The UW is delighted to announce the recipients of the 56th 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 will be honored at a ceremony in Meany Hall on Thursday, June 11. The program includes a one-hour ceremony hosted by President Robert J. Jones and Provost Tricia Serio, followed by a reception with refreshments and community connection.
Do you want to nominate a UW colleague for an award? The next cycle of awards will open in early October 2026.
2026 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; impact; inclusion and belonging; and innovation.
Career Achievement
Danielle Woodward, Assistant Director, Social Development Research Group, School of Social Work
Collaboration
Traci Townsend, Program Operations Specialist III, Wireless Design and Architecture, UW Information Technology
Impact
Lisa Norton, Director of Licensing, Physical Sciences & Engineering, CoMotion
Inclusion and Belonging
Angela Ott, Fiscal Specialist, Payee, Mental Health and Addiction Services, Harborview Medical Center
Innovation
Undergraduate Advising Centralization Leadership Team, UW Bothell
Claire Grant, Assistant Director of Advising, Navigate 360, Undergraduate Academic Advising, UW Bothell
Garick Sherburn, Assistant Director of Advising, Marketing and Communications, Undergraduate Academic Advising, UW Bothell
Nhi Phuong Tran, Assistant Director of Advising, First Year Programs, Undergraduate Academic Advising, UW Bothell
Jessica Trenkamp, Assistant Director of Advising, Hiring and Training, Undergraduate Academic Advising, UW Bothell
Suzanne Yates, Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Academic Advising, UW Bothell
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.
Suzanne Allen, Vice Dean, Academic, Rural and Regional Affairs, School of Medicine
Santhi Perumal, Vice Chancellor, Planning & Administration, UW Bothell
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.
John Vallier, Curator, Ethnomusicology Archives, Special Collections, University Libraries
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.
Gregg Blodgett, ’76, Michael G. Foster School of Business and College of Arts & Sciences; CFO, Phamis, Inc. (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.
Sandy Moy, Director, University Computing Services (ret.)
Distinguished Teaching Award
Recipients of the Distinguished Teaching Award are chosen based on the degree to which they exemplify an iterative, reflective teaching practice with evidence of pedagogical experimentation and refinement over time; commitment to inclusive teaching and mentoring and valuing students’ experiences; dedication to creating transformative learning experiences that foster deep reflection and critical inquiry; and service as a mentor, collaborator and consultant on teaching-related matters to other faculty or teaching assistants.
Megan Callow, Teaching Professor, English, College of Arts & Sciences
Hannah Jordt, Associate Teaching Professor, Genome Sciences, School of Medicine
Wes King, Assistant Teaching Professor, Information School
Jill Purdy, Professor, Milgard School of Business, UW Tacoma
Georgia M. Roberts, Lecturer, American Ethnic Studies, School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, UW Bothell
Casey J. Self, Teaching Professor, Biology, College of Arts & Sciences
Collier-Otten-Spiker Teaching Team
Sarah Collier, Assistant Professor, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health; Core Faculty, Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health, School of Public Health
Jennifer Otten, Professor, Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health
Marie Spiker, Assistant Professor, Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health, Epidemiology, School of Public Health
Community-Engaged Civil Engineering and Urban Design Capstone: Students’ Vision for Campus Masterplan Team, UW Tacoma
Nara Almeida, Assistant Teaching Professor, Civil Engineering, School of Engineering & Technology, UW Tacoma
Bára Šafářová, Assistant Professor, Urban Design, School of Urban Studies, UW Tacoma
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.
Edward D. Lazowska, Bill & Melinda Gates Chair Emeritus, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering
Excellence in Teaching Award
Presented since 1983, this award recognizes two graduate teaching assistants who demonstrate outstanding skills in the classroom.
Rachael Herren, Doctoral Candidate, Theatre History and Performance Studies, School of Drama
Jennifer Zheng, Doctoral Candidate, Communication, College of Arts & 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.
Rebecca M. Price, Professor, School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, UW Bothell
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.
Noah A. Smith, Professor, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering
Excellence in Global Engagement Award
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.
James Sherrell, Program Specialist, EthnoMed, Harborview Medical Center
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.
Anjum Hajat, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, School of Public Health
Outstanding Public Service Award
Since 1980, this award has recognized exceptional achievement in public service by a faculty or staff member.
Scott Bingham, Executive Director, Computing and Productivity Platforms, 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.
Elizabeth Bridges, ’91, ’98, School of Nursing; Colonel, U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps (ret.)
Alumna Summa Laude Dignata
This honor, first bestowed in 1938, is awarded to a former UW student whose achievements have earned them national or international prominence. It is the highest honor the University can bestow on any graduate.
Mary E. Brunkow, ’83, College of Arts & Sciences; Distinguished Investigator, Institute for Systems Biology