Alumni
December 4, 2021
UW in the cards
‘Down the Ave,’ a card game developed by business students, is full of UW and Seattle references.
Closing the distance
For a teacher in a time of COVID-19, the challenge is to bring the world to students.
Junior Coffey, 1942-2021
Junior Coffey, who passed away recently, overcame traumatic experiences to become a Husky football star and racehorse trainer.
Imogen exposed
Imogen Cunningham was an innovative and influential fine art photographer. A retrospective features nearly 200 of her works.
The midcentury view
A new book finally shines a spotlight on Paul Hayden Kirk, ’37, who set the standard for Northwest modernist architecture.
Legal relief
Longtime prisoners sentenced as minors benefit from a UW program that pairs students and lawyers.
Hall of Famers
Twelve former student-athletes from five sports receive the highest honor in UW Athletics.
Portraits of justice
Alfredo Arreguin has painted the official portraits for three justices on the Washington State Supreme Court. At 86, the master of Mexican-American art remains a source of colorful ideas and vivid canvases.
November 19, 2021
Nursing leader’s legacy
One of Seattle’s few Black nurses in the 1940s, Rachel Suggs Pitts helped created a network of support for her colleagues and nursing students.
Changing the law
Enoka Herat works with law enforcement leaders and the families of people who have died from police violence to change practices in Washington.
Rising above hate
A Japanese American UW grad turned businessman, Harry Kawabe was a humanitarian who built economies in two U.S. cities and dedicated his life to building community.
From pain to poetry
Poet Jane Wong isn’t afraid to lay her emotions bare as she explores ways beyond the written page to reach audiences.
October 30, 2021
A life in service
Dave Stone, ’68, is recognized for his lifetime of service—military, public and volunteer—with the Distinguished Alumni Veteran Award.
October 21, 2021
Personalizing care
Margaret Towolawi, ’10, adopts a new model for health care that promotes closer doctor-patient relationships.
September 11, 2021
Art and exploration
“Fly Your Own Thing,” a celebration of the late Alden Mason, ’42, ’47, is on exhibit at the Bellevue Arts Museum.
September 8, 2021
Visual music
Through the interplay of light with her creations, artist Barbara Earl Thomas creates ‘ordinary magic.’ Her extraordinary work explores childhood, race and religion.
September 4, 2021
Meals & memories
Two decades after Tom Stockley and his wife, Peggy, perished in a plane crash, their daughters curate a new book of his eating pleasures.
Anderson honored
James G. Anderson, '66, will receive the 2021 Dreyfus Prize in the Chemical Sciences.
Jewell on faculty
Former Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, ’78, was appointed to the Edward V. Fritzky Endowed Chair in Leadership for the 2021-2022 school year.
A life in design
Nin Truong brings creativity and sustainability to the world of public art, skateboarding and apparel.
August 31, 2021
Global vision
Stan Barer, recipient of the 2021 Gates Volunteer Service Award, used his UW Law degree to help make the world a better place.
A name that stuck
Cassandra Amesley, ’77, ’81, made ‘Red Square’ catch on and etched her name in Husky history.
Higher purpose
After his NFL career, Mark Pattison kept pursuing athletic feats. He recently climbed Mount Everest to complete the Seven Summits challenge, raising more than $56,000 for charity.
9.11.01: I was there
Two alumni who escaped the horror of Ground Zero bravely share their stories of trauma and hope.
August 12, 2021
Seizing the moment
Whether we’re together in person or using technology to bridge the distance, the UW Alumni Association is about making connections.
June 10, 2021
A dog-gone great idea
Bill Perkins' nonprofit organization employs people in prisons to train service dogs for veterans.
A Coast Guard first
Linda Fagan, '00, was nominated to become the highest-ranking woman in Coast Guard history.
Forward momentum
Erin O'Connell, '96, is back at the UW as the Deputy Athletics Director and the Senior Woman Administrator.
Less can be more
Compared to changes that add, those that subtract are harder to think of. The removal of a bridge in the Bay Area illustrates how sometimes, less is more.
June 7, 2021
Curiosity and clay
From the start, Seattle artist George Rodriguez explored identity, culture and community in his work.
Promoting preservation
Elizabeth Bell was honored for more than 42 years of “tireless effort in preserving the city and promoting understanding of the heritage” of Antigua, Guatemala.
Calling the shots
For Golf Channel analyst Paige Mackenzie, ’06, the only thing more thrilling than scoring a hole-in-one is calling the golf play-by-play at the Olympic Games.
June 4, 2021
Can’t hold him back
From radical youth to senior statesman, Larry Gossett is an activist for us all. The 2021 Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus award recognizes his lifetime of service.
Passion for the UW
Colleen Fukui-Sketchley’s commitment to serving the UW Alumni Association, the University of Washington and higher education has been nothing short of amazing.
June 3, 2021
‘A child’s eye view’
By the time of her death at the age of 104, Beverly Cleary’s books had sold more than 85 million copies.
June 1, 2021
The death dodger
Taking risks was second nature for Albert Scott Crossfield. That’s how he became the first man to fly at twice the speed of sound and laid the groundwork to go into space.
Speeding up the science
Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson lost their daughter to an uncommon form of cancer. Their philanthropy aims to expand research and bring hope to patients and their families.
May 22, 2021
Golden grads
This UWAA recognition honors alumni who have demonstrated sustained, long-term and meaningful engagement with the UW.
May 10, 2021
Remembering Bryan Monroe
Brian Monroe, ’87, headed a Pulitzer-prize winning newspaper team and being the first print journalist to interview the country’s first Black president-elect.
April 26, 2021
Bouncing back for the next physical challenge
A near-fatal paragliding accident in Central Washington didn’t keep Masako Hirata down for long.
April 17, 2021
Frontline photographer
Photographer David Ryder, ’06, ’11, was recently recognized as UW Bothell's Alumni of the Year recipient.
March 11, 2021
Rural nurses wanted
A program funded by Premera Blue Cross is placing nursing students in rural practices throughout Washington.
Helen Chu honored
University of Washington Medicine professor Dr. Helen Chu, ’12, “Washingtonian of the Year” by the Washington State Leadership Board.
Native knowledge
Native art is prominent in the life of Miranda Belarde-Lewis, an assistant professor in the University of Washington Information School.
March 9, 2021
Culture crew
Their commitment to equity brought three UW alumni to 4Culture—and it has remained the agency’s North Star in its pandemic response.
Standing tall
He went from the UW to professional basketball and back. But it’s in the special education classroom that Anthony Washington, ’16, ’19, is making a lasting difference.
March 4, 2021
Stories of home
The UW Alumni Association recently invited a group of Native storytellers for a virtual event to discuss the meaning of sense of place.
Private-eye inspiration
Instead, Thoft uses the P.I. skills she learned to write her award-winning detective novels featuring hard-nosed private eye Fina Ludlow.
March 3, 2021
Soul of Seattle
With the city changing rapidly, Ron Chew set out to write about one of its beloved communities. It’s a story only he could tell.
March 2, 2021
Never done learning
Ed Jones has since completed 11 UWPCE certificate programs, more than anyone else.
January 16, 2021
Catch up with Jake Locker
Husky football fans remember Jake Locker for his determined play during some down years for the program.
Hockey heights
Now an agent, Ryan Minkoff, ’15, became the first student-athlete from the Husky club hockey team to make it to the professional hockey ranks.
January 11, 2021
Books and conversation
To date, more than 1,600 readers have joined the UW Alumni Book Club, representing alumni from every college and school across all three campuses.
December 16, 2020
Nobel laureate’s UW ties
Harvey J. Alter, a UW resident in internal medicine from 1964-65, has received a Nobel Prize for his contributions to the discovery of the hepatitis C virus.
Emerging from pain
Britt East’s book “A Gay Man’s Guide to Life” provides realistic ways for gay men to deal with homophobia and live a good life.
Whitman revisited
In “Unsettled Ground: The Whitman Massacre and Its Shifting Legacy in The American West,” historian Cassandra Tate, ’86, ’88, ’95, revisits a conflict that left 13 settlers dead.
December 9, 2020
Healing words
Norman B. Rice’s timing couldn’t have been better for his new book, “Gaining Public Trust: A Profile of Civic Engagement.”
Holistic view
The first Filipino American to graduate from UW medical school, Fernando Vega helped open the path to alternative medicine in the U.S.
December 7, 2020
After prison
Ten stories that show how the UW can help people take advantage of second chances.
Taking control
In describing her mindset, Kelly Olson quotes a favorite author: “You have to own your story if you want to change the ending.”
Positive mindset
Powered by positive thinking, Theron Taylor went to the UW to earn a degree in psychology.
November 21, 2020
Be a bird’s buddy
More than 4 billion birds are moving through North America during fall migration. An expert shares some ways to aid in their journey.
October 13, 2020
Sweet science
Kennewick native Danielle Reed forages for genetic answers after her research finds that processed food is much too sweet for the average human tastebud.
September 30, 2020
Campus ambassador
Our sketchbook profiles Alice Lee, manager of the UW Visitors Center.
September 21, 2020
A twist of fate
Ayan Hassan’s life was changed by the Making Connections program—and then unexpectedly saved by one of the program’s founders.
September 16, 2020
Fresh fish finder
With many restaurants closed, the Fish Map offers a way for commercial fishing companies to sell their products directly to consumers.
September 11, 2020
No longer lost
Stephen Johnson, '99, scoured archives, the internet and a villa in Italy to discover the fate of a missing World War II pilot.
September 8, 2020
Course correction
The UW has responded with leadership during the COVID-19 crisis. Now we must make the same commitment to addressing systemic racism and injustice.
August 23, 2020
Under Astra’s spell
A Latvian refugee from World War II, the colorful Astra Zarina had a vision to bring UW architecture students to Rome. Today, her students are making sure she is not forgotten.
August 13, 2020
The historian of Seattle hip-hop
Daudi Abe, author of an upcoming book on Northwest rap, tells us what makes the local scene so special.
July 7, 2020
Hard-hat Barbie
Ecologist Nalini Nadkarni, ’83, joined a project between National Geographic and Mattel to create a new line of Barbie dolls centered around science and exploration.
June 26, 2020
When takeout takes you across the world
As restaurants scrambled to serve their customers during quarantine, Archipelago innovated with a fresh take on a Filipino immigrant tradition.
June 10, 2020
Stranger than fiction
A writer faces frustration with the release of her first work of fiction during a pandemic.
On the trail with Craig Romano
Hiking book author Craig Romano, ’94, ’97, slowed down long enough to tell us about his passion for nature.
Seafood stories
In "Salmon Sisters," Emma Teal Laukitis, ’18, and Claire Neaton share stories from their father's fishing vessel and their clean, elegant approach to food.
June 4, 2020
Smallpox slayer's wisdom
William Foege, ’61, was instrumental in wiping smallpox off the face of the Earth. The lessons he learned in that fight offer wisdom as we face COVID-19.
May 15, 2020
Front and center
With compassion, innovation and empathy, public health leader Patty Hayes strives to make life better for all of us.
May 14, 2020
A lifetime of leadership
For his legacy of serving Washington’s community college system for more than four decades as well as his leadership at the University of Washington Alumni Association, Gary Oertli receives the UW Alumni Association’s 2020 Distinguished Service Award.
May 12, 2020
Taking on Turkey
Josh Colangelo-Bryan filed a personal injury suit against the Republic of Turkey for its involvement in an attack on a peaceful protest in a Washington, D.C., park in 2017 that left 20 people with injuries.
Justice arrives
Raquel Montoya-Lewis, '95, '96, is the second Native American to ever serve on any state’s supreme court.
May 8, 2020
Serving youth suits her
After deciding medicine wasn't for her, Yasmin Habib created a nonprofit program to serve refugee, immigrant and marginalized children.
May 4, 2020
A brush with depth
Jake Prendez, ’00, knows what it's like to feel like an outsider. Now he offers fellow Latinx artists a place to showcase their work.
April 14, 2020
Out of print
Pike Place Market's last newsstand goes out of print as UW alumnus closes shop.
March 19, 2020
How UW’s startup culture nurtures a growing number of student businesses
UW’s startup culture nurtures a growing number of students, proving that an idea, some energy and valuable mentoring can bring business success.
March 17, 2020
‘Whenever you get, give back’
Jim McCurdy’s mantra spurred support of higher education.
From campus activist to city council
Varisha Khan becomes one of the first Muslim women to hold public office in Washington State.
March 13, 2020
A life study
A devastating fire makes painter Grace Flott struggle for control of her body—and her life.
A legacy of caring
For a life dedicated to students of color, the UW honors Emile Pitre with the 2020 Charles E. Odegaard Award.
March 10, 2020
After the ashes
Scientists knew Mount St. Helens would come back to life after the 1980 eruption, but as a new book shows, its resilience still blew them away.
A serving of support
As CEO of FareStart, Angela Dunleavy Stowell gives people a path from poverty to success in the culinary world.
March 5, 2020
Wonder of Warashina
The Smithsonian honors Patti Warashina, ’62, ’64, whose humor and innovative perspectives on the human condition put a new face on ceramics.
January 9, 2020
Remembering Rocky Yeh
He was the ultimate party host, a self-described bon vivant and a Husky superfan.
December 27, 2019
Born in rhythm
We asked percussionist Paul Hansen, ’83, about his life on the drums. Here's what he had to say.
December 26, 2019
Inside the peace
No one else could have written "Surviving the Peace," a new book by Peter Lippman, ’95, after decades of grassroots connections to the people of the Balkans.
December 9, 2019
Human touch
Jill Higson ’86, gives people a chance to communicate through the written word.
December 1, 2019
A tern for the worse
Feeding the wrong food to chicks could spell disaster for several species of terns.
November 29, 2019
Serving up success
The Foster School's Consulting and Business Development Center boosts entrepreneurs from underserved communities.