Founded in 1994, MAP: UW Alumni of Color Network is dedicated to promoting diversity at the UW and in the UW alumni community.
Under the guidance of founding members Larry Matsuda, ’67, ’73, ’81, and Vivian O. Lee, ’58, ’59, MAP has taken a leadership role in addressing issues of equality and equity through scholarships, mentoring, lectures and Husky community outreach.
Scholarships and Awards
MAP Scholars
MAP: UW Alumni of Color Network is dedicated to promoting diversity at the UW and in the UW alumni community, and is proud to administer student scholarships every year. Learn more about the stellar students who have earned MAP scholarships over the years.
Tara Freeze
Deserée Lai
Owen G. Lee Scholar
Fikir Melku
Jasmin Rubalcava-Duran
Alfredo Arreguin Scholar
Allysa Valdez Rodriguez
Drs. Lois Price Spratlen and Thaddeus Spratlen Scholar
Tara Freeze
I am pursuing my master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Washington. My interest in the field grew through experiences working with children on the autism spectrum as well as witnessing my uncle’s journey with ALS, both of which deepened my commitment to helping others. I plan to work in a hospital setting, supporting patients and families with communication and swallowing needs.
Deserée Lai
Owen G. Lee Scholar
I am a first-generation college graduate, oceanography PhD student and mother. I have developed and scaled programs that expand undergraduate research access, a path that informs my commitment to equity in STEM. Focusing on community college and underrepresented students, I bridge my research in ocean science with advocacy for educational equity, endeavoring to strengthen pathways into STEM and expand who has a voice in shaping research.
Fikir Melku
As a student at the University of Washington pursuing a degree in Accounting, I am actively involved in NABA, MLT, and Black at Foster. I enjoy my role as a peer advisor, supporting fellow students, and I also work with the Brotherhood Initiative as a High School Peer Mentor, where I am dedicated to building community and creating opportunities for others. I’m pursuing a career in financial services and am excited to continue growing through professional experiences and mentorship.
Jasmin Rubalcava-Duran
Alfredo Arreguin Scholar
I am a proud Latina and first-generation college student from Auburn, WA, shaped by the hard work and dedication of my Mexican immigrant parents. Currently, I am pursuing my Masters of Social Work in the Advanced Standing program here at the University of Washington with a specialization in Public Policy. I am truly grateful for this scholarship award and the opportunity it gives me to further my academic journey.
Allysa Valdez Rodriguez
Drs. Lois Price Spratlen and Thaddeus Spratlen Scholar
Hello! My name is Allysa Valdez Rodriguez, and I am a rising senior at the University of Washington studying Public Health–Global Health. Growing up Mexican American in rural Eastern Washington and now as a first-generation college student, I witnessed the challenges Spanish-speaking families face in accessing healthcare, which inspired my dream of becoming an OB/GYN. At the UW, I found community and mentorship through programs like CAMP, Unidas Seremos and Chicanos for Community Medicine, where I now have the privilege of mentoring other first-generation students. My research in primary care has deepened my commitment to advancing health equity, and I hope to return to my community as a physician dedicated to providing culturally responsive care and being the representation other young students need to imagine themselves in these spaces.
MAP Distinguished Alumni Awards
MAP: UW Alumni of Color Network and the University of Washington Alumni Association have established awards to honor UW alumni as well as community members or organizations comprised of UW alumni. Selection is based on distinguished service and achievement over a period of years.
Elmer Dixon
Samuel E. Kelly Distinguished Alum
Tubman Center for Health and Freedom
MAP Community Organization Award
Roxanne Christian , ’07, ’11
MAP Distinguished Alum
Dr. Tracy M. Hilliard , ’00, ’03, ’10
MAP Distinguished Alum
Dr. Tyson E.J. Marsh , ’01
MAP Distinguished Alum
Elmer Dixon
Samuel E. Kelly Distinguished Alum
Elmer Dixon is a revolutionary for the 21st century with more than 38 years’ experience in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), sharing keen insights and cutting-edge programs relevant to business leaders and community activists alike. The executive trainer, author, and speaker draws from his life-on-the-line experiences as a Black Panther Party leader in the early movement days to his journey as an internationally renowned DEIB expert to convey the real “why” of the movement and its relevance to today’s growing need for more inclusive and equitable workplaces, societal divides and other pressing issues.
Elmer, who has more than 38 years of experience in DEIB, became president of Executive Diversity Services (EDS) in 2010. He parlays his knowledge of intercultural fields of study, inclusive best practices coupled with his revolutionary roots to lead the Seattle-based company’s diverse teams in designing and delivering impactful high-level training in cultural competency, organizational development, team building, and conflict management to more than 200 companies including Microsoft, Goodwill, The MacArthur Foundation, PepsiCo, United Airlines, JCPenney, U.S. Gypsom, the State of Washington, the City of Berkeley (Calif.), and Houston Methodist, one of the largest hospital organizations in the country among others.
He is also the current president of SIETAR USA (Society for Intercultural Education, Training, and Research) U.S., often presenting at SIETAR Europa Congresses on a variety of topics including Intercultural Conflict, Inclusive Leadership and the Challenges of Policing in Diverse Communities. Elmer’s 2023 TEDx Talk at the University of Tulsa is titled, “Stories from the Revolution’s Front Lines.” He has been a popular guest lecturer at JAMK University of applied Sciences in Finland for the past 13 years and taught at Espeme University, an undergraduate program of Edhec Business School in Lille and Nice, France.
Elmer’s new memoir, “Die Standing: From Black Panther Revolutionary to Global Diversity Consultant,” not only recounts his extraordinary journey from fighting for freedom, justice, and human rights while warding off assassination attempts to commanding executive boardrooms, but it sets the historical record straight about the Black Panther Party’s programs and legacy while providing lessons for today’s social justice activists about working for collective change based on the Party’s strategies and achievements.
In an era where DEIB is suddenly under attack and activism against oppression is steadily growing, Elmer Dixon’s story and teachings are profoundly relevant, applicable, and effective for change in 2025 and beyond.
Tubman Center for Health and Freedom
MAP Community Organization Award
The Tubman Center for Health & Freedom is building a transformative healthcare model by and for marginalized communities in our region. Drawing inspiration from the indomitable spirit of Harriet Tubman, Tubman Health works at the intersection of health and freedom by addressing both clinical care and systemic inequities.
The Tubman Health community-designed healthcare model fosters genuine community trust and provides integrative, compassionate care. Central to Tubman Health’s approach is the role of Tubman Guides, who offer personalized, concierge-style support, alongside initiatives focused on healing racial trauma and strengthening community connection. Tubman Health also actively engages in community-directed research and policy advocacy.
Tubman Health’s innovative model is already making an impact through the Freedom Clinic, their school-based health center at Rainier Valley Leadership Academy, and the Healing House — a sanctuary for health and wellness. In 2027, the organization will expand its impact with its 40,000 square-foot Center, poised to serve 12,000 primary care patients.
Roxanne Christian, ’07, ’11, serves as President at the Alliance for Education, the local education fund supporting Seattle Public Schools. A mission-focused, purpose-driven leader with over two decades of experience advancing equity through public education, philanthropy and community-centered partnership, Roxanne brings a unique blend of strategic thinking, relational leadership, and equity-informed practice to every aspect of her work.
Prior to joining the Alliance for Education, Roxanne spent almost 15 years at the University of Washington as an integral member of several fundraising teams, where she designed and implemented programs to help departments and executive leaders engage and cultivate principal relationships, maximize resources and promote best practices to foster effective and meaningful constituent interactions.
In addition to her extensive experience in development, Roxanne also brings a deep understanding of advancing organizations, while prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion. She has helped organizations and stakeholders understand the importance of utilizing their collective capabilities more deeply; to have a greater, more transformative outcome for those with the most barriers and least resources.
Roxanne Christian is a proud Husky with two degrees from the University of Washington, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies (EDLPS), intently focused on higher education and corporate social responsibility.
Dr. Tracy M. Hilliard , ’00, ’03, ’10
MAP Distinguished Alum
Dr. Tracy M. Hilliard’s story is one of profound dedication to racial equity and social justice, community engagement, and transformative impact that extends far beyond her academic and professional achievements. She earned a PhD in Health Services Research, an MPH in Maternal and Child Health Services, and a BA with Distinction in Sociology, all from University of Washington (UW). Dr. Hilliard is a trailblazer in community-centered research and evaluation, with a focus on promoting racial equity, racial healing, and systems transformation. She strives to shift power dynamics, so that historically marginalized communities are central in shaping the systems that impact them. As Co-Executive Director and Co-Founder of Lift Every Voice Evaluation, Research, and Strategy nonprofit consulting, she and her colleagues collaborate with philanthropy, nonprofits, and communities to maximize the outcomes of equity-focused social impact initiatives.
Dr. Hilliard’s legacy of leadership and service exemplifies her deep commitment to multicultural communities at UW and beyond. For over a decade, she led the UW Alumni Association’s Multicultural Alumni Partnership Scholarship Program. She is a past Chair and charter member of the Health Informatics Information Technology Section of the American Public Health Association and currently serves on the board of Building Changes, a nonprofit that promotes equitable responses to homelessness in Washington State. Additionally, she is deeply involved in community service through Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The Links, Inc., and is an alum of Leadership Tomorrow, Seattle’s premier civic leadership program.
Dr. Hilliard is passionate about mentoring students and professionals. She remains engaged in academia as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Child, Family, and Population Health at the UW School of Nursing, and as an Affiliate Researcher at the Center for Culturally Responsive Evaluation and Assessment (CREA) at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. A steadfast advocate for racial equity, community engagement, and data-informed system transformation, Dr. Hilliard utilizes her UW education to help individuals, communities, and organizations create meaningful and lasting impacts.
Dr. Tyson E.J. Marsh , ’01
MAP Distinguished Alum
Dr. Tyson E.J. Marsh, ’01, is Associate Professor and Director for the Leadership Development for Educators Program (LEDE) in the School of Educational Studies at the University of Washington, Bothell. His work as an international school leader coupled with his experience working in rural, suburban and urban schools in the United States inform his research focused on the political, historical, social, cultural and economic function of education and educational leaders in relation to Black and Indigenous communities. Dr. Marsh’s current work is focused on utilizing critical theories of race, class and gender to assist educators in understanding the coloniality of schooling, while developing their agency and commitment to community-centered approaches to teaching, learning and leadership.
Support MAP
You can help support MAP: Alumni of Color Network. Donate online to the MAP Endowed Scholarship Fund, which provides access and opportunity for economically disadvantaged UW students.
