘28

Being immersed in technology has shown me that no one—whether STEM or non-STEM, a Makerspace worker or a stakeholder—should ever feel locked out of using it. Technology is for everyone. It exists to turn ideas into reality, to make the impossible possible. In the Makerspace, students of all backgrounds can create and gain valuable hands-on experience with electronic equipment, digital tools, and fabrication technologies. One of the most rewarding aspects of working at the Makerspace is seeing real results. You’re not just experimenting—you’re actively supporting faculty and students, helping bring their academic projects to life. From 3D-printing architectural models to developing new fabrication techniques, every project has a tangible impact. Moving forward, I feel more confident collaborating with engineers, technicians, and creatives alike. The Makerspace has not only improved my technical skills but also strengthened my ability to adapt, learn quickly, and creatively solve problems for projects with real-world impact.

— Read: Danny’s blog posts

Catherine Li ‘28

The Makerspace is the ideal environment for a non-STEM student at Williams to gain hands-on experience in fields they would otherwise have limited exposure to. I have opportunities to work with a variety of tools and machines and the learning process is both engaging and empowering. Whether it’s using a 3D printer for prototyping or working with softwares to troubleshoot, the Makerspace allows me to develop practical skills that complement my academic studies. As I navigate challenges while working on a project—whether troubleshooting a print failure or refining a design—I develop resilience and adaptability, skills that extend beyond technical work. Ultimately, the Makerspace broadens my learning experience, giving me the freedom to explore ideas and turn concepts into tangible projects.

— Read: Catherine’s blog posts

Harris Longfield ‘27

I associate a Makerspace with big engineering schools with seemingly infinite resources, so the existence of one at a small liberal arts college like Williams really shows that there is a space and community for everybody here. As a physics and math student, the Makerspace is the perfect physical, intellectual, and creative outlet to hone in on my technical skills and complement my theoretical coursework. I always found hands-on work to be most exciting, and there is something special about turning the spark of an idea into a flawed prototype and, eventually, a functional model.

— Read: Harris’s blog posts

Valeria Menjívar ‘26

In the Makerspace, you can forget about school and work stress and focus on fun and challenging activities that speak to yourself. Williams classes are tough, and students (speaking for myself) love to have spaces like these where you can be your most curious self, be supported by peers, and have the opportunity to ask “Wait, so how do you do this again?” without being judged (you make mistakes, you grow, it’s ok!). Being the director of my own—mini—projects is also something I enjoy. One of the reasons I chose Williams was the chance to take tutorials, independent studies, conduct research, and be authentically curious! All of those experiences contribute to what makes Williams, Williams, and the Makerspace is just an extension of that. Most of the time, we think about independent thought, and we think about the humanities, but having access to a place where you can think, design, and create—at your own pace, in our own style, and at your own time is truly just that!

— Read: Valeria’s blog posts

Diana Pernalete ‘28

I’ve always been interested in the way the STEM and humanities fields interact. Williams College’s interdisciplinary focus is one of the main things that drew me to apply. So when I was able to use my interest in the humanities to realize my Makerspace projects, I was extremely excited. So far, the Makerspace has been the pinnacle of my interdisciplinary experiences at Williams, it makes me push the boundaries of where STEM and the humanities intersect, as well as see where the two disciplines interact in ways that I wasn’t previously able to see. The Makerspace has made me realize the importance of using technology to help advance the humanities field.

— Read: Diana’s blog posts

Stepher Sabio ‘28

Makerspace /ˈmākərˌspās/ a home away from home.
If my own dictionary existed, that is how I would define ‘Makerspace.’ Often people forget that the truest form of themselves exists in their own home. The place where stereotypical expectations and societal pressure cannot reach. A place where oneself can be liberally expressed without pretense and the usual facade. The moment I step into the Makerspace, ‘judgement’ never existed in the dictionary. The joy instantaneously enters my body. I feel safe—at home, to be exact. The nerdiness and weirdness (in a good way) paradoxically, breaks free from the shackles of ‘what’ and ‘how’ things should be. It is a safe space where you can be greater without having the need to change who you are.

— Read: Stepher’s blog posts

Sam Samuel ‘26

The Makerspace is important to me because it allows me to do things that I’ve never done before. Not only does it allow me to interact with different faculty and staff on campus (and that’s nice for me since I’m an ENVI major), but it encourages collaboration and creativity. The Makerspace is important to me because I am often learning something new, my creativity juices are flowing, and simultaneously it’s fun. There wasn’t a Makerspace in my high school, and it’s incredibly important to me to have this avenue to do things here that I’d never otherwise have an opportunity to do, all while testing and redefining my limits.

— Read: Sam’s blog posts

Divya Sijwali ‘28

When I first joined Makerspace, I imagined myself tinkering with 3D printers, mastering high-tech machines, and maybe even accidentally melting a few things along the way. But instead, when I mentioned my love for writing, David saw potential I hadn’t even realized myself. He encouraged me to become a writing tutor for Makerspace, and just like that, my experience here took an unexpected turn. Now, instead of printing models, I get to craft stories. Instead of gears and circuits, I work with words, ideas, and the incredible people behind them. Every week feels like writing a fresh chapter of an ongoing novel—filled with interviews, interactions, and the raw creativity of my peers. Through blogs, I don’t just document projects; I get a backstage pass into the minds of makers, hearing the spark behind their innovations. Somewhere between these conversations and keystrokes, I’ve made friends, discovered inspiration, and, most surprisingly, fallen in love with creative writing. Ironically, no formal writing class ever showed me that. It only took three weeks at Makerspace to help me realize what I truly enjoy. The secret to thriving here? It’s not about having the perfect skill set. It’s about having ideas and the audacity to pursue them. Makerspace isn’t just a place to build things—it’s a place where creativity finds unexpected forms. And sometimes, all it takes is one person believing in you for you to start believing in yourself.

— Read: Divya’s blog posts

Alice Sore ‘27

The Makerspace is important to me because I love the opportunities it gives me to really explore the design process creatively and develop projects. Throughout my time in school, creative outlets for design like robotics and engineering have really engaged me because I enjoy the problem-solving nature of these fields, especially when it comes to iterating on physical prototypes and designing not just an object on a computer screen but something that can actually be held and used to solve a problem. The experience of working in the Makerspace is wholly unique on the Williams Campus, and I’m incredibly grateful to have a part in it.

— Read: Alice’s blog posts

Izzie Tarantino ‘28

Before I even applied to Williams, I knew I wanted to be a part of the makerspace. It was my dream to work with the people of the makerspace, surrounded by the whirring of 3D printers and vibrant LED lighting and the company of innovating people. I enjoy problem solving through physical designs, specifying each aspect to work with each other, accounting for moving parts, and making sure they work perfectly. Through the makerspace, I am able to learn new tactics and hone my skills while creating with intention. The makerspace is very community oriented, in which I have connected deeply with other makerspace workers, learning about their projects, their classes, their reasons for joining the makerspace. I have reached out to people on campus that I would not have interacted with otherwise, hearing about their visions. I love working on projects with the goal of making learning enjoyable for kids through moving parts and personalizable designs. I love bringing peoples’ ideas to life, allowing them to achieve more when assisted by 3D models and arduino motors. Through the makerspace, I am able to help others through innovation, which is life changing.

— Read: Izzie’s blog posts

Divine Uwimana ‘27

As a Makerspace student worker, I am learning a lot, not just hands on but also from the people with whom I work. I’m nourishing my creative and problem solving skills, my communicating, critical thinking skills and am getting well rounded skills in so many areas of my life that need to be developed. On top of that, it’s a space that gives you an opportunity to make mistakes and learn from those mistakes. The Makerspace is a platform for me to have an impact, especially working with the TIDE grant or any other project I’ll work on, and to not just make something, but to make something useful to other people. The Makerspace offers opportunities to explore so many things at once (i.e. 3D printing and robotics).

— Read: Divine’s blog posts

Milton Vento ‘26

My favorite thing about working in the Makerspace is that it provides a platform for hands-on, project-based learning where I can use both my hands and my mind to create something that has a lasting impact not only on myself, but also on others. I also get to practice soft skills such as project management, long-term and short-term planning, communication (verbal and written) as well as collaboration. The Makerspace offers a different kind of learning environment from classroom learning in that I get to drive a project from its beginning to end, deciding which parts to execute when and how, until eventually getting a finished product on which I can see my fingerprints. It combines learning and doing in a way I haven’t seen in most of my classes, which are mostly intellectual. Working in the Makerspace is almost like having an internship and getting an opportunity to work in the real world, producing something that other people can use. Taking ownership of a project nurtures intrinsic motivation which offers a different kind of perseverance. Upon grasping a new software or concept, using it becomes such an enjoyable experience that translates into mental wellness, thus allowing the space to boost your intellectual ability while supporting your mental wellbeing.

— Read: Milton’s blog posts

 

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