Undergraduate Academic Affairs

News

The undergraduate experience at the University of Washington is, like our students, dynamic and diverse. Gain behind-the-scenes insight into the way UAA deepens and expands academics at the UW through stories about the people and programs in UAA.

Feature stories


  • Celebrating student leadership in action at the CELE Center’s 2025 Spring CELEbration

    April 28, 2025

    Undergraduate Academic Affairs

    Photo of Nathan Loutsis.

    On May 7, the University of Washington’s Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) Center will present the 2025 Spring CELEbration, an inspiring undergraduate showcase of student service, leadership and community-engaged work. The annual event features students in CELE Center programs and Mary Gates Endowment Leadership Scholars, presenting work focused on service, leadership and social change…

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  • Tristan Jafari, biochemistry undergrad, selected as Truman Scholar

    April 21, 2025

    dhollan

    President Cauce and Truman Scholar, Tristan Jafari.

    Tristan Jafari, a third-year student at the University of Washington majoring in biochemistry, has been selected for the prestigious Truman Scholarship. Set to graduate early, Jafari will pursue a master’s degree in philosophy of population health sciences at the University of Cambridge in England this fall. A highly competitive award, only 54 students were selected…

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  • Four UW undergraduates named 2025 Goldwater Scholars

    April 21, 2025

    dhollan

    Four University of Washington students have been named Goldwater Scholars by the Goldwater Foundation, advancing the University’s tradition of undergraduate academic excellence and recognition. "The Goldwater Scholarship is the preeminent undergraduate award for students pursuing research careers in the sciences, engineering and mathematics,"​ says Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. The…

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  • Becoming boundless

    April 10, 2025

    Undergraduate Academic Affairs

    Photo of Salma Rashwan

    Undergraduate Salma Rashwan writes about embracing the impossible during Alternative Spring Break teaching kids in Forks, Washington, about science, technology, engineering and math.

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News items


  • Celebrating student leadership in action at the CELE Center’s 2025 Spring CELEbration

    April 28, 2025

    Undergraduate Academic Affairs

    Photo of Nathan Loutsis.

    On May 7, the University of Washington’s Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) Center will present the 2025 Spring CELEbration, an inspiring undergraduate showcase of student service, leadership and community-engaged work. The annual event features students in CELE Center programs and Mary Gates Endowment Leadership Scholars, presenting work focused on service, leadership and social change…

    Read more


  • Tristan Jafari, biochemistry undergrad, selected as Truman Scholar

    April 21, 2025

    dhollan

    President Cauce and Truman Scholar, Tristan Jafari.

    Tristan Jafari, a third-year student at the University of Washington majoring in biochemistry, has been selected for the prestigious Truman Scholarship. Set to graduate early, Jafari will pursue a master’s degree in philosophy of population health sciences at the University of Cambridge in England this fall. A highly competitive award, only 54 students were selected…

    Read more


  • Four UW undergraduates named 2025 Goldwater Scholars

    April 21, 2025

    dhollan

    Four University of Washington students have been named Goldwater Scholars by the Goldwater Foundation, advancing the University’s tradition of undergraduate academic excellence and recognition. "The Goldwater Scholarship is the preeminent undergraduate award for students pursuing research careers in the sciences, engineering and mathematics,"​ says Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. The…

    Read more


  • Becoming boundless

    April 10, 2025

    Undergraduate Academic Affairs

    Photo of Salma Rashwan

    Undergraduate Salma Rashwan writes about embracing the impossible during Alternative Spring Break teaching kids in Forks, Washington, about science, technology, engineering and math.

    Read more


  • UW undergraduate with interdisciplinary AI focus earns fellowship of up to $90,000 for graduate study

    April 9, 2025

    Undergraduate Academic Affairs

    Photo of Andre Ye

    University of Washington Honors student Andre Ye, pursuing bachelors’ degrees in philosophy and computer science with minors in math and history, has been selected for the esteemed Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans. The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans is a merit-based fellowship supporting immigrants and children of immigrants pursuing…

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  • Progress report on the UW Dialogue Initiative

    March 26, 2025

    Undergraduate Academic Affairs

    Video still of Megan Kennedy in a large classroom.

    In this video, Megan Kennedy, director of the UW Resilience Lab and project lead for the UW Dialogue Initiative, provides some background and a progress report on the first year of the Initiative.

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  • UW undergraduate receives prestigious Gates Cambridge scholarship

    February 26, 2025

    Undergraduate Academic Affairs

    Photo of Gates Cambridge Scholar Tristan Jafari.

    Tristan Jafari, pursuing his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry at the University of Washington, was selected for the prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship.  Jafari, a departmental Honors student set to graduate a year early this June, will receive a full-cost scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in philosophy in Population Health Sciences at the University of Cambridge,…

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  • Celebrating the 2023–24 Undergraduate Medalists

    February 5, 2025

    Undergraduate Academic Affairs

    Image of the 2023–24 Undergraduate Medalists

    Each year, the University of Washington awards the President’s Medalist Award to its top undergraduates. For 2023–2024, Samuel Perkowski, Mia Grayson and Cher Zhang were chosen for their academic excellence, including high GPAs, rigorous coursework and Honors classes. All three biochemistry majors have pursued impactful research and embraced the Husky Experience through activities like lab…

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  • Dialogue, disagreement and democracy course highlights reel

    January 22, 2025

    Undergraduate Academic Affairs

    Photo of Kate Starbird

    In the leadership course, "2024: Dialogue, Disagreement and Democracy," students learned tools to engage thoughtfully with contentious issues. Offered in the autumn of 2024, this class helped undergraduates navigate complex topics, forge meaningful relationships and have productive conversations in a polarized world.

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  • UW Community College Research Initiatives awarded $1.7 million grant from Ascendium Education Group to continue STEM Transfer Partnerships program

    January 14, 2025

    Undergraduate Academic Affairs

    The University of Washington’s Community College Research Initiatives (CCRI) has been awarded a $1.7 million grant from Ascendium Education Group to continue its STEM Transfer Partnerships (STP) program, which aims to increase equity in STEM education for low-income learners across Washington state. This funding extension builds on an earlier $1.17 million grant, continuing the work…

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  • From mentorship to MBA

    January 10, 2025

    Undergraduate Academic Affairs

    Photo of Izaiha Ellis with Seattle skyline in the background

    Alumnus Izaiha Ellis, ’20, began his interdisciplinary journey at the University of Washington with the Honors Program course, “Leadership, Democracy and a More Thoughtful Public.” Each week, he read essays by global politicians and writers, exploring how individual actions shape community dynamics. The course challenged students to consider how their choices impact the support or…

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  • Woke Up This Morning (With My Mind, Stayed on Freedom) [video]

    December 20, 2024

    Undergraduate Academic Affairs

    Photo of Ed Taylor gesturing while talking

    Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs Ed Taylor shares his talk, "Woke Up This Morning (With My Mind, Stayed on Freedom)" at the College of Education's EduTalks: Thriving Generations on March 28, 2024. Taylor is also a professor in the College of Education.

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  • Bridging science and humanity

    December 7, 2024

    Undergraduate Academic Affairs

    Photo of Daniel Chen in a lab

    Daniel Chen’s journey into research began with a fascination for ancient cultures and extinct creatures. As a middle schooler, he was captivated by archaeology and paleontology, dreaming of working at excavation sites, unearthing ancient bones and tracing the histories of lost civilizations. Over time, that early curiosity shifted toward biology, particularly as computational modeling emerged as…

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  • UAA statement on leadership transition for the Robinson Center for Young Scholars

    December 6, 2024

    Undergraduate Academic Affairs

    ""

    Undergraduate Academic Affairs is recognizing Dr. Kristina Henry Collins for her leadership of the Robinson Center for Young Scholars. After much consideration, Dr. Collins has decided to resign from her position of executive director of the Robinson Center, effective Jan. 27, 2025. She intends to continue her research, teaching and leadership foci of broad-based advocacy…

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  • Sean Gehrke named assistant dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs

    November 26, 2024

    Undergraduate Academic Affairs

    Photo of Sean Gehrke.

    Undergraduate Academic Affairs is pleased to announce Sean Gehrke’s new role as assistant dean. Sean Gehrke has served over 20 years in higher education, holding a variety of administrative, research and assessment roles.

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