In late 2020, Sylvester Johnson sat down with Alex Munro, Claudia Hasenfang, and Cole Powell, three members of the award winning design team of Virginia Tech students and recent alumni.  The team is responsible for the creation of the T.E.A.R. Mask, a prototype pocket-sized anti-tear gas respirator that protects the eyes, nose, and mouth from the harmful effects of tear gas. Its design is compact enough fit in a pocket or purse, and incorporates a simple operation of use that can be deployed quickly and safely.  As the designers highlight, the T.E.A.R. Mask exemplifies the human centered technological design practices that animate the university's Tech for Humanity initiative.