Alumni Spotlight: Harrison Chotzen
- 02/17/2026
- Category: Alumni Stories Athletics Featured
More than a decade after graduating from Northwest, Harrison Chotzen (Class of '15) is clear-eyed about how his education within these halls prepared him for the road ahead. "It was a very rich and diverse education experience," he reflects. "The relationships with faculty were remarkable, both in terms of academic instruction and the more human lessons around compassion, humility, and other similar traits." He pauses as he remembers, and then notes, "Even ten years later, these continue to impact my life."
Chotzen currently works at Microsoft's main campus, where he has been employed for the past six years. "I work on the Windows security platform," he says. Recently back on campus to participate in our commemorative 45th-anniversary video, Chotzen relished the opportunity to revisit some memories of his time as a student at Northwest and visit with faculty.
As both a Middle School and later an Upper School student (2008-2015), Chotzen benefited from the full breadth of the Northwest experience, both inside and out of the classroom. In his current career, he recollects how the STEM and Humanities classes, in particular, helped him develop an appreciation for extending classroom instruction to real-world phenomena.
"When I reflect back on science and math at Northwest," he says, "the focus was on connecting content to the real world. For example, we connected differential equations to arctic ice recession – this ability to connect what we were learning with real-world issues and problems. My experiences in the STEM and Humanities classes played a huge role in shaping my critical and analytical skills, being able to see the nuance in complex situations."
The educational tools that I developed here enabled me to thrive in a competitive college environment. The liberal arts education and ethic inspired in me a love for learning. At Northwest, I learned how to learn.
After graduating, Chotzen went on to complete a BA in Computer Science and Economics at Claremont McKenna College. He credits his education at Northwest with preparing him well for higher education. "I felt right at home," he shares, "and the experience of being able to study across disciplines - STEM, Humanities, and the Arts - really prepared me for college. I was able to thrive in a competitive college environment, and the liberal arts education and ethic inspired in me a love for learning."
At college, Chotzen developed a deep interest in economics and computer science - this later paved the way for his career as a software engineer at Microsoft.
Chotzen looks back fondly on the dedicated and passionate faculty he encountered at Northwest, whose kindness and love for teaching shaped his perceptions of what he could aspire to and become. "My love for math grew more after Northwest, but I had really great experiences with my math teachers at this school," he recollects.
One particular incident - involving former NWS faculty Martha "Ann" Joyce (who passed away in 2025) - sticks with him. "I remember once in 8thgrade, I was working on a complex algebraic expression in an exam. It took longer than expected, and I wanted to complete it. But at the time, I wasn’t allowed to stay in class by myself. My teacher, Ann Joyce, waited with me an hour after class – and the fact that she was willing to do that really stuck with me."
Outside class, Chotzen immersed himself in our Athletics program and played both soccer and Ultimate while at Northwest. "This was a big deal for me," he discloses. "The soul of the Athletics program is the community that you build and self discovery." He draws clear parallels between the instructional and athletic experiences on campus, as well as how they combine to create a unique profile and sense of self.
"In the classroom, you’re building your identity on an individual level with your teachers," observes Chotzen. "In Athletics, this extends to discovering yourself through community and team building. It’s a great balance of looking inward and also to each other as you develop a sense of who you are and self."
His time as a Northwest athlete holds special meaning for Chotzen. "None of us had to be there," he shares, "but we showed up because of the shared passion and that created a special and enduring bond." He goes on to note a special accomplishment that reflects the school's storied ultimate frisbee track record. "Ultimate was the soul of the Athletics program and we took it very seriously. There was something magical about being a part of the team and being committed to the success of this program – showing up every day after school and working hard, but being there because you wanted to be there."
And it all paid off. "I played ultimate during my junior and senior years. My junior season, we were 15-0 - on the heels of a successful prior season - and we went on to win the state championship," he proudly notes.
Northwest still has an important place in Chotzen's life. "This community is remarkable," he says. "I still see friends from NWS weekly and play soccer with many of them." He smiles and adds, "Being a part of a constructive community continues to be a part of my life, many years after leaving the physical space."
