As we wrap up another academic year at the University of Washington, we have much to celebrate. I am deeply grateful to be marking this milestone with all of you – students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends and neighbors who make up our diverse and vibrant community.
Category: Presidential messages
Mourning the loss of Vikram Jandhyala
This has been a difficult quarter for our community. We’ve experienced several heartbreaking losses, including some recent tragic losses in our student community. Some of these losses have been private, and some well-known, and all are profoundly felt by the family and friends left behind. I’m deeply saddened to report another loss for our community. Vikram Jandhyala, UW vice president for innovation strategy, has died by suicide.
A tragic accident and a loss to our community *UPDATED*
We are all in shock and sadness over the death of a UW student after a tragic fall on the Seattle campus yesterday. I have spoken with the student’s father and my heart is with her grieving family and friends and all who knew her. This was a tragic accident, one that is felt very personally by me and all the UW staff who work to keep our campus safe, every day.
Honoring King’s legacy on our journey toward a more equitable world
This Monday, classes and the day-to-day business of the University of Washington will pause in annual remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr. He remains an enduring example of how one person can change the world. Although countless individuals — both famous and unsung — participated in the American civil rights movement, he provided the spark that ignited the movement. His life and work are the irrefutable proof that a lone voice can raise a chorus, a single step can inspire thousands to march, and unyielding resistance to injustice can be the foundation for lasting change.
Celebrating a year of impact
This year has been an incredible year of impact, full of amazing and inspirational UW stories — more than I could ever convey in a single message — and I hope you will explore a few of them in the links below.
Building a culture of inclusion and respect for all
At the University of Washington, our success as a community of students, faculty and staff depends on creating an environment that does not tolerate sexual assault, sexual harassment or gender-based harassment or discrimination. This requires building a culture of inclusion and respect for all, including all bodies, gender identities, orientations and expressions. The responsibility for building that culture lies with all of us — but it is especially incumbent upon those of us in leadership roles to set and maintain these standards.
To our community, new and returning, welcome!
There has been an undeniable uptick in our tempo over the past few weeks as we welcome new students, faculty and staff — and their families — to our community. To all of you, whether this is your first year at the UW or your 40th, welcome. You infuse the UW with a vast potential that is truly inspiring, and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together this year.
Through civil debate, we can tackle difficult issues (Updated)
This week, UWPD obtained credible information that groups from outside the UW community are planning to join the event with the intent to instigate violence. For the safety of campus visitors and others not associated with the events, several organizations have cancelled or postponed their campus events that day and access to Red Square will be limited. Your safety is important to us and we are taking precautions to ensure the Patriot Prayer event unfolds as peacefully as possible. However, I encourage you to avoid Red Square, and the surrounding area from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday to ensure your own personal safety.
Forging a bright future together
It was a year of peaks and valleys, the proverbial best of times and worst of times. But even at those moments of greatest uncertainty and fear, our community has risen to meet challenges with courage, ingenuity and empathy.
Committed to our DACA Dreamers
Today we learned that the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program will come to an end in six months unless there is legislative action to protect it. This decision could have extremely serious consequences for students on all three of our campuses who are an integral part of our community. I want to reassure every affected person that if DACA comes to an end, the University of Washington will do everything within its power to minimize the disruption to your lives and education.