Computer science professor emeritus Ed Lazowska receives 2026 UW Distinguished Teaching Legacy Award
Seattle and the UW are "better because of Ed's impact."
Ed Lazowska adds this year’s Distinguished Teaching Legacy Award to a list of others from the UW, including the Outstanding Public Service Award, the David B. Thorud Leadership Award and the CSE Undergraduate Teaching Award.
For more than five decades, Ed Lazowska has shaped generations of computer scientists at the University of Washington. His lasting influence is being recognized with the Distinguished Teaching Legacy Award.
When Lazowska joined the faculty in 1977, computer science was emerging as a field. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the first Computer Science & Engineering faculty member elected to the National Academy of Engineering and the first fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was also the inaugural holder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Chair. He became department chair in 1993 and held many local and national leadership roles.
Robert Short, ’86, met Lazowska as an undergraduate who had industry experience but no formal background in computer science. “Ed was incredibly supportive, introducing me to abstract methods for understanding systems that I used throughout my career and as VP of the Microsoft Windows Core operating system development,” Short wrote in his nomination. “I’ve watched in awe as Ed’s leadership transformed UW CSE into the powerhouse it is today. He provided the driving force and focus on attracting and growing the absolute best faculty and on creating enduring partnerships across the university and the region.”
Lazowska’s research and teaching focused on the design, implementation and analysis of computing and communication systems as well as the techniques and technologies of data-intensive discovery. He was also active on public-policy issues, ranging from STEM education to federal strategies for research and innovation. He served as a board member or technical adviser for high-tech companies, venture firms and technology-oriented civic organizations, including the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence.
Nominator Patrick Jenny, ‘86, ’91, wrote that “I am a better leader, engineer and Husky because of Ed’s impact in my life. The same is true of Seattle and the UW.”