News and Updates

House and Senate Appropriators unveiled a $1.1 trillion spending package yesterday. The FY15 appropriations packaged, dubbed the “cromnibus,” would provided new funding for all government agencies and programs with the exception of the Department of Homeland Security. It will fund the federal government for the remainder of 2015 fiscal year and contains a continuing resolution (CR) funding homeland security through February 2015. Visit our Federal Relations page for more information.

Inside Outlook, the new current affairs series by UWTV will air a preview episode on November 22 and 23 at 9:00 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. on cable channel 27 and also on demand on UWTV.org. Inside Outlook, hosted by journalist and UW alum, Gavin Sullivan, aims to break through ideological division and political gridlock with frank and open dialogue on issues of concern in our region. Each episode features stories about real people and a diverse panel of though leaders, community activists and policy makers.

Watch a short clip at UWTV.org now. The preview airs Nov. 22 and 23 on UWTV | Channel 27 (check your channel online). The series will premier in January 2015 on UWTV and NWCN.

We welcomed Genesee Adkins, new director state relations, this week.

Adkins brings 12 years of experience working in Olympia to our team. Most recently, she served for five years as director of government relations for King County, where she worked on legislative strategies for the county executive and led the county’s state-level efforts in Olympia, securing state funding for key county priorities, among other efforts. Prior to her work for the county, Adkins served as state legislative director for the city of Seattle for nearly two years and as state policy director at the Transportation Choices Coalition, a nonprofit transportation advocacy organization.

As UW’s director of state relations, Adkins will be the university’s chief representative in Olympia to both the executive and legislative branches. She will also be a key member of the administrative team advising the university president on legislative strategy and communicating to the university community about higher education issues in Olympia.

Adkins replaces Margaret Shepherd, who served in this position for four years and was recently appointed director of strategic initiatives in UW President Michael Young’s office.

Commemorate Veterans Day 2014 by attending one or more of the events being hosted around the UW’s campuses, and join us in celebrating our many students, alumni, retirees, faculty and staff who have valiantly served in the U.S. Armed and uniformed forces. In recognition of their undaunted service to our country, we invite you to take part in Veterans Appreciation Week, Nov. 3 – 11.

As part of the University’s continued commitment to our veterans, we are hosting a full week of events, including an open house with the UW’s ROTC programs and an inspirational evening with former U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe. The week will culminate with the Veterans Days Celebration and Ceremony, taking place at the Medal of Honor Memorial at the University of Washington in Seattle on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. At the ceremony, the recipient of the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Veteran Award, Richard H. Layton, M.D., ’54, ’58, will be recognized for his lifelong physician in the WWAMI and Physician Assistant Program.  

UW faculty and staff also have the opportunity to participate in a special workshop, “Welcoming all students: Teaching student veterans,” on Friday, Nov. 7. For more information and to register, visit the Center for Teaching and Learning website. 

For information on all of the events, on each UW campus, visit UWalum.com/veterans.

GeekWire interviewed Vikram Jandhyala, Vice Provost of Innovation, about the future of innovation and entrepreneurship at the UW. Jandhyala is working on making innovation part of educating students. “I want to see the creative juices becoming part of the education system, rather than something you do after the fact, or just happening on your own time.” Read the full interview from GeekWire.