UW News


February 15, 2024

UW’s Tateuchi East Asian Library celebrates recent renovations, reopening

man and woman examine old document

While visiting Seattle five years ago for a wedding, Chad Westra toured the University of Washington. He made his way to the third floor of Gowen Hall and discovered the Tateuchi East Asian Library with its sculpted, curved ceiling and bright, big windows. The library was “enchanting.”


December 28, 2023

Faculty Senate Chair Cynthia Dougherty brings awareness to faculty well-being

smiling woman

When Cynthia “Cindy” Dougherty has a difficult or frustrating day, she jogs around the University of Washington.


October 19, 2023

UW’s 2023 historic incoming class: one of the most diverse and at UW Bothell and UW Tacoma, the largest

campus overhead shot

The University of Washington’s newest freshman class is one of the most diverse in the school’s 162-year history, and UW Bothell and UW Tacoma are welcoming their largest incoming classes.


October 10, 2023

Fostering a more diverse faculty: How the new Vice Provost for Academic Personnel aims to build an office of ‘Faculty Success’

man wearing business suit

In 1996, two Kenyan scholars were awarded Fulbright Scholarships — honors the U.S. Department of State grants to promising young academics worldwide. Fred Muyia Nafukho, who joined the University of Washington earlier this year as the vice provost for academic personnel, vividly remembers the day he was called to the U.S. embassy in Nairobi.


June 6, 2023

UW celebrates Class of 2023 as thousands expected to march in events in Husky Stadium, the Tacoma Dome and T-Mobile Park

graduates celebrating

Months after the Class of 2023 began their college careers, the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, upending their lives. Now, on the eve of their graduation, they emerge into a world much changed by the global health crisis. 


May 25, 2023

UW’s Clean Energy Testbeds integral to Washington’s clean energy future

scientists working in a lab

A clean energy revolution is under way in Washington state, and the University of Washington is well positioned to be its epicenter.


May 17, 2023

DO-IT Center celebrates 30 years of championing students with disabilities, building community

students working at a computer

A decade ago, Dustine Bowker went to a pizza party at the Husky Union Building.

Then a junior at Roosevelt High School in Seattle, Bowker, who identifies as being on the autism spectrum, came to the University of Washington to learn about a program designed to help people like him. He had to learn to recognize social cues, he said, and adapt to fit into many situations.


May 15, 2023

Jayanth Panyam selected as Dean of the School of Pharmacy

head shot of man

University of Washington Provost Mark Richards today announced the appointment of Jayanth Panyam as the new Dean of the School of Pharmacy beginning Aug. 15, pending approval by the Board of Regents.


April 24, 2023

UW graduate and professional disciplines place highly in US News’ Best Graduate Schools rankings

cherry blossoms

The University of Washington’s graduate and professional degree programs were widely recognized as among the best in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Graduate Schools rankings released late Monday.


April 20, 2023

For Earth Day, UW eyes a carbon-neutral future

For more than 50 years, the University of Washington has recognized Earth Day by engaging students, faculty and staff in a variety of activities and events aimed at creating a more sustainable future.INFO BOX:
Learn more about Earth Day activities across all three UW campuses here.


April 12, 2023

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to address UW’s Class of 2023

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U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona will deliver the 2023 Commencement address for the 148th  ceremony, which takes place June 10 at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium.


March 20, 2023

Michael Spencer selected as next dean of the School of Social Work

head shot of a man

University of Washington Provost Mark Richards announced that Michael S. Spencer has been appointed the Ballmer Endowed Dean of the School of Social Work beginning July 1, pending approval by the UW Board of Regents.


March 16, 2023

$43 million set of gifts from Ballmer Group to bolster early learning programs in Washington state

teacher with students

The University of Washington today announced that it is part of a multi-pronged grantmaking strategy from Ballmer Group aimed at drawing more people into careers in early childhood education in our state — including by providing more than 1,500 scholarships over the next eight years.


December 12, 2022

UW’s Daniel Chen, ’22, named prestigious Marshall Scholar

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University of Washington alumnus Daniel Guorui Chen, Class of 2022, has been named a Marshall Scholar, one of the highest honors available to college graduates in the U.S. Chen plans to attend the University of Cambridge.


November 29, 2022

Dr. Gautham Reddy, Faculty Senate chair, outlines priorities for term

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Improving faculty dispute resolution policies, promoting ways to improve terms of employment for clinical faculty, reenvisioning the merit and promotion process for faculty on all three University of Washington campuses, and continuing to promote diversity, equity and inclusion practices are top priorities for this year’s UW Faculty Senate Chair Dr. Gautham Reddy, a professor in Department of Radiology in the School of Medicine.


October 26, 2022

UW is No. 6 in the world, according to US News Best Global Universities

university of washington sign

The University of Washington rose from No. 7 to No. 6 on the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Global Universities rankings, released on Tuesday. The UW maintained its No. 2 ranking among U.S. public institutions.


October 18, 2022

UW and SHA tap Bellwether Housing to build mixed-income development in U District

building rendering

The University of Washington and the Seattle Housing Authority today announced that Bellwether Housing has been selected to develop a mixed-income high-rise of about 240 units in the University District, pending approval by the UW Board of Regents.


October 14, 2022

UW’s 2022 entering class is largest and most diverse

students on campus

The University of Washington’s newest freshman class is the largest and most diverse in the school’s 161-year history.


September 27, 2022

Advancing safety at UW, in the community and beyond

campus image

As the academic year gets underway, the University of Washington’s public campuses are again bustling and busy with students, faculty, staff and visitors. While the focus is on academics, research, learning and building community, on any given day, there may be safety challenges and individuals who feel unsafe for any number of reasons.


September 26, 2022

UW’s incoming class, one of the university’s largest and most diverse, welcomed at New Student Convocation

students listen to convocation speaker

The University of Washington on Sunday held its 39th annual New Student Convocation, which returned to Alaska Airlines Arena, Hec Edmundson Pavilion, for the first time since 2019.


September 15, 2022

UW breaks ground on $102 million Interdisciplinary Engineering Building

groundbreaking

Wearing purple hard hats and using gold-plated shovels, officials from the University of Washington broke ground Thursday on a new, $102 million Interdisciplinary Engineering Building to be constructed along Stevens Way east of the Husky Union Building. Once complete, the state-of-the-art 70,000-square-foot building will be an example of a student-focused learning facility backed by both public and private investments. The project aims to fuel economic growth and create a pipeline of future, local engineering talent.


August 4, 2022

UW to construct new Interdisciplinary Engineering Building, expanding contemporary educational spaces for students

building exterior

The University of Washington will break ground this fall on a new, $90 million Interdisciplinary Engineering Building, thanks in part to a $10 million donation from Boeing. Once complete, the state-of-the-art building will be a leading example of a student-focused learning facility backed by both public and private investments. The state of Washington has also dedicated $50 million to support the project that aims to fuel economic growth and create a pipeline of future, local engineering talent.


July 27, 2022

Craig Wilson promoted to chief of UW Police Department

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Craig Wilson has been promoted to chief of police at the University of Washington Police Department, UW Vice President for Student Affairs Denzil Suite and UW Interim Vice President for Campus & Community Safety Sally Clark announced Wednesday. Wilson’s appointment is effective Aug. 1.


July 20, 2022

UW atmospheric sciences achieves No. 1 global ranking; nearly three dozen UW subjects in top 50

person stands in front of bright green wall

Eight University of Washington subjects ranked in the top 10 and Atmospheric Sciences moved to its position as No. 1 in the world on the Global Ranking of Academic Subjects list for 2022. The ranking, released Tuesday, was conducted by researchers at the ShanghaiRanking Consultancy, a fully independent organization dedicating to research on higher education intelligence and consultation.


July 5, 2022

Tamara F. Lawson named dean of the School of Law

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Tamara F. Lawson has been named to the next Toni Rembe Endowed Deanship of the University of Washington’s School of Law, Provost Mark A. Richards announced today. Her appointment, set to begin Aug. 16, is subject to approval by the UW Board of Regents.


June 30, 2022

André Ritter named dean of the School of Dentistry

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Dr. André Ritter has been named the next dean of the University of Washington’s School of Dentistry, Provost Mark A. Richards announced today. His appointment, set to begin Sept. 16, is subject to approval by the UW Board of Regents.


June 9, 2022

Faculty Field Tour resumes Monday after COVID pause, connecting faculty from all three UW campuses with Washington state

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In the fall of 2020, amid the COVID pandemic, Kara Wells began her career as an assistant professor of accounting at the University of Washington Bothell’s business school.


June 7, 2022

Burke Museum receives national award

museum gallery

The Burke Museum at the University of Washington in Seattle today announced it is one of six recipients of the 2022 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities. The award is given by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Burke Museum is the only institution in Washington to be selected.


June 3, 2022

UW graduation celebrations include 147th Commencement and Return to Husky Stadium festivities

campus mascot

Cue the band: It’s time for “Pomp and Circumstance.”

There will be flowing robes and purple-and-gold tassels. The gonfalons, symbols of the 16 colleges and schools that make up the University of Washington, have been unfurled and prepared. Campus is being adorned and the iconic Drumheller Fountain soon will again be cast in a purple glow.


April 22, 2022

Former UW Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences Robert Stacey to deliver address for classes of 2020 and 2021 on June 12

man in coat and tie

Former UW Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences Robert Stacey will speak to the graduates of the classes of 2020 and 2021 when they return to Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium for an in-person celebration on Sunday, June 12.


April 14, 2022

Rosalie Fish, student, athlete and activist, selected as Truman Scholar

two people

University of Washington junior Rosalie Fish has been selected for the prestigious Truman Scholarship, the third consecutive year that students from the UW were recognized with this national award.


April 13, 2022

UW names Tamara Michel Josserand VP for Development

portrait of woman at desk

Tamara Michel Josserand has been named Vice President for Development at the University of Washington, Senior Vice President for University Advancement Mary Gresch announced today. Josserand’s appointment begins May 31.  


Tony Award-winning producer and actor Ron Simons to deliver 2022 Commencement address

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Four-time Tony Award-winning producer Ron Simons, a University of Washington alumnus who is well known for his work on Broadway and in Hollywood, will deliver the 2022 Commencement address for the 147th ceremony, which takes place at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium on June 11.


March 28, 2022

UW graduate and professional disciplines again place high in US News’ best graduate school rankings

campus shot

The University of Washington’s graduate and professional degree programs were widely recognized as among the best in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 Best Graduate School rankings released Tuesday.


March 3, 2022

Mindfulness meditation can reduce guilt, leading to unintended negative social consequences

man sitting meditating

Mindfulness meditation is a stress-management practice with ancient lineage that cultivates nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment, often by directing attention to the physical sensations of breathing. Initially inspired by centuries-old Buddhist practices consisting of philosophies and meditations together, today a secular version of mindfulness — consisting of meditations alone — is becoming increasingly popular.


March 2, 2022

UW’s campuses in Seattle, Tacoma and Bothell announce the return of in-person commencement ceremonies

group photo

University of Washington’s 147th commencement ceremonies are scheduled to return this June to in-person celebrations in Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium for the first time since 2019. Similar in-person commencement ceremonies are being planned for UW Bothell and UW Tacoma.


March 1, 2022

UW celebrates 50 years of the Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center

building

Visit the University of Washington’s Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center once, and you’ll be impressed by its size, the historic murals and the number of resources available to students.


February 16, 2022

Faculty programs welcome most diverse cohort in recent UW history

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Angélica Amezcua never thought she’d achieve a doctoral degree, never mind landing a tenure-track job at the University of Washington. Raised in Mexico, she moved to California when she was 11, and she’s the first in her family to earn a Ph. D. She once believed that a career in academia was unattainable due to the obstacles placed in society for people of color.


February 9, 2022

New Center for Environmental Forensic Science aims to disrupt and dismantle international illegal wildlife trade

seized ivory

Across the globe, endangered species are at risk for illegal poaching. African elephants are sought out for their ivory, rhinoceros for their singular horns, and armadillo-like pangolins for their protective, brittle scales. Add to that list valuable and environmentally sensitive trees illegally harvested throughout the world where entire ecosystems are being deforested and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing that is devastating oceans. These illicit markets, estimated at $1 trillion annually, cause enormous environmental impacts and have the potential to unleash new, deadly pathogens.


UW and Amazon announce creation of the Science Hub

aerieal shot of UW

The University of Washington and Amazon today announced the Science Hub, an effort that deepens the relationship between the two organizations and will advance innovation in core robotics, artificial intelligence technologies and their applications.



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