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OMA&D Remembers Francisco “Frank” Irigon (’76, ’79)
September 17, 2024
Francisco “Frank” Irigon died Thursday, September 12, 2024, at age 77. He passed away surrounded by his family after living with long-term heart disease. Irigon had many identities. He was a family man, a husband, father and grandfather. He was a veteran, executive director, newspaper founder, community builder and political candidate. He will be remembered by many as an activist,…
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Thank You – Your Support Made a Difference
May 16, 2024
Last night was an incredible evening! It was wonderful to be in community with so many, and to see in real-time the number of people who made a choice to support OMA&D and our Educational Opportunity Program students through giving. As I said last night, your presence was a welcome reminder that we are not alone in our work.…
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OMA&D Remembers Eddie Ray Walker
January 26, 2024
Eddie Ray Walker passed away on Monday, December 4, 2023. As a lifelong advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, especially in relation to Black-centered art and Black artists, Walker has left an indelible mark on the University of Washington. His actions as a student and throughout his life have helped shape the experience of thousands of OMA&D students over…
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Suquamish Tribe Chairman Leonard Forsman to Receive Charles E. Odegaard Award
January 9, 2024
The University of Washington Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity has announced Suquamish Tribe Chairman and UW Regent, the Honorable Leonard Forsman ’87, as the next recipient of the Charles E. Odegaard Award. As a long-time advocate for Native rights and civil rights, and the first American Indian appointed to the University of Washington Board of Regents, Forsman will receive…
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Mariama Suwaneh to Receive the Inaugural Spark Award
January 9, 2024
The University of Washington Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity has announced Mariama Suwaneh, ’17, as the inaugural recipient of the OMA&D Spark Award. As an actively engaged student at the UW and an avid community builder since graduation, Suwaneh embodies the diversity, equity and inclusion leadership that inspires young changemakers and exemplifies the spirit of the Charles E. Odegaard award.…
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Taking Back the Dinner: A Celebration of Native Cultures
December 15, 2023
Tuesday, November 21, 2023 was the annual Taking Back the Dinner – a celebration of Native cultures, an opportunity to raise awareness about issues affecting the Native community, and an event to honor rich Native customs and traditions. Organized by First Nations @UW, an undergraduate intertribal registered student organization, the event centered on a deep commitment to community education and…
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Remembering the Legacy of E.J. Brisker
November 15, 2023
Emanual J. (EJ) Brisker Jr., ’70, passed away on September 21, 2023, at the age of 80. The Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity and the University of Washington owe Brisker a debt of gratitude for his activism as a student, and beyond, that led to the establishment of OMA&D and laid the foundation for many of our access programs…
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2023 Samuel E. Kelly Distinguished Faculty Lecture Recap
November 6, 2023
On Tuesday, October 17, 2023, OMA&D held its annual Samuel E. Kelly Distinguished Faculty Lecture. This year, the lecture featured Dr. Joanne Woiak, Associate Teaching Professor for the Disability Studies Program at the University of Washington. Her lecture “Engaging Disability, Empowering History: Ethics and Politics of Disability History” highlighted the exclusion and erasure of disabilities from history and the impact…
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The Raap Approach
October 25, 2023
How Melissa Raap’s first-generation college student experience shapes her work today. Melissa Raap, MSW (’11) manages the University of Washington’s Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity Champions program. Champions serves students on the UW Seattle campus who are alumni of foster care or unaccompanied homeless youth by helping them navigate the challenging bureaucracies that come with being a student.…
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OMA&D Congratulates Alumna Evangelina Galvan Shreeve
September 18, 2023
The US Department of Energy announced earlier this month that Evangelina Galvan Shreeve (’89, ’96) will receive a 2023 Clean Energy Education & Empowerment Award from the Clean Energy & Empowerment (C3E) during the C3E Annual Symposium, Sept. 27-28. C3E a public-private sector collaboration focused on advancing women in the energy sector, led by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)…