Haya Qureini Bridges Art and Engineering

At UMKC, the students are our story. Look, listen and learn about us through interviews, photographs and videos of our students. Read the rest of the student stories and go to our tumblr site and follow.

NEW! We’ve started the next chapter of our student storytelling series, Dynamic Duos, about faculty and staff mentorship.

We’d love to hear from you at mcom@umkc.edu about students, faculty and staff who have great stories to share.

HAYA QUREINI

Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering | Bachelor of Science in Computer Science | School of Computing and Engineering | Minor in Studio Art | College of Arts and Sciences | 2017

You’re double majoring with two School of Computing and Engineering degrees with a minor in a studio art. How did that come about?

I grew up involved in the arts (she graduated from Lee’s Summit High School). My siblings were into it, and my parents encouraged it. But my siblings didn’t follow through with art when they were in college. I didn’t want to give it up. My dad is an engineer and he opened his own company. I was always watching him take things apart and put them back together. I want to bridge art and engineering together. To me, there’s no barrier between them.

Have you created anything that fuses art and engineering?

Websites. The interface should be artful and engaging. But to function correctly, it needs the coding behind it.

What motto do you live by?

“The walls between art and engineering only exist in our minds.” — Theo Jansen.

Where’s your favorite spot at UMKC?

The School of Computing and Engineering Student Council office. I’m the president. It’s a great spot to collaborate.

How has your college program inspired you?

It has inspired me to keep persevering through all the difficulties I come upon. All of my professors and classmates have proven to me that giving up is not an option when trying pursue my dreams, and I couldn’t be more thankful. The feeling of success outdoes the feeling of wanting to give up by a landslide.

Since entering college, what have you learned about yourself?

I’ve learned that knowing what my passion is, in itself, can motivate my success.

What’s your dream job?

I envision something that combines arts and engineering in an innovation lab. There are two places in Kansas City that are my dream companies. Barkley (advertising agency) in Kansas City has Moonshot Lab, and Dimensional Innovations in Overland Park.

What do you admire most about UMKC?

I admire the diversity at UMKC the most. I am able to come to school every day and interact with individuals from different countries, cultures and ethnicities.

What’s your greatest fear?

I fear not having the opportunities to pursue other passions outside of school due to prioritizing academia.

What do you pursue outside of UMKC?

I love to do hand-lettering. I help set up antiques for Bella Patina in the West Bottoms for First Fridays.

What is one word that best describes you and why?

Multifaceted. There are a lot of characteristics, interests and abilities that I have that have made me the individual I am today.