The UW is delighted to announce the recipients of the 55th annual University of Washington Awards of Excellence! The awards honor outstanding alumni, faculty, staff, students and retirees who contribute to the richness and diversity of our University community.
The awardees were honored at a ceremony in Meany Hall on June 12. The program included a one-hour ceremony hosted by President Ana Mari Cauce and Provost Tricia Serio, followed by a reception with refreshments where our community was able to connect with one another.
Do you want to nominate a UW colleague for an award? The next cycle of awards will open in early October of 2025.
2025 awardees
Distinguished Staff Award
Established in 1997, the Distinguished Staff Award honors outstanding staff members who contribute to the missions of their units and the University, respond creatively to challenges,
maintain the highest standards in their work, establish productive relationships with colleagues, and promote a respectful and supportive workplace. This year, awardees are being honored in the following categories: career achievement; collaboration; diversity, equity and inclusion; impact; and innovation.
Career Achievement
Leula Amaha, UW Facilities
Collaboration
Lara Muffley, Genome Sciences, School of Medicine; Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
MEDEX Northwest Admissions and Student Services Team
Tove Blake, MEDEX Northwest PA Program, School of Medicine
Roxana Palma-Orantes, MEDEX Northwest PA Program, School of Medicine
Kalee Lynn Warnimont, MEDEX Northwest PA Program, School of Medicine
Impact
Benjamin Hornburg, Chemical Engineering
Innovation
Colin Gioia Connors, Scandinavian Studies
David B. Thorud Leadership Award
The David B. Thorud Leadership Award is given to one UW faculty member and one staff member who demonstrate exceptional abilities to lead, serve, inspire and collaborate. First bestowed in 2006, the award is named in honor of David B. Thorud, who served the University in leadership positions for 25 years.
Munira Khalil, Chemistry
Margaret Shepherd, Executive Office of the President and Provost
Distinguished Librarian Award
Established in 2008, the Distinguished Librarian Award recognizes excellence in librarianship, especially as it benefits the academic community through teaching, research, learning and innovative approaches to practice.
Stephanie Lamson, Preservation Services
Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award
Since 1970, this award has honored a UW Alumni Association group or member who positively impacts both the Alumni Association and the larger University of Washington community.
Brad McDavid, UW Athletic Bands (ret.)
Distinguished Retiree Excellence in Community Service Award
This award is given to a faculty or staff retiree for the quality of the individual’s contributions, after retirement, in service to the community locally, regionally, nationally or internationally.
Jill Morrison McKinstry, University Libraries
Distinguished Teaching Award
Recipients of the Distinguished Teaching Award are chosen based on a variety of criteria, including mastery of subject matter, new ideas in course and curriculum design, enthusiasm and innovation in the teaching process, ability to engage students both inside and outside the classroom, and ability to inspire creative, original thinking in students.
Martine De Cock, School of Engineering & Technology, UW Tacoma
Keri DeGroot, Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine
Jasmine Jamillah Mahmoud, School of Drama
Laura W. McGarrity, Linguistics
Bryan White, Biological Sciences, UW Bothell
Brotherhood Initiative Instructional Team
Kandi Bauman, Brotherhood Initiative
Joe Lott, Educational Foundations, Leadership and Policy
Paul Metellus, Brotherhood Initiative
Siamak Vossoughi, Brotherhood Initiative
Ling Yeh, Brotherhood Initiative
CSE 121, 122 & 123 Launch Team
Kasey Champion, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering
Elba Garza, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering
Miya Natsuhara, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering
Hunter Schafer, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering
Brett Wortzman, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering
Distinguished Teaching Legacy Award
Created in 2017, this award celebrates the legacy of transformational teaching. It honors a UW teacher, living or not, who influenced and inspired students long after they left the classroom.
J’May Bertrand Rivara, School of Social Work
Excellence in Teaching Award
Presented since 1983, this award recognizes two graduate teaching assistants who demonstrate outstanding skills in the classroom.
Sourojit Ghosh, Human Centered Design & Engineering
Robert James Swan, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences
Distinguished Contributions to Lifelong Learning Award
This award is given to a full-time UW faculty member who has taught for at least two years in innovative non-degree programs sponsored by the University and designed for professional development, personal interest or career redirection.
Jason Daniel-Ulloa, Health Systems and Population Health; Global Health
University Faculty Lecture Award
Since 1976, this award has honored current or emeritus faculty whose research, scholarship or art is widely recognized by their peers and whose achievements have had a substantial impact on their profession and society. The recipient of this award delivers the annual University Faculty Lecture to share their creativity and scholarship with the greater UW community.
Douglas E. Wood, Surgery, School of Medicine
Excellence in Global Engagement
This award honors a UW community member whose teaching, research or community-building activities connect UW students, faculty and staff to global communities locally, nationally and internationally — establishing the honoree as a leader in global engagement. The award alternates each year between faculty and staff honorees.
Anu Taranath, English; Comparative History of Ideas
Marsha L. Landolt Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award
The Marsha L. Landolt Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award recognizes a faculty member who excels at the intense one-on-one teaching that is the hallmark of graduate study. First bestowed in 1999, the award honors the memory of Marsha L. Landolt, who served as dean of the Graduate School from 1996 to 2004.
Hannah C. Wiley, Dance
Outstanding Public Service Award
Since 1980, this award has recognized exceptional achievement in public service by a faculty or staff member.
Vadym Provozyuk, UW Information Technology
Distinguished Alumni Veteran Award
This award is bestowed on a graduate and veteran who has made a positive impact through community service and civic engagement.
Dana Curtis Covey, ’84, School of Medicine; U.S. Navy (ret.)
President’s Medal
Since 1932, the UW president has awarded a medal to the graduating senior who achieved the most distinguished academic record at the University for that year. In 2004, the president began awarding the medal to two graduating seniors: one who has completed at least three-fourths of their degree requirements at the UW, and one who entered the University with at least 60 transfer credits from a Washington community college.
Kerry L. Petit, Medical Anthropology & Global Health; Anthropology of Globalization
Gloria Shen, Neuroscience
Special Recognition
In lieu of the annual Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus award, this year, we honor our University’s 33rd president as she completes her final year in office. Since being selected for the role in 2015, she has had a transformative impact on the University of Washington.
Ana Mari Cauce, President, University of Washington