Each year, from September 15 to October 15, our University of Washington community joins the nation in honoring National Hispanic Heritage Month, taking time to recognize and celebrate the impact and contributions of Americans whose family origins, like my own, are in Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
Presidential Blog
Welcome to the start of an exciting academic year
The academic year ahead of us is especially rich with opportunities for all of us to get engaged in learning, discovery and public service. As one of the world’s leading public research universities, the UW creates and accelerates change that betters the world both broadly and deeply.
Urgency of climate crisis motivating action across the UW
Meeting our goal of mitigating climate change and the impact of our own university operations and practices will require us to work together. We are stronger when we collaborate, and I look forward to making this progress as a University community.
Excited for what our move to the Big Ten will bring
As we announced this afternoon, the University of Washington will be joining the Big Ten Conference starting with the 2024-25 season. This is an exciting time for our student-athletes, our fans and our University. The Big Ten is a leading athletic conference with excellent athletic and academic traditions, and a strong future.
Affirmative action ruling won’t change our values or our mission
The recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that effectively ends affirmative action in college admissions does not change our commitment to creating opportunity and expanding access to a world-class education for students from all backgrounds.
In the face of challenges, let’s keep working and celebrating this Pride Month
Pride Month brings a special sense of joy. It’s a time to reflect on the progress that LGBTQIA+ people and communities in our nation have made in the decades since the Stonewall Uprising, a journey that began with courageous defiance and has evolved to include unabashed celebration.
Juneteenth is a chance to celebrate progress and continue the movement toward equality
Juneteenth is our shared opportunity to embrace those parts of our society that embody our highest aspirations for equity, justice and inclusion, while also continuing to work for change that is urgently needed.
In a season of milestones, I’m grateful for our year of great work together
Although the academic year is ending, our work and mission continue, whether that’s here at the UW or as part of a new chapter. And congratulations to all our graduates – we are so proud of all that you have accomplished in earning your degrees.
Celebrating AANHPI Heritage Month and honoring cultural heritage for a more equitable future
This month, as we celebrate National Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month, our community is coming together to honor the outstanding and wide-ranging impact that our Asian American and Native Hawai’ian and Pacific Islander students, faculty, staff and alumni contribute to our University and the public we serve.
Digital accessibility benefits everyone by creating a more inclusive experience for all
Digital access and inclusion are crucial to being able to do our best work in a welcoming environment. This we week launched a centralized accessibility website that will serve as a digital front door to accessibility at the UW.