About Us
Contact Us
Office of Global Affairs
University of Washington
Box 351237
Seattle, WA 98195
E-mail
(206) 543-1839
Global Affairs
Douglas J Wadden
Executive Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Planning, Office of the Provost
310 Gerberding Hall
E-mail
(206) 543-6616
Kim T Dinh
Director, Finance and Administration, Office of the Provost
306 Gerberding Hall
E-mail
(206) 685-3283
Alicia Palacio
Assistant to the Executive Vice Provost
308 Gerberding Hall
E-mail
(206) 221-3958
International Programs and Exchanges
Peter K. Moran
Director, International Programs & Exchanges
134B Gerberding Hall
E-mail
(206) 685-4233
Carolyn Larson
Assistant to the Director
128D Gerberding Hall
E-mail
(206) 616-1427
Brent Barker
Travel Security and Information Manager
128E Gerberding Hall
E-mail
(206) 616-7927 (w)
(206) 601-7292 (c)
Lauren Jorelle
WUN Program Manager
128D Gerberding Hall
E-mail
(206) 685-7409
Michael Braly
Senior Computer Specialist
128B Gerberding Hall
E-mail
(206) 616-8427
Mission
The widespread consensus that the new century will be an era of unprecedented globalization is entirely correct. Technological changes now allow nearly instantaneous communication among an ever-higher proportion of the world's population, bringing diverse cultures together as never before. The collapse of the Soviet bloc has, for the first time in human history, created a truly global economic system based on transnational trade and investment. International institutions and global non-governmental organizations (NGOs) increasingly affect daily life in every part of the world. But these transformations are neither smooth nor uniform. Indeed, the most important challenges to peace and prosperity in the 21st century are also global in nature: transnational terrorism; the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; diseases such as HIV/AIDS, drug-resistant tuberculosis, and the H1N1 virus; environmental threats such as global warming; and social threats such as global poverty and inequality, exacerbated by financial crises that themselves become globalized with remarkable speed. The demand for citizens who understand the complexities of globalization and who possess effective skills for successfully and thoughtfully navigating diverse world cultures will grow rapidly in the coming decades. Universities must therefore strive now to encourage deep and sustained engagement with diverse international networks to promote research with global impact.
These combined challenges demand an intensified academic administrative engagement with global issues. In the absence of high-level administrative coordination, modern research universities cannot effectively coordinate their multiple activities in the global arena, leading inevitably to organizational confusion, costly duplication of efforts, and missed opportunities for interdisciplinary synergy. At the same time, an overly hierarchical approach to management of global affairs can stifle the spirit of creative discovery and innovation that is at the heart of the academic enterprise.
In response to these challenges, the Office of Global Affairs (OGA) serves as a central organizational hub connecting the diverse internal and external networks of scholars, students, and community leaders who are interested in international issues. OGA serves three main functions. First, OGA is a clearinghouse for scholarly research on global issues across campus units and departments, disseminating information about relevant faculty expertise, funding opportunities, and institutional ties abroad. Second, OGA provides a portal through which external stakeholders - including business leaders, representatives of local, regional, and national government, NGO activists, international alumni, and ethnic heritage communities - can learn about and participate in campus activities of interest to them. Third, OGA serves as a central guide to university rules and procedures governing study abroad, collaboration with international scholars, the conduct of global research, and the design and nurturing of foreign institutional partnerships. To facilitate these functions, OGA has five main areas of responsibility: administration of study abroad and exchanges; support for international research; oversight of UW's centers and offices abroad; management of UW international relations and protocols; and coordination of strategic initiatives in the key areas of global health, global environment, global technology, global development challenges, and global cultural change.
Advisory Council
The OGA Advisory Council is made up of representatives from each of the schools, colleges and branch campuses. The purpose of the council is to advise the Office of Global Affairs about important trends and developments in international activities.
| Daniel | Abramson | Associate Professor, Urban Design and Planning, College of Built Environments |
| Leigh | Anderson | Professor, Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs |
| Kirsten | Aoyama | Director, Global Business Center, Foster School of Business |
| John | Banks | Professor, Biology, Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences; Director, International Programs, UW Tacoma |
| Tim | DeRouen | Interim Dean, School of Dentistry |
| Gabriel | Gallardo | Associate Vice President, Student Services and Academic Support Programs, Office of Minority Affairs/Diversity |
| Chris | Gilman | Senior Director, International and English Language Programs, UW Educational Outreach |
| Marilyn | Gray | Assistant Director, Fellowships and Awards, Graduate School |
| Tracy | Harachi | Associate Professor, School of Social Work |
| Judith | Henchy | Head, Southeast Asia Section, University Libraries |
| Tom | Hinckley | Director and Professor, School of Forest Resources, College of the Environment |
| King | Holmes | Wm. H. Foege Chair, Dept. of Global Health, School of Public Health; Head, Infectious Diseases, Harborview Medical Center |
| Steve | Kerr | Professor, College of Education |
| Tony | Lucero | Program Chair and Associate Professor, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Jackson School of International Studies |
| Richard | Olmstead | Professor, Department of Biology |
| Brad | Portin | Director and Professor, Education Program, UW Bothell |
| Eve | Riskin | Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, College of Engineering |
| Sarah | Ross | Director of International Affairs, School of Nursing |
| Matthew | Saxton | Associate Dean for Academics, Information School |
| Jane | Simoni | Professor, Department of Psychology; Adjunct Professor, Department of Global Health |
| Andy | Stergachis | Professor, Department of Epidemiology; Department of Global Health |
| Sarah | Stroup | Associate Professor, Department of Classics |
| Kellye | Testy | Dean, School of Law |
| Julie | Villegas | Associate Director, University Honors Program, Undergraduate Academic Affairs |
Fact Sheet
- The University of Washington (UW) is an acknowledged international leader in the global health field. Washington Governor Christine Gregoire has stated that, "Washington is home to one of the most vibrant, visionary global health communities in the world." The UW Department of Global Health has over 200 faculty working in 50 countries around the world. Washington State's global health sector creates and supports over 43,000 jobs in Washington State and generates over $1.7 billion in salaries, wages and benefits annually. (Source: UW Department of Global Health; Economic Impact Assessment of Global Health on Washington State's Economy, 2007 [PDF])
- The UW sends over 2,000 undergraduate students on study abroad programs each year. We are ranked fourth in the United States among all institutions of higher education in this category. About 25% of UW undergrads have participated in some form of study abroad by the time they graduate (Source: Open Doors 2010 Report on International Education Exchange, issued by the Institute of International Education; UW International Programs and Exchanges Office)
- In 2010, the UW hosted 3,782 international students from 101 different countries, a 73% increase over the past ten years. The 11,232 international students studying in the state of Washington last year contributed over $256 million to the state's economy. (Source: UW International Student Services)
- The UW offers approximately 50 foreign languages during the regular academic year; the UW is the only university to teach all of the Baltic languages.
- The UW ranks 15th in the nation in the number of international scholars in residence - 1,667.
- The UW ranks 29th of the top 40 doctoral/research institutions hosting international students. (Source: IIE Open Doors 2010)
- The UW enrolls over 3,700 international students from over 100 countries. (Source: IIE Open Doors 2010)
- UW programs that attract the largest number of international students are engineering, business, life sciences, health sciences, and social sciences.
- There are over 80 university-wide exchange agreements that enable UW students to study in universities around the world.
- The UW is home to 9 federally-funded Title VI centers, the US government's highest recognition of expertise in specific regions of the world.
- The UW English Language Program, one of the largest university-based programs in the country, serves more than 2,500 students from over 40 countries.
- UW hosts more Integrated Graduate Education and Research Traineeships (IGERTs) than all Ivy League schools combined. IGERTs are funded by the National Science Foundation. Current programs include nanotechnology, urban ecology, astrobiology and Multinational Collaboration on Challenges to the Environment.
- Washington exports set a new record in 2008 by growing to $66.8 billion, a $13.8 billion increase since 2006. (Source: Washington Council on International Trade)
- Export markets are crucial to Washington State's farmers and ranchers. One-third of Washington-grown products are shipped overseas. In 2008, Washington agricultural exports reached $14.8 billion, an increase of 60% percent over 2007, and 116% higher than 2006! (Source: Washington State Department of Agriculture)
- Approximately one in three jobs in Washington is tied to foreign exports, and the pay for these jobs is about 46% more than the overall state average. (Source: Washington Public Ports Association).
- The UW ranks third in the top contributors of Peace Corps volunteers from undergraduate alumni. All told, 94 UW alumni served in 2010. (Source: Peace Corps 2011 Annual College Rankings)