Alumni
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 Graduates 2021: David and Marcie Stone
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.
November 24, 2019
Granters of wishes
Melissa Arias, ’97, and Trina Cottingham, ’96, are on local Make-A-Wish leadership team.
Building the bones
Chip Lydum, ’84, parlayed a journalism job into a prominent role in Husky athletics.
October 31, 2019
The house at 5030
Nearly 40 years ago, 11 friends moved into a U District boarding house. The bonds they made are as strong as ever.
October 23, 2019
From war to law
An owner of three Bronze Stars, the Hon. Ronald E. Cox is UWAA’s 2019 Distinguished Alumni Veteran Award recipient.
October 22, 2019
Plea for the planet
Tenacity led Jim Anderson, ’66, the 2019 Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus, to help save the ozone; he's not about to give up.
September 23, 2019
What it’s like to have dinner with Seattle chef Melissa Miranda
An intimate conversation with the chef behind Beacon Hill's most anticipated new restaurant.
September 19, 2019
Call her ‘Grammar Girl’
Is it who or whom? Affect or effect? Mignon Fogarty, '90, became internet famous for answering such questions.
September 2, 2019
Jordan Nicholson takes off
How the self-proclaimed lover of life followed his passions to become an accomplished photographer, artist and man about town.
When Dad ran for president
In 1972 and 1976, Sen. Henry “Scoop” Jackson was a candidate for the highest office in the land. I was along for the ride.
Arms to table
Northwest ingredients meet Filipino-influenced cuisine at Archipelago, a Seattle restaurant that has earned rave reviews.
June 4, 2019
At bat for Mom
Former Husky outfielder Braden Bishop's charity event raised $50,000 for Alzheimer’s research.
Give Me 5
Melanie Jackson, a 1993 All-American soccer player at the UW, is now a senior editor and writer with ESPNW.
June 3, 2019
The Great American Barrier
An encounter between a black social worker and Kirkland police raises questions as old as America.
Frazer Cook named UWAA Golden Graduates Distinguished Alumnus
Frazer Cook and the Husky Marching Band worked in harmony for 57 years.
James LoGerfo Sr. named 2019 UW Distinguished Retiree
LoGerfo Sr., ’72, has used his time in retirement to expand his training of health-care workers around the world.
March 12, 2019
A tip of the toque is in order
Renee Erickson, ’95, is short-listed for Outstanding Chef at 2019 James Beard Awards.
March 7, 2019
‘One foot at a time’
Billy Price, ’02, made his mark as an inventor of innovative footwear.
March 5, 2019
Welcome to Noir Town
Greg Olson, film curator at the Seattle Art Museum, has been lurking in the shadows of the city's cinema scene for decades.
March 1, 2019
Gaveling man
House Speaker Frank Chopp has spent his life helping underserved members of the Evergreen State.
Master of the tearjerker
Tearjerkers and epic female-driven novels have earned Kristin Hannah, '83, an international following.
Unsung healer
Alice Augusta Ball was the first woman and first African American to earn a master’s degree in chemistry, and at age 23, developed an early treatment for leprosy.
February 27, 2019
War heroes of Walla Walla
A new World War II Memorial honors approximately 3,800 men and women who answered the call of duty.
Famed flyer
The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame honors Janet Kavandi, who went from dreamer to astronaut to NASA leader.