Corporate Relations contacts

Mark Cabrales

Senior Director, Corporate Relations
mcabrale@uw.edu | 206-543-9852

Assistant: David Silverstein | dsilvers@uw.edu

As the Senior Director for Corporate Relations, Mark leads the central corporate relations team in building holistic, mutually beneficial industry partnerships and engagements across the broader UW community. Together with colleagues, he works to create campus-wide strategies and develop trusted relationships with corporate partners. Mark has 20+ years of industry experience in product management, product marketing, business development and partner strategies and has a deep background in many areas of technology including telecommunications, digital graphics, video compression and automotive research. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.

Kent Foster

Director, Corporate Relations
jkfoster@uw.edu | 206-221-5669

Kent works with industry partners to drive research collaborations and academic initiatives that align with the University of Washington’s goals and priorities. Working closely with various UW departments, he develops strategies for the stewardship of corporate donors, recognizing their contributions and keeping them informed about the impact of their support. In partnership with CoMotion Labs, a multi-industry incubator for early-stage startups, Kent leads the UW Innovator’s Pledge Program, encouraging successful entrepreneurs to reinvest in the university’s innovative ecosystem.

Kent has more than 20 years of experience in audience marketing, program management and business development in higher education and the technology sector. He holds dual degrees from the University of Michigan: a B.A. in Far Eastern Languages (Mandarin Chinese) and History, and a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the Ford School. He spent a significant part of his developmental years living abroad in a US foreign service family residing in Greece, Iran, Afghanistan, India and Ghana. Kent’s exposure to various cultures equips him with the understanding needed to build lasting relationships.

Dorian Varga

Director, Corporate Relations
dvarga@uw.edu | 206-221-7977

As the Director of Corporate Relations, Dorian advances the University of Washington’s (UW) strategic corporate partnerships by promoting various engagement opportunities between the university and corporate entities. Acting as a facilitator, guide and liaison, she helps foster and maintain strong connections between corporate partners and the UW’s schools, colleges and campuses. Dorian is a member of the University-Industry Demonstration Partnership (UIDP), an organization that brings together representatives from academia and industry to address common challenges in university-industry relations and to establish best practices in the field.

Dorian has more than 20 years of experience at the UW, where she has held various positions within the Department of Bioengineering, the School of Law, and the School of Public Health. Most recently, she collaborated with corporate partners and faculty in the College of Engineering to develop impactful student projects that address real-world issues. Dorian proudly holds both a bachelor’s degree in English and drama and a master’s degree in teaching from the University of Washington.