In any given enrollment period at the University of Washington Bothell, students can choose among dozens of community-engaged learning and research opportunities. From STEM to disability justice, each class features hands-on partnership with organizations and people across Puget Sound.
How do faculty connect with the right community partners in the first place? And how do they build strong, enduring relationships with them?
Enter Dana Washington, community-engaged learning program manager in the Office of Connected Learning. Each year, she supports the University’s more than 100 community partners and collaborates with faculty across all five schools and first-year programs. The shared goal: provide meaningful opportunities for students to address real-world challenges.
“I like to say my core values are creativity, connection and community,” said Washington. “I’m a lovely little connector.”