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Accelerating our momentum at the University of Washington

Dear UW family,

Today I am honored to begin the interim presidency of the University of Washington — an institution that’s been the fabric of my professional and personal life for nearly three decades.

I think of this time as a launch point: a time when we will hasten our pace and accelerate the great work we are doing together. We are at an incredible moment in time for the UW and the state we serve so well. Our University is thriving, and its contributions to the region and our world have never been greater. We truly have incredible, boundless momentum, thanks to you — the people who make the UW a preeminent, life-changing, public university.

I said in my Town Hall last week that I believe the UW is both boundless and boundary-less: We are not about teaching or research. Our conversations aren’t about access or excellence. We aren’t local or global. We don’t serve just eastern or western Washington. The University of Washington serves the entirety of our state, our country and our world because our DNA is fortified by the ideas and ideals that shape our public purpose. Our promise is to serve everyone — and we do so in truly limitless ways.

Our faculty seek solutions to society’s greatest challenges — and lead the world in doing so through their research and teaching. Our students — from all walks of life and circumstances — believe anything is possible, and whether they are in engineering or English, computer science or sociology, they are preparing for careers that will be reinvented time and again. Our staff makes all of this possible — from those who recruit students and serve patients to those who make our campus environment beautiful and keep our laboratories clean and safe. And our community of friends and supporters are our catalyst and our partners: They care deeply about our impact on the world and on the lives of our students.

Together with the University’s talented and committed leadership team, I will continue to move our vision forward, supporting our students, faculty and staff as we work to make the world better for all. Thank you for your support. Boundless opportunities are ahead for the UW and those we serve.

Sincerely,

Ana Mari Cauce
Interim President
Professor of Psychology and American Ethnic Studies