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Undergraduate Academic Affairs

Author: Undergraduate Academic Affairs

Reviewed 9/22

“The Power of the River” is not Ed Taylor’s first book, but it is a first for him

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Portrait of Dr. Ed Taylor
Dr. Ed Taylor is the vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. His new memoir is “The Power of the River.”

Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, professor in the College of Education, academic author, scholar, board member of several international and community-based organizations and former college basketball player, will soon add memoirist to his long list of accomplishments. His memoir, “The Power of the River,” will be released by Seattle-based Hinton Publishing on April 21.

Taylor has been part of the University of Washington community since his days as a graduate student more than 30 years ago. In “The Power of the River,” readers learn about his journey from a childhood marked by loss in Lompoc, California, to his rise as an educator, scholar and leader. Along the way, he invites readers into a story grounded in community, shaped by pivotal relationships and sustained by a search for meaning in the face of adversity.

Image of the book cover featuring a sepia-toned photo of a small child and adult woman fishing by a river.
“The Power of the River” is Ed Taylor’s memoir.

In “The Power of the River,” Taylor writes in a way that is self-reflective and personal yet expansive and universal at the same time. It is a story about what it means to belong, to be guided and to grow. Through moments of doubt and determination, from navigating the pressures placed on young Black men in collegiate athletics at Gonzaga University to finding purpose in higher education, Taylor offers readers a deeply human story about becoming. His examination of mentorship, community, education and growth offer points of connection that can open pathways forward.

At a time when higher education is under fire, Taylor’s story demonstrates the purpose and potential universities can have in individuals’ lives and in the lives of our communities.

Several public events are scheduled to celebrate Taylor’s book.

Public events

Book Launch Celebration at the Northwest African American Museum
April 29, 2026 // 7:00 p.m.
In conversation with Reggie Brown.
RSVP to this event.

Third Place Books Ravenna
May 7, 2026 // 7:00 p.m.
Q&A with Taylor to follow his book talk.

Elliott Bay Book Company
May 22, 2026 // 7:00 p.m.
In conversation with Enrique Cerna.

Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum
June 2, 2026 // 6:00 p.m.
In conversation with Colleen Echohawk.

CELE Center a leading partner in national recognition for community engagement

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The UW recently earned again the Carnegie Foundation’s designation of being a community-engaged campus. As a longtime leader in community engagement work, Undergraduate Academic Affairs is proud to be an integral part of this recognition. The Community Engagement & Leadership Education (CELE) Center, housed within UAA, is a primary coordinator at the UW for community-engaged learning, partnership development and student civic leadership. The Center’s broad work enabling student involvement in community engagement across campus was pivotal in achieving the Carnegie re-classification.

Celebrating the 2024–25 Undergraduate Medalists

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From the thousands of undergraduate students at the University of Washington, three are selected each year for the prestigious President’s Medalist Award. Kaytlin Rose Vanderhorst, Carilyn Brandt and Luna Crone-Barón are the medalists for 2024–25, selected by a committee for their high GPAs, rigor of classes and number of Honors courses.

UW undergrad Parker Ritzmann earns international Schwarzman Scholars fellowship

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University of Washington senior Parker Ritzmann, has been selected as a Schwarzman Scholar, one of the world’s most competitive graduate and fellowship programs. Schwarzman Scholars will pursue a one-year, fully-funded master’s degree in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

First Year Programs announces new name: New Student & Transfer Programs

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The name of First Year Programs has recently changed to New Student & Transfer Programs. The updated name more accurately reflects the work of the unit and the full range of first-year and transfer students it serves at the University of Washington. The change aligns with a University-wide shift in language and provides clarity as the UW adopts more inclusive terminology around student populations.

Vice Provost and Dean Ed Taylor talks with a student in front of a Dawg Daze banner, with other students in the background.
New Student & Transfer Programs supports incoming Huskies through academic transitions and community-building programs.

For more than two decades, First Year Programs has played a central role in supporting new undergraduates as they transition into the UW. Through orientation, first-year and transfer seminars, peer-led programs and other efforts that help students find community and connect with campus resources, First Year Programs has helped thousands of Huskies navigate their academic and social pathways. The move to New Student & Transfer Programs recognizes both the continued evolution of the unit’s work and its long-standing commitment to all new undergraduates.

“Our new name makes it clear that every student’s entry point into the UW matters,” said LeAnne Jones Wiles, executive director of New Student & Transfer Programs. “Whether students are arriving straight from high school or transferring from another institution, we are here to ensure they feel seen, supported and connected from day one.”

In August 2025, the Office of Admissions formally shifted from using freshman to first-year, bringing UW terminology in line with peer institutions across the country. The change reflects national trends in equitable and inclusive language and clarifies how the University defines first-year and transfer students. As a result, the name First Year Programs no longer accurately represented the broad population the unit serves, including students entering directly from high school and students transferring from other colleges and universities.

New Student & Transfer Programs facilitates Advising and Orientation, Dawg Daze, First Year Interest Groups (FIGS), Transfer Seminars, and the Commuter and Transfer Commons (located in the Husky Union Building). These programs help students build relationships, understand academic expectations and establish a strong foundation for their time at the UW.

Learn more about New Student & Transfer Programs at nstp.uw.edu.

UW alum Evan Siu named Schwarzman Scholar

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University of Washington alumnus Evan Siu, ’23, has been selected as a Schwarzman Scholar, one of the world’s most competitive graduate and fellowship programs.

Siu, who earned a bachelor’s degree in informatics, joins the program’s 10th class of 150 scholars chosen from nearly 5,000 applicants worldwide. Schwarzman Scholars will pursue a fully funded master’s degree in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing, where they will study China’s role in global trends alongside leaders in business, technology and policy.

“Whether through software, policy, investment or classrooms, my goal is to widen access through technology to finance, information and trade networks so geography isn’t the limiting factor in human potential,” Siu said. “I’m excited to walk that path with my classmates, giving as much as I learn from all of them.”

Photo of Evan Siu
In Beijing, Evan Siu, ’23, plans to engage with China’s technology sector and explore the region’s design, consumer services and global economic connections.

Siu is an associate product manager at Visa in San Francisco, where he has supported products across AI-powered fraud and identity, cross-border payments, small-business tools and cryptocurrency. He now works with Visa Ventures, helping shape the firm’s strategy for investing in fintechs and startups worldwide.

“My professional experiences have shown me how financial technology can bank the unbanked, reduce barriers in commerce and make interactions between nations more seamless,” Siu said. “I hope to apply those lessons to deepen U.S.–China collaboration.”

At the UW, Siu combined his informatics studies with leadership roles in entrepreneurship and technology communities. He was active in the Lavin Entrepreneurship Program, DubHacks Next, UW Blockchain Society, UW Consulting Association, and helped open undergraduate access to the Creative Destruction Lab during its inaugural year on campus.

Born in the United States and Chinese by ethnicity, Siu traces his passion for U.S.–China exchange to a middle-school trip to Shanghai, where QR-code payments first showed him how technology could simplify everyday life.

With the incoming class, the Schwarzman Scholars network includes more than 1,300 members from 104 countries and 459 institutions. Alumni of the program are leading across industries and working together to address urgent global challenges. This year’s record-high number of applications demonstrates young leaders’ growing investment in understanding China and shaping the future of global cooperation.

About the Schwarzman Scholars Program

The Schwarzman Scholars is an elite scholarship program founded in 2013 by Blackstone Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO Stephen A. Schwarzman. The program was created to respond to the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century by preparing the next generation of global leaders.

Up to 200 scholars are selected annually from a broad range of backgrounds, including business, technology, science, politics, healthcare and more. 

About the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards

The Schwarzman Scholars Program process is supported by the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards (OMSFA), a UAA program. OMSFA works with faculty, staff and students to identify and support promising students in developing the skills and personal insights necessary to become strong candidates for this and other prestigious awards.

Four UW undergrads awarded Fulbright scholarships to study, teach and conduct research abroad

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Four University of Washington undergraduates have been awarded Fulbright scholarships for the 2025–26 academic year, joining three other UW students and alumni selected for the prestigious international program. They join about 2,000 recipients nationwide who will pursue graduate study, conduct research or teach English abroad.

This year’s undergraduate awardees will travel to Germany, Mexico, Tajikistan and the United Kingdom to engage in research, teaching assistantships and advanced study in the arts.

Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright Program is the nation’s flagship international exchange initiative, supporting students in building global connections through education, service and scholarship.

Seven UW students and recent alumni were selected for Fulbright exchange awards. Top row: Emily Bassett, Thomas Key, Vincent Da, Elana Skeers. Bottom row: Sabrina Prestes Oliveira, Jack Regala and Annabella Li. Photo: University of Washington

Explore the full story from UW News.

About the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards

The Fulbright application process is supported by the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards (OMSFA), a UAA program. OMSFA works with faculty, staff and students to identify and support promising students in developing the skills and personal insights necessary to become strong candidates for this and other prestigious awards. The UW campus application process for students interested in Fulbright U.S. Student Programs (and other scholarships supporting graduate studies around the world) will get started this spring. Watch for updates about OMSFA’s Global Fellowships Prep program.

 

41 UW undergraduates awarded Gilman International Scholarship

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The U.S. Department of State has recognized the University of Washington for producing 41 recipients of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship during the spring 2025 cycle. The Gilman Scholarship supports U.S. undergraduates with financial need in studying or interning abroad. The UW’s strong showing reflects the University’s commitment to expanding global learning opportunities for all students.

New opportunity for early-career undergraduates to engage in research

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Undergraduate Academic Affairs is delighted to announce the Undergraduate Research Collective, a new paid opportunity for undergraduates with no prior research experience to connect to research in their first and second years at the University of Washington. Leaders in the Office of Undergraduate Research are the program’s visionaries, architects and builders. Startup funding is provided in part by the Ana Mari Cauce Fund for Undergraduate Research, a new giving opportunity to honor President Cauce for her leadership in and support of undergraduate research.

Undergraduate research is one of the most impactful experiences available to students, benefiting students during their time at the UW and well beyond graduation. Students who participate in research often report it reinforced what they are learning in the classroom; increased their ability to think critically; engendered a sense of pride and purpose in being involved in work that contributes to the public good; and built a foundation for their future careers. As one of America’s leading public research institutions, the UW offers first-in-class opportunities for undergraduate research.

Undergraduate researchers present their posters during the Undergraduate Research Symposium in Mary Gates Hall.
Students showcasing their research across a variety of fields at the Undergraduate Research Symposium. Students participating in the Undergraduate Research Collective will present their research at the end of their second year in the program. Photo: Photo by David Ryder

“We see the way students light up when they connect with research — many share that their experiences were transformative,” says Sophie Pierszalowski, director of the Office of Undergraduate Research. “That said, research opportunities can be competitive and challenging to access for early career students without prior experience. These students are the future of research — our legacy of research excellence starts with them.”

The Undergraduate Research Collective is a cohort-based, two-year program designed for first- and second-year students and first-year transfer students with no prior research experience. It aims to improve systems and increase access to research for early-career undergraduates. Additionally, students in the Collective receive an $8,000 scholarship over the two years of the program.

In the first year, students develop relationships with their cohort; receive advising from the Office of Undergraduate Research; participate in a weekly seminar focused on research preparation and community-building; and are matched with and develop an onboarding plan with their faculty mentor. More than 20 faculty mentors from across disciplines have signed on to support undergraduates through the Undergraduate Research Collective.

In the second year of the program, students work on a research project with their faculty mentor for five to 10 hours per week; participate in cohort-based professional development workshops and events; and present their project at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Startup funding is key and is provided by the Mary Gates Endowment and the Ana Mari Cauce Fund for Undergraduate Research. The Mary Gates Endowment is one of the University’s largest endowments for undergraduates. The Ana Mari Cauce Fund was established by friends, colleagues and admirers of the outgoing UW president to honor and recognize her long-standing commitment to undergraduate research. Throughout her decades-long career at the UW, President Cauce has mentored and been influenced by undergraduate researchers and is a stalwart champion of broadening access to undergraduate research opportunities.

“Undergraduate students involved in research have the opportunity to consider questions and problems that matter,” said Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. “The experience begins with finding their passion, thinking critically about important issues, then applying those insights toward resolving real problems. Guided by mentors and inspired by the legacy of President Cauce, UW students involved in research push the boundaries of knowledge and contribute directly to improving the lives of individuals, communities and our society writ large.”

The pilot phase of the program will support 20 students. According to Pierszalowski, “The Office of Undergraduate Research envisions a future where capacity and infrastructure for early career undergraduate research programming at the UW continues to grow. We hope to partner with departments, research centers, individual donors and other research organizations who understand the value of this work and want to help grow this interdisciplinary effort to engage early career students in research through supportive and accessible pathways.”

Applications for students to participate in this first cohort are open through July 21. Visit the Office of Undergraduate Research’s website to learn more and apply.

The Undergraduate Research Collective two-year pilot is largely funded by donations made to celebrate President Cauce’s leadership and legacy. Visit our fundraising page to learn more about how you can support this program.