Faculty & Staff
May 23, 2025
Honoring three generous giants
Two of the UW's newest student residences will soon be renamed to honor artist and teacher Marvin Oliver and professors Lois Price Spratlen and Thaddeus Spratlen.
May 22, 2025
Advocacy ace
Jill McKinstry, retired director of Odegaard Undergraduate Library, still takes on leadership roles in her community.
Decades of distinction
The UW Alumni Association proudly presents Dr. Brad McDavid with the 2025 Distinguished Service Award.
Legacy of leadership
J'May Rivara has nearly 50 years of experience teaching graduate students and inspiring the next generation of social workers.
May 8, 2025
An outspoken approach
UW Tacoma professor Carolyn West, a leading authority on relationship violence, is savvy about discussing domestic violence in her media appearances.
April 22, 2025
Golden grad
Pamela Mitchell, who taught at the UW for half a century, earned the 2025 Golden Graduate Distinguished Alumna Award for her contributions to the UW and her innovative work in patient care.
March 18, 2025
No kissing!
Smooching on the UW campus was outlawed back in 1929 when then-UW President Matthew Lyle Spencer saw the display of affection as an affront to the morals of the time.
March 17, 2025
Nurturing the whole child
Researchers at the UW Center for Child & Family Well-Being create practical tools to improve mental health for parents, caregivers and young people.
Hard science, soft skills
A new endowed faculty fellowship at UW Bothell empowers astrophysics professor Joey Shapiro Key to make STEM topics more appealing and accessible.
March 11, 2025
The next top Dawg
Dr. Robert Jones is "beyond excited" to join the UW as the 34th president in the school's 164-year history.
The power of public universities
While some Americans have lost confidence in higher education, Provost Tricia Serio believes a Husky education is accessible and valuable.
March 3, 2025
The Northwest legacy of Jacob Lawrence
Twenty-five years after his death, Jacob Lawrence's impact as a chronicler of the Black experience lives on through the efforts of local arts institutions.
December 9, 2024
Don Pember, 1939–2024
Professor Don Pember was a favorite of communication students.
Books and beyond
In January 2025, University Book Store, a bastion for UW students and community, celebrates its 125th anniversary.
The civics generation
How do you inspire a new generation into public service? The Evans School and CELE Center are connecting students with seasoned leaders and local opportunities to do just that.
Sprinkle of success
Formerly of Utah State, Husky basketball coach Danny Sprinkle brings a winning record (and memories of Montlake) to the UW.
Economic powerhouse
The University of Washington generates almost $21 billion in annual economic impact for the state of Washington, according to a new report.
December 6, 2024
"Kind of a crazy idea"
David Baker, the UW's latest Nobel Prize winner, revolutionized protein design.
Ruth Gerberding, 1931–2024
Ruth Gerberding was well-known by the UW community for her wit and style.
Access to justice
Tamara Lawson, dean of the UW's School of Law, lays out common barriers to justice—and how we can overcome them.
November 1, 2024
Cultivating community
The UW's Native Garden was created to "honor, acknowledge and make space for the traditional peoples" who once built longhouses and a fishing weir in the area.
Miss Peoples in their corner
The founding director of the country's first academic support office for student athletes, Gertrude Peoples is a beloved UW figure.
October 22, 2024
Building better forests
Dr. Susan J. Prichard is a research scientist with a passion for forest ecology. She tells us about her work with wildfires.
October 18, 2024
Entrepreneur, artist and event planner Jireh Reduque is always creating for a cause
Jireh Reduque molds clay and community with her small business, Ji Designs.
October 15, 2024
Happy 100th, Don Coryell!
A UW Magazine reader asked us to dig up Don Coryell's 1951 thesis, so we did.
September 13, 2024
Novel approach
With new support of private equity, CoMotion is helping a UW professor's quest to diagnose Alzheimer's earlier.
September 11, 2024
Learning across difference
Outgoing UW President Ana Mari Cauce shares what she's learned after nearly four decades at the University.
September 9, 2024
Free people read freely
‘Warrior Librarian’ Tracie D. Hall doesn't tell people to be quiet, but to speak up against censorship that threatens learning and access to information for all.
July 29, 2024
The Olympian
Hall Health rebrands as Husky Health Center and renames their building for Olympian David C. Hall.
June 6, 2024
Best of the best
They are voracious learners who instruct and inspire their students and have an impact that lasts a lifetime. Meet this year’s recipients of the Distinguished Teaching Award and Excellence in Teaching Awards.
May 31, 2024
Finding new horizons
Anu Taranath, author and teaching professor in the departments of English and Comparative History of Ideas, shares an eye-opening experience from her recent travels.
May 30, 2024
A dose of advice
A pediatrician weighs in on the recent spike in melatonin use for kids who can't sleep.
May 21, 2024
For the common good
The UW recognizes Shauna Elbers Carlisle for her outstanding work in and out of the classroom.
Big impact
Louise Little is the 2024 recipient of the UW Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award in honor of her decades of service to the UW community.
May 17, 2024
Art direction
Jordan Jones will provide curation, programming and leadership to the gallery.
April 4, 2024
Buddhist Bug
UW Bothell Senior Artist-in-Residence Anida Yoeu Ali donned her orange worm-like costume at a recent Seattle Asian Art Museum performance.
February 23, 2024
Mix masters
At the Concrete Materials Lab, UW students are testing ways to bring concrete into a sustainable future.
Art in action
UW Senior Artist-in-Residence Anida Yoeu Ali opens a solo show at Seattle Asian Art Museum.
Studying modern slavery
Professor Anita Ramasastry is part of a global commission investigating the rise of forced labor.
The nature of nature
It’s no surprise that the federal government turned to the UW to head up an assessment of America's lands, waters and wildlife.
January 18, 2024
Out of the ordinary
UW Artist-in-Residence Anida Yoeu Ali opens her show at the Seattle Asian Art Museum, which runs through July 7.
November 29, 2023
Looking up
With determination, faith and the UW’s belief in her, Square Donaldson overcame tremendous obstacles.
October 30, 2023
Community servant
According to Dr. John Hess, this year's Distinguished Alumni Veteran Award (DAVA) recipient, service is a way of life.
October 27, 2023
Ways of knowing
A new podcast produced in partnership with the UW is dedicated to humanities research and thought.
October 24, 2023
Canoe Journey
Hosted by the Muckleshoot Tribe, this year's Tribal Canoe Journey welcomed members of the Shell House Canoe Family, č̓away̓altxʷ ʔiišəd.
Elavie Ndura and UW Tacoma “walk the talk” when pursuing equity and inclusion
Elavie Ndura, Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion at UW Tacoma, explains her connection to the University and her passion for equity and inclusion.
October 6, 2023
A hungry tiger fights best
Toshio Akamatsu began his career as a member of John Bonica's legendary team of pain management experts. Akamatsu died this year at the age of 89.
September 2, 2023
Passion for public health
Throughout his career, George Counts has addressed health and health-care inequities.
He can dig it
David R. Montgomery has a MacArthur “genius grant,” a handful of popular science books, and six albums with the local band Big Dirt under his belt.
September 1, 2023
Smart students, clever tech
Information from fitness trackers and smartphones helps Anind Dey's team learn about student success.
August 30, 2023
Tribe and timber
By listening to land stewards within the Yakama Nation, Tom Hinckley learned to see the forest for the trees.
June 20, 2023
Historian, tour guide, archive enthusiast
Let Antoinette Wills show you around the UW's campus.
May 29, 2023
Distinguished Teaching Legacy Award
John C. Berg was named the recipient of the UW’s 2023 Distinguished Teaching Legacy Award.
Teachers of the year
From inspiration to impact, this year’s Distinguished Teaching Award recipients mentor and nurture students from all disciplines.
May 28, 2023
Our part for the planet
A UW workshop showcases how climate change innovations on campuses can benefit surrounding communities and beyond.
April 25, 2023
Signs of disability
Stephanie Kerschbaum explores how we notice, and sometimes don't notice, disability.
April 21, 2023
Full circle
Sherri Berdine supports and strengthens the University’s relationships with nearly 40 tribal nations in the Pacific Northwest.
February 25, 2023
Opioid game-changer
Vaccines show promise for treating addiction to oxycodone, heroin and other addictive substances.
Foster library turns back time
The Foster School library put a time capsule from the 1990s on display to mark its anniversary.
February 23, 2023
Another side of the city
Peter Bacho wrote a love letter to Seattle with “Uncle Rico's Encore,” a book he says he “had to write.”
November 27, 2022
Genius at work
The MacArthur Foundation honors Yejin Choi, a professor who teaches human language to computers.
A seat at the table
Gov. Jay Inslee, ’73, selected Professor Alexes Harris, ’97, to serve a three-year term on the University’s highest governing body.
November 26, 2022
On the scene of change
In data and in the field, professor Briana Abrahms seeks ways for humans and wildlife to coexist as the climate changes.
November 4, 2022
A new era for campus security
The UW's new police chief, Craig Wilson, has served 26 years in the department.
November 3, 2022
Tamara Lawson is the UW's new law dean
The UW’s new law dean wants to infuse social justice and civil rights throughout the law school curriculum.
September 20, 2022
Making history
History professor Margaret O'Mara explains how prior generations handled a pandemic and what we can learn from their mistakes.
September 9, 2022
Story of Black Seattle
Quintard Taylor tells the stories of Seattle’s small, but influential Black community.
September 3, 2022
Neurodiversity at work
Neurodiverse UW employees gather to share their stories at a seminar.
September 1, 2022
State of happiness
Early each summer, the University organizes a statewide field trip to introduce new faculty and administrators to Washington.
August 31, 2022
Touch Down
There's a new head coach in town: Kalen DeBoer shares his insights on the upcoming season with editor Jon Marmor.
August 10, 2022
MAP Maker
A “true leader,” Thaddeus Spratlen brought dignity, dedication and a scholarly approach to the Multicultural Alumni Partnership.
June 15, 2022
Good, better, best!
They garden, they read, they cook and they dream of becoming dentists. Teachers: They're just like us! But these six are the cream of the crop.
May 30, 2022
JoAnn Taricani, 1953-2022
School of Music Director JoAnn Taricani brought joy to her students and colleagues over more than four decades before her sudden death Feb. 1.
May 29, 2022
Media man
For the past 31 years, Jeff Bechthold has worked in sports information for the UW athletic department. He handles Husky football and crew.
May 25, 2022
Champion of opportunities
Michael Verchot receives the 2022 UWAA Distinguished Service Award for his work on behalf of the UW Consulting and Business Development Center.
Commemorating Ken Sirotnik
Ken Sirotnik's legacy remains strong nearly two decades after his death. The UWAA honors him with the 2022 Distinguished Teaching Legacy Award.
Community champion
For his dedication to the UW and Chicano/a/Latino/a communities, Erasmo Gamboa receives the 2022 Retiree Excellence in Community Service Award.
May 16, 2022
Toward a more diverse faculty
A new campus-wide effort led by Alexes Harris supports underrepresented groups and first-generation faculty.
March 18, 2022
Behind the scenes
Tres Tracy Ballon, '01, is the master carpenter at the UW School of Drama. We talked to her about squirrels, big ideas and building sets (and boats).
March 5, 2022
Living through history
UW history professor Margaret O’Mara shares her perspective on the pandemic and its echoes from the past.
March 4, 2022
Caring for custodians
Evalynn Fae Taganna Romano, ’10, ’21, leads an effort recognize an often overlooked group in the pandemic: campus custodians.
December 11, 2021
Locally grown
Marie Spiker is an assistant professor of epidemiology at the UW School of Public Health, registered dietitian and enthusiastic kayaker. We asked her about her various passions.
December 4, 2021
Why get a booster?
Marion Pepper of the School of Medicine helps us better understand the latest COVID-19 shot.
Fruity, not healthy
Fruit drinks are often disguised as nutritious alternatives to soda. Researchers try to counter that narrative.
Why grad school works
Graduate education is more than a ticket to a better future; it’s an engine for the public good.
A call to action
Associate Professor Wendy Barrington, '12, brings a passion for health equity to her role as director of the Center for Anti-Racism and Community Health.
Fighting the infodemic
Twisted facts, fake news and social media spoofs can turn society upside down. One UW team is working to help us through the infodemic.
November 19, 2021
Remembering the Spratlens
Thaddeus Spratlen and Lois Price-Spratlen were the UW’s academic power couple—excelling as scholars and opening up opportunities for others.
September 11, 2021
Friend to veterans
Dentistry professor Theresa Cheng leads a nonprofit organization that connects veterans with resources and employment opportunities.
Eyes on the goal
Sociology Professor Alexes Harris, ’97, works closely with UW Athletics to help student-athletes succeed.
September 4, 2021
Hope and healing
A researcher combats cancer with the help of UW doctors and tools developed by his colleagues.
August 31, 2021
A distinguished legacy
Thaddeus Spratlen was a trailblazing business educator, a prolific scholar, a mentor and role model for generations of students.
Land of fire and smoke
Ernesto Alvarado will be the first to tell you: You can’t suppress all of a region’s fires when they’re as much a part of the ecology as its flora and fauna.
July 22, 2021
A fresh lens on QTPOC life
Through feature films, groundbreaking documentaries and shorts, a UW librarian creates a canon of meaningful representation in American cinema.
June 21, 2021
Professors nonpareil
One year into remote learning, these seven distinguished scholars kept class as fresh and relevant as ever. Find a seat and meet your 2021 Distinguished Teachers of the Year.