“Life is like a camera. Focus on what’s important, capture the good times, develop from the negatives, and if things don’t work out just take another shot.”

Originally from Bakersfield, CA, Jenna Rasmussen began as a photographer intent on capturing the moment and preserving it to connect with her community while documenting history. Seattle Pacific University provided an art base to integrate her photography background with design. While at SPU, Jenna participated in ROTC, which revealed how putting others first could ignite the purpose to build connections with others. After being diagnosed with an unexpected heart condition, her ROTC experience concluded but she was introduced to her life’s mission of empathy-based design in medical care. This has led her to co-lead a team to develop an app for children with diabetes to manage and learn about their diagnosis. Further plans to pursue this project after college in conjunction with Seattle Children’s Hospital are to complete the app. A community builder, Jenna relies on her audience’s experiences to shape her designs and call others to action. She is excited to expand her knowledge on how empathy design affects people emotionally, physically, and cognitively in the future after college in the next chapter of her life.