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Senate Republican Leader meets with UW leadership and takes STEM tour

Senate Republican Leader John Braun visited the UW Seattle campus yesterday to meet with President Ana Mari Cauce, learn more about the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, and receive an update on UW Medicine and the new Behavioral Health Teaching Facility.

Braun and Cauce discussed the impacts of COVID-19 on the UW community, the policies implemented in response, and resources available to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students and employees. They also discussed the UW’s supplemental budget priorities for the upcoming legislative session.

During the past few budget cycles, the state legislature made significant investments in high-demand STEM degree programs to help meet overwhelming student demand and the state’s workforce shortages in STEM fields. The UW’s Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering (CSE) was one recipient of state funds aimed at increasing enrollment and degree production. Braun met with UW College of Engineering Dean Nancy Allbritton and CSE Development & Outreach Associate Director Ed Lazowska to learn more about CSE’s programs and students. He also toured of the Paul G. Allen Center for CSE and the new Bill & Melinda Gates Center for CSE, which was funded in large part by the legislature.

Last, Braun met with UW Medical Center CEO Cindy Hecker to discuss UW Medicine’s critical role in the COVID-19 response and receive an update on construction of the new Behavioral Health Teaching Facility. UW Medicine and the Behavioral Health Teaching Facility received considerable state investments to deliver essential health care services to Washingtonians and train future providers.

Thank you, Sen. Braun, for your support of the UW and for taking the time to visit campus.