It has been a busy year for the faculty, staff, students and alumni affiliated with the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity (OMA&D), and as the spring quarter begins I am pleased to share our stories about the outstanding work happening on campus and in the community.
Our students are winning national awards and working to implement a University-wide undergraduate diversity requirement. Our faculty are serving as mentors and helping students excel in their chosen fields. Our staff members are establishing endowments so students have the opportunity to pursue higher education. Our alumni are returning to network with current students and renovate campus buildings.
These stories are just a sample of what OMA&D has accomplished in recent months. Additional newsworthy items have surrounded our building projects. In October we broke ground on the new Ethnic Cultural Center and in January, the UW Board of Regents approved the proposal to name the new facility after the late Dr. Samuel E. Kelly. As the founding vice president for the Office of Minority Affairs, Dr. Kelly was a pioneer for diversity on campus. We are excited about this opportunity to recognize his contributions to both the University and the region.
In February we announced that the first phase of the UW Intellectual House should begin this spring with the design, followed by construction scheduled to start in the summer of 2013. Thanks to the financial support from the state, private donors and tribes, we will make the 40-year dream of building a longhouse-style facility on the UW campus a reality.
The next two months will feature two of OMA&D’s signature events. The eighth annual Samuel E. Kelly Distinguished Faculty Lecture featuring associate professor of sociology Alexes Harris will be held April 19 in Kane Hall. This year’s lecture will take place during UW’s campus-wide three-day celebration, HuskyFest. It is a great opportunity to come back to campus, engage with the community and take part in the UW’s 150th anniversary festivities.
We also hope you will join us for the 42nd annual Celebration, Fête and Honors at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel on May 10. This special evening will honor our outstanding student scholars and Gertrude Peoples, the 2012 recipient of the Odegaard Award. Thanks to our presenting sponsor Wells Fargo, all funds raised at the event directly benefit student scholarships.
As always, your generosity makes it possible for OMA&D to provide educational opportunity and access for students. We thank you for your continued support and welcome your input, so please remember to stay in touch and share your news with us as well.
Sincerely,
Sheila Edwards Lange
Vice President for Minority Affairs
Vice Provost for Diversity