Expanding horizons Expanding horizons Expanding horizons
From affordability to innovation, the UW's next chapter is about access and the public good.
By Robert J. Jones | Illustration by Anthony Russo | December 2025
My first months as president have been a whirlwind of introductions to the people, places and traditions that make the University of Washington a world-class public research university and a vital part of the Northwest’s cultural fabric.
I’ve found a community where bold ideas meet boundless possibility. From laboratories led by renowned researchers to classrooms where students shape their future to hospitals and clinics where patients receive lifesaving care, the UW is a powerful force for the public good.
I am also deeply impressed by our incredible alumni. Generations of Huskies contribute so much to the UW’s ability to fulfill our public mission. Securing and strengthening our mission will take all of us.
President Jones visited campus in January 2025 before assuming his new role, introducing himself to the UW community (and giving away T-shirts).
Opportunity was not a given for me as a first-generation college student raised in the Jim Crow South. Education was a lifeline, and I owe much of my success to the many people who helped lift me through education and opportunity. My life’s work has been to honor their legacy by holding open the doors for every student who dares to dream.
Student access is the first of three strategic priorities guiding the UW’s agenda. Too many students face an impossible choice between burdensome debt and giving up their aspirations. Thanks to the Husky Promise and Washington’s commitment to educational access, the UW is already a leader, with more than 71% of undergraduates earning their diplomas with no known student debt. Let’s enable every Washington student to graduate debt-free. A debt-free education ensures that talent, not wealth, determines opportunity—freeing graduates to serve the greater good or take entrepreneurial risks. Our world needs young people with the freedom to dream fearlessly.
We must also deepen the University’s impact through radical collaboration: uniting expertise across disciplines and sectors to tackle society’s greatest challenges. From curing disease and developing clean energy to advancing AI for the public good, the UW is uniquely positioned to lead the next era of discovery. We will do this through innovative partnerships—with industry, government and our communities—that turn discovery into large-scale impact.
Finally, we must invest in rebuilding the public trust that is the foundation of a public university. Our campuses, research centers and hospitals are woven into the fabric of Washington life. Whether providing more than $850 million in uncompensated health care, partnering with tribal nations on climate resilience or collaborating with other universities, the public sector, industry or community groups, we are committed to ensuring that the benefits of the University reach every corner of our state.
I see tremendous opportunity ahead, not only to strengthen the UW’s existing foundation of excellence, but to transform the very idea of what a public research university can be. Through access, discovery and engagement, we can reach new heights in serving the public good.
We face serious challenges. Economic pressures, threats to federal research funding and demographic shifts require us to be nimbler and more resilient. But I believe wholeheartedly that we are built for this moment. We have the talent, the passion and the shared sense of purpose to meet it head-on.
To our alumni, you are living proof of what the UW makes possible. Your continued engagement, generosity and advocacy are essential as we write the next chapter in our story. Together, we will expand opportunity, accelerate discovery and strengthen the bond between this university and the people it serves.