National Newsletter
Husky National – Spring 2020
Lifting the veil: understanding the clarity this moment offers
A message from UW President Ana Mari Cauce on continuing work to address issues of equity, racism and bias. Read her encouragement to not give up or go back at this critical moment.
READ THE MESSAGE
Stronger Together
Be part of a historic UW commencement ceremony
The UW’s commencement ceremonies are going virtual and there are lots of ways for you to be involved. Watch the ceremony live on June 13, share your congratulations with the Class of 2020 through Kudoboard and learn more about how UWAA is offering a complimentary year of membership to new grads.
Support UW COVID-19 emergency student funds
When you contribute to an emergency student fund for one of our three campuses, you provide essential resources to students who have lost the employment, housing or family support that enables their college education.
MAKE A GIFT
Huskies bleed purple!
As a way of helping out during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cecilia Cheng, ’96, ’03, helped the SoCal Huskies put together a virtual blood drive in May. We’re so proud of their physically distanced efforts to give back to their community.
SEE THE POST
Eastern Airlines rescues thousands stranded by pandemic
What would you do if you launched a startup international airline just a few months before a global pandemic left thousands of Americans stranded far from home? If you were Steve Harfst, ’86, the president and CEO of the new Eastern Airlines, you’d go and get them.
FIND OUT MORE
Brooklyn in the time of COVID
Mariel Boyarsky, ’15, shares a first-hand account of working at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, New York during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hear how she overcame scarce resources, suffered loss and worked to serve a marginalized population.
READ HER STORY
Events
Special lecture series
The COVID-19 pandemic is more than just a threat to our health: it’s become a disruption of our way of life. Join moderator Hanson Hosein Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. (PDT) for a series of free, 30-minute livestream talks featuring faculty from across the UW addressing issues ranging from finding love to figuring out where the toilet paper went.
REGISTER TODAY
New season, new titles for UW Alumni Book Club
As the days grow longer and the nights sweeter, it’s time for barbecuing, gardening and reading. The UW Alumni Book Club has three very different books to explore this June and July. Choose your own adventure and join the conversation online for any or all of these compelling reads.
SIGN UP
We’re stronger together
Now more than ever, we need each other. By staying connected, we can continue to learn and grow, to lend a hand or an idea, to be a part of strengthening our community. We invite you to connect with alumni and friends through the UW Alumni Association’s digital programs.
FIND WAYS TO CONNECT
Alumni Spotlight
Naresh Goyal’s passion for education
Two pairs of pants and six dollars—these were the items Naresh “Nick” Goyal, ’72, recalled bringing with him to the U.S. An education at the UW would shape his life, businesses and philanthropy.
READ OUR PROFILE
A San Diego Husky you should know
Cheryl Anderson, ’01, is an epidemiologist who studies the connection between what we eat and the prevention of diseases, such as cancer, heart disease and Parkinson’s disease. She is making a difference in health equity and how we think about our health.
GET TO KNOW CHERYL
Transforming mental health and counseling services for students
In 2017, a deadly wave of wildfires hit northern California, leaving many students and families in Zenia Lemos Horning’s, ‘98, community homeless. Seeing a need, she jumped into action and developed a crisis response system that supported both staff and students.
LEARN MORE
Taking the helm in New York
Brian Bannon, ’99, has a reputation for reinventing the concept of public libraries. After seven years in Chicago, he’s ready for his next challenge: leading the efforts of the New York Public Library’s 88 circulating branch libraries.
FOLLOW HIS JOURNEY
Improving public health’s “best kept secret”
Atlanta Husky Madeleine “Maddy” Frey, ’09, worked with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to evaluate their Network for Public Health Law. Her findings will help the foundation increase awareness and improve the program.
LEARN MORE
Campaigning for prisoner rehabilitation
Michigan Husky Amani Sawari, ’16, is the statewide campaign coordinator for the Michigan Prisoner Rehabilitation Credit Act (MPRCA), an initiative that would restore “good time” credits to the prison system. Michigan is one of three states that does not have earned credits.
EXPLORE HER WORK
Alumna succeeds in Supreme Court case
In April, the Supreme Court said unanimous jury verdicts are required in criminal trials for serious offenses. The case was argued by Jamila Johnson, ’07, who is the managing attorney at the Promise of Justice Initiative in Louisiana.
HEAR THE NPR INTERVIEW
Campus Connections
The water protector
Tyler Gerken recently won one of six master’s fellowships from the UW School of Public Health. The $20,000 award will fund his thesis research on a threat to health and clean water in Hawaii: pathogenic bacteria in coastal waters that can cause serious skin infections for swimmers and surfers.
FIND OUT MORE
Touring in place
We miss UW Alumni Tours but loved this photo and caption, from D.C. Huskies Ben ’68, and Joan Hole. They said, “As the photo illustrates, we signed up for the only UW tour currently available – it’s called ‘Touring in Place.’ It’s free, no trip insurance needed but you have to provide your own food and lodging. Hope our paths cross again on an actual UW tour.”
A graduation tradition moves online
Each year the UW’s schools and colleges select students to carry the school’s gonfalon, a banner that bears that school’s name and symbol. For more than 20 years, alumni volunteers, called Guardians of the Gonfalon, watched over the banners during the ceremony. Now they’re supporting students virtually.
MEET THE GUARDIANS
Husky 100
Each year, the Husky 100 recognizes 100 UW undergraduate and graduate students who are making the most of their time at the UW. This impressive group of students comes from across the country and represents the very best of campus.
EXPLORE THE 100
Just for Fun
Woo woos for a weary world
Dubs made the paper! Catch up with our favorite live mascot as he spreads cute dog content to the masses (at an appropriate distance).
READ ALL ABOUT IT
Zoom backgrounds
Add a purple-and-gold touch to your Zoom meetings with these UW-themed photos, sized for videoconferencing.
LOOK SHARP, HUSKIES!
Stay Connected
- Help us stay in touch with you: UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION
- Meet Dawgs in your own backyard: FIND YOUR LOCAL HUSKY COMMUNITY
- Volunteer in your local Husky community: EMAIL NICOLE HOWARD
- Learn more about giving to the UW: VISIT OUR CAMPAIGN SITE
- Have an idea for a story? EMAIL US
