Hi, I'm Kaylani!
I’m a Computer Science student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign interested in technology that makes people’s lives easier and improves how we interact with the world around us. Through my experiences in software engineering, student organizations, and teaching, I’ve gotten to explore different areas of CS and work with people who bring different perspectives and ideas. I’m also very passionate about increasing diversity in tech and helping more people feel welcome in the field. I’m always happy to connect, talk about what I’m working on, or learn about what others are doing! You can learn more about me through my LinkedIn profile or below.
Education
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a Minor in Game Studies and Design
May 2027
- GPA: 3.8/4.0
- Relevant coursework: Interactive Computer Graphics, Game Development, Data Structures, Systems Programming, Algorithms & Models of Computation, Computer Architecture, Programming Languages & Compilers
- Honors: Dean’s List, James Scholar, Legacy Learning & Service Scholarship, State Farm Computer Science Scholarship
- Campus Involvement: ACM@UIUC (Infrastructure Chair & Social Lead), HackIllinois (Co-Director), BUILT by Colorstack (Social Director), Adventure Club (Membership Director), Women in Computer Science (social team)
Work Experience
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
As a Course Assistant for CS 415: Game Development, I support hundreds of students developing games in Unreal Engine by troubleshooting technical, gameplay, and design challenges through office hours and individual guidance. I evaluate student projects and provide actionable feedback on technical implementation, functionality, and UI/UX design. I also collaborate with course staff to identify recurring student challenges and learning gaps, informing exam questions, course improvements, and grading standards.
Goldman Sachs — New York, NY
As a Software Engineering Summer Analyst on the Controllers revenue team at Goldman Sachs, I built a Kafka-based Java pipeline to consolidate hundreds of financial exception calculations into a few batch operations, reducing alert volume from hundreds to single digits during downstream service outages. I also automated the quarterly regulatory fund scoping process with AI to consolidate data from multiple sources and processes into a single workflow, increasing reporting efficiency and accuracy. During my job functions, I coordinated cross-functional teams through Kafka provisioning and security approval to unblock critical CI/CD deployments.
Girls Who Code - Remote
As a Lead Teaching Assistant for Girls Who Code, I taught programming and game development concepts through interactive daily lessons in p5.js to 300+ high school students, adapting the curriculum to match student needs and achieving 94% project completion. I mentored students through check-ins, feedback, and collaborative sessions to improve retention, confidence, and engagement!
Leadership Experience
Infrastructure Chair
As Infrastructure Chair for ACM at UIUC, I led the development of ACM’s internal management platform serving 1,000+ members, translating organizational needs into product improvements and achieving 99.9% uptime using React, TypeScript, and AWS Lambda. I gathered member feedback to identify usability improvements and led UX redesigns in collaboration with developers, increasing resource engagement by 26% and active membership by 14%. I also established Agile/Scrum and CI/CD processes across seven teams, improving coordination and streamlining release cycles.
Co-Director
As Co-Director of HackIllinois, I led 50+ staff members in planning and executing the Midwest's largest student-run hackathon, serving 800+ participants. I established weekly roadmap reviews and cross-team meetings to improve alignment and accelerate milestone completion. I managed event budget, logistics, and corporate partnerships, leading to a 53% increase in sponsorship prizes.
Projects
See my programming skills in action through my passion projects, ranging from fun games to play in your downtime to ways to organize your life!
Recipe Sorter - HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
- Built a data-driven recipe management platform focused on improving organization through real-time search and filtering
- Implemented dynamic filtering and sorting functionality based on user feedback, improving usability and personalization
- Automated data synchronization with Google Apps Script, eliminating manual updates and reducing maintenance overhead
Gamify - Java, HTML, CSS, TypeScript, Node.js, and Vue.js
- Designed and developed a productivity web app that uses gamification to encourage consistent task completion
- Built a dynamic achievement-tracking system with real-time progress updates and rewards to support user engagement
- Managed project milestones, task delegation, and feature integration across the development process
Whisper From the Forest - Unreal Engine Blueprints
- Designed gameplay systems and level progression, balancing exploration, pacing, and difficulty to improve player engagement
- Conducted playtesting sessions and incorporated player feedback to iterate on mechanics, usability, and overall experience
Skills
- Programming Languages & Libraries: C/C++, Java, Python, HTML/CSS, JavaScript, p5.js, Numpy, Pandas, SciPy
- Tools: Git/GitHub, Jira, Confluence, VS Code, IntelliJ, Docker, Notion, Canva, Figma, Unreal Engine, Unity, Devin, Excel, LaTex