Four UW students received Goldwater Scholarships this year, highlighting their work in environmental science, bioengineering and neuroscience. The award is another recognition of the University’s commitment to undergraduate excellence and research.
Category: News
Content that has a shorter shelf life and is less likely to be republished over time.
“The Power of the River” is not Ed Taylor’s first book, but it is a first for him
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.
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.
Celebrating the 2024–25 Undergraduate Medalists
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
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.
Strong partnership bridges the distance
Since its founding, the University of Washington’s Robinson Center for Young Scholars has served academically advanced students across the region. Yet for many Auburn School District families, those opportunities remained out of reach. The barrier was never a lack of talent or curiosity. It was access.
Serving through Honors: Grounded in tenacity, focused on service
For Bella Boulter, serving through Honors meant looking beyond the code to the people behind the UW’s systems. Through her Honors experiential learning internship with the Office of the University Registrar, she examined how technology shapes the student journey — and helped lay the groundwork for a new innovation lab where students can build tools, test ideas and create a more accessible Husky Experience.
First Year Programs announces new name: New Student & Transfer Programs
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.
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 undergrad named 2026 Rhodes Scholar
University of Washington senior Shubham Bansal, ’26, has been named a 2026 Rhodes Scholar, one of the most prestigious academic awards for U.S. students.
UW opens the Transfer Center
Transferring to the University of Washington is a major milestone for thousands of Huskies who start at Washington’s community and technical colleges. This fall, the UW is opening the Transfer Center in Mary Gates Hall, uniting programs and partnerships under Undergraduate Academic Affairs Advising and providing transfer students with a centralized, welcoming home for advising, peer mentorship and campus connections. As a central space for connection, collaboration and celebration, the Center builds transfer community year-round.
“Establishing a Transfer Center is the critical next step,” said Joslin Boroughs, director of advising initiatives and partnerships for Undergraduate Academic Affairs Advising. “Centralizing brings visibility to the transfer student experience and improves coordination so we can support student success. Think of the Transfer Center as your campus partner. It’s a single front door for referrals and a resource hub for best practices.” A central point of contact, transfer guides and departmental connections streamline referrals for prospective and current students, as well as faculty and staff.
The Transfer Center unites long-standing partnerships between UW advisers and Washington’s community and technical colleges to remove barriers to timely transfer. It also connects existing initiatives such as Path to UW, which gives prospective students early access to UW resources. The Center’s space is reservable for partner-hosted, transfer-supportive events.
“The Path to UW partnership with Seattle Colleges is re-writing the story of transfer to a flagship university,” said Melody McMillan, senior executive director of Seattle Promise at Seattle Colleges. “Built with student access and success at the center, Path to UW was shaped by student and faculty feedback — and acting on that feedback works.”
“Coordinated advising through the Path to UW program meets students earlier and more consistently — expanding access to a world-class public research university,” said Michaelann Jundt, senior associate dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.
Transfer students at a glance — 2025
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Enrolled: 1,685 transfer students
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From Washington community and technical colleges: 1,400 (83%)
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Regions: Puget Sound, Olympic Peninsula, Southwest, Central and Eastern Washington (such as Seattle Colleges, Bellevue, Peninsula, Clark, Yakima Valley and Spokane)
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Top majors: business, computer science, psychology, biology, nursing, communication, economics, informatics, engineering, design, English, sociology, environmental science and resource management
Students will also meet Transfer Ambassadors, a peer leadership team developed with First Year Programs — who host welcome events, offer one-on-one support and help students navigate their first year on campus.
“Adjusting to new teaching styles and the course load can be overwhelming,” said Transfer Ambassador and psychology major, Iqra Mohamed, ‘26. “What helped me was introducing myself to people near me on day one and joining study groups. It can feel intimidating, but it sets you up for success and builds self-advocacy.”
“With a dedicated space, there’s a go-to for questions and drop-in support,” Mohamed added. “It shows a place designed for transfer students, which can strengthen belonging. Transfer can feel like a short stop, but the Center will help students feel more connected and find accessible opportunities to create a memorable UW experience.” Kitchen access, study spaces and lockers remain available in the Commuter and Transfer Commons.
Ambassadors continue outreach at partner colleges, closing the loop from exploration to enrollment. “Seattle’s students are brilliant and driven,” added McMillan. “When institutions align around them, applications turn into admissions, admissions into enrollment, and enrollment into graduation and career.”
“One year in, we expect growth in ambassador engagement, referrals and event participation — clear signals that students are reaching support sooner,” said Boroughs.
“Over the past decade, the University of Washington has become more vocal and intentional about transfer student success,” said Jundt.
“The Transfer Center is that commitment made visible — a place where students can find their path, and their people, from day one.”
About Undergraduate Academic Affairs Advising
Undergraduate Academic Affairs Advising supports undergraduates across all majors with academic planning, exploration and success — connecting students with advising, resources and opportunities that help them graduate on time and thrive at the UW.
The heart of Honors
In the Honors Program, where interdisciplinarity and inquiry define the student experience, Professor Jon C. Herron exemplifies the kind of teaching that changes how students see the world — and themselves.