Category: News

Join faculty, staff and students to cheer on the athletes competing on our Seattle campus

From July 1-6, more than 4,000 athletes and coaches from all 50 states will visit Seattle and the surrounding region to participate in the Special Olympics USA Games.

The University of Washington will serve as the primary venue for the USA Games and all faculty, staff, students, family and friends are encouraged to attend. You can show your support by joining as a “Fan in the Stands,” volunteering or participating in a variety of exciting events and activities on the Seattle campus, beginning June 27.  

The Young Athletes Festival, the Fan Zone, the Closing Ceremony and all of the sports competitions are free and open to the public. Tickets are required for the Opening Ceremony and are $20-$65.

Schedule Overview

• June 29-30: Athletes and coaches move into the UW
• July 1: Opening ceremony at Husky Stadium
• July 2-6: Sporting events at the UW and additional local venues
• July 6: Closing ceremony at Lake Union Park
• July 7: Athletes and coaches depart the UW
• Full schedule

Remember to request vacation time off if you volunteer or attend during work hours.

About the USA Games

The UW campus will be the site for the opening ceremony, athletic competitions, presentations, entertainment and more. UW residence halls will house thousands of athletes and coaches during the games. Other local venues co-hosting the 2018 USA Games include Seattle Center, Seattle University, Seattle Pacific University, King County Aquatic Center, Willows Run Golf Club, Celebration Park and Kenmore Lanes.
Fourteen sports will be offered including swimming, flag football, basketball, golf, gymnastics, tennis, powerlifting and soccer. More than 10,000 volunteers will support the USA Games with 70,000 spectators expected to attend.

In addition to showcasing the inspiring abilities of thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities, the USA Games will model the ideals of inclusion and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Special Olympics movement.

The UW has a long history of researching intellectual disabilities, and of serving members of the community with Down Syndrome, autism, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and rarer conditions.

Parking and Traffic Impacts

Since the USA Games are occurring in the summer, the impact should be minimal. The Opening Ceremony on Sunday, July 1 is expected to be the most significantly attended event, but will be limited to 24,000 people, similar to Commencement. As with any major event, the campus will receive advance notice and special instructions as needed. Messages to faculty, staff and students as well as specific parking permit holders will be shared as the USA Games approach.
For the competition events on east campus, Special Olympics anticipates 5,000 spectators each day across all of the competition venues.

More information:

• Information for UW employees
• 2018 Special Olympics USA Games
• Frequently Asked Questions
• About intellectual disabilities

How to Register

Alaska Airlines, in partnership with MorphoTrust, will be hosting a TSA Pre✓onsite at the Luxury Suite in the Husky Stadium from May 7-10, 2018.

To participate in this local enrollment event, follow these steps to pre-enroll:

1. Click here to access the application page
2. Click Start Application Now, then click New Enrollment
3. Fill out Steps 1-4
4. On Step 4 (Create an Appointment), put in SP-HUSKY and click the search icon
5. Choose location “3800 Montlake Blvd” and then click ‘Next’
6. Select your desired appointment time. Please be sure to make note of your appointment time, no reminders will be sent out- choose walk-in option for day of enrollment.

For any questions regarding TSA Pre✓ enrollment, please contact MorphoTrust at (855) 347-8371.

About the Program

TSA Pre✓® is an expedited screening program that enables identified low-risk air travelers to enjoy a smart and efficient screening experience. For TSA Pre✓® travelers, there is no need to remove shoes, 3-1-1 liquids, laptops, light outerwear or belts. Today, TSA Pre✓® has more than 450 lanes at 200+ U.S. airports.

The TSA Pre✓® application program allows U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to directly apply for TSA Pre✓®. Once approved, travelers will receive a “Known Traveler Number” (which needs to be added to a travelers airline profile and reservations) and will have the opportunity to utilize TSA Pre✓® lanes at select security checkpoints when flying on the 37 carriers that currently participate in TSA Pre✓® including: Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, OneJet, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, United Airlines, Virgin America, Seaborne, WestJet, Aeromexico, Lufthansa, Cape Air, Ethihad Airways, Spirit and Frontier.

IMPORTANT! To complete the application process, you will need to bring documentation proving identity and citizenship status. If you have a valid U.S. passport, that is all you need for ID! You will finish the process onsite by providing your fingerprints for a background check.

The application fee is $85 and can be paid by credit card, money order, or certified/cashier’s check. Cash and personal checks are not accepted.

Enroll now in TSA Pre✔® and become part of an expedited security screening program that helps take the stress out of travel.

The University of Washington has announced this year’s Awards of Excellence recipients being recognized for achievements in teaching, mentoring, public service and staff support.

The winners will be honored at 3:30 p.m. on June 7 in Meany Hall for the UW community and general public. The program includes a one-hour ceremony hosted by President Ana Mari Cauce and Provost and Executive Vice President Jerry Baldasty, followed by a reception with hors d’oeuvres, desserts, a photo booth, and a chance to connect and celebrate with your team members and the rest of the UW community. Please invite your colleagues, friends and family!

Check out the short promotional video below and continue reading to see this year’s complete list of winners.

Distinguished Staff Award

• Jerrett Roberge, Machinery Mechanic Lead, Facilities Services
• Kelly Canaday, Adviser and Program Manager, Dance, College of Arts & Sciences
• Robin V. Luke, Dental Hygienist, School of Dentistry
• Wai Pang Chan, Research Coordinator, Biology, College of Arts & Sciences, Division of Natural Science
• Master Plan Core Team, Capital Planning & Development, University Architect and UW Bothell:
  • Julie Blakeslee, Environmental & Land Use Planner
  • Kristine Kenney, Director of Campus Design & Planning
  • Kelly Snyder, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Government & Community Relations
  • Amy Van Dyke, Director of Physical Planning and Space Management

David B. Thorud Leadership Award

• Faculty award: Gail Joseph, Associate Professor, College of Education
• Staff award: Sonya G. Cunningham, Director, STARS Program, College of Engineering

Distinguished Librarian Award

Leslie Hurst, Head of Teaching & Learning and Literature & Humanities Librarian, Campus Library, UW Bothell and Cascadia College, University Libraries

Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award

Ralina Joseph, Associate Professor, Communication, and Director, Center for Communication, Difference and Equity

Distinguished Retiree Excellence in Community Service Award

Robert Crawford, Professor Emeritus, School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, UW Tacoma

Distinguished Teaching Award

• Megan Ming Francis, Associate Professor, Political Science, College of Arts & Sciences
• Alexes Harris, Presidential Term Professor, Sociology, College of Arts & Sciences
• Frances McCue, Senior Lecturer, English, College of Arts & Sciences
• Chelsea L. Wood, Assistant Professor, Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, College of the Environment
• Ekin Yaşin, Senior Lecturer, Communication, and Associate Director, Communication Leadership Program, College of Arts & Sciences
• Karam Dana, Assistant Professor, School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, UW Bothell
• Danica Sterud Miller, Assistant Professor, School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, UW Tacoma

Distinguished Teaching Award for Innovation with Technology

Jane A. Van Galen, Professor, School of Educational Studies, UW Bothell

Distinguished Teaching Legacy Award

William D. Cole, Professor, Music, and Director, Husky Marching Band (Athletics)

Excellence in Teaching Award

• Sarah Faulkner, Instructor and Ph.D. Candidate, English, College of Arts & Sciences
• Eldridge Alcantara, Ph.D. Student, Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering

Distinguished Contributions to Lifelong Learning Award

P. Dee Boersma, Professor, Biology, College of Arts & Sciences

University Faculty Lecture Award

Quintard Taylor, Scott and Dorothy Bullitt Professor of American History, History, College of Arts & Sciences

Marsha L. Landolt Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award

Suzie Hwang Pun, Robert F. Rushmer Professor, Bioengineering, College of Engineering and UW Medicine

Distinguished Alumni Veteran Award

Raymond D. Emory, ’52, U.S. Navy (retired), College of Built Environments (formerly Architecture)

Outstanding Public Service

Elizabeth Dawson-Hahn, Acting Assistant Professor, Pediatrics, UW Medicine

President’s Medals

• Grace Shannon Woodard, Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences
• Andrew Vo, Education, Communities and Organizations, College of Education

Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus

Orin C. Smith, ’65, Business

Thanks to all who shared their feedback in our recent UW Insider survey. Your responses will guide our improvements to better provide information and resources that support you in your personal and professional life.

More than 700 respondents gave feedback. The majority reported being satisfied with UW Insider, finding it easy to access information of interest. Suggestions for improvement included personalizing content based on your interests, listing event details more clearly and featuring more free services and discounts. We will begin making these changes in the coming months.

Congratulations to Tamara Bacus, research scientist for the School of Medicine, for winning our UW swag bag giveaway!

Have additional feedback on UW Insider? We want to hear from you! Send an email to uinsider@uw.edu.

All University of Washington students and employees now have the option to include their preferred name on their Husky Card, which is also being redesigned with a new look.

The UW ID Center is offering free card exchanges from April 2 through June 1 to those who would like their preferred name listed. After this limited time waiver period, the standard $25 replacement fee for name change reprints of Husky Cards will be in effect.

Allowing faculty, staff and students to have the name they wish to be called on their Husky Card supports the UW’s goal of creating a welcoming and respectful community. For more information on preferred names, visit registrar.washington.edu/students/preferred-names.

Exchanging your Husky Card
If you would like to receive an updated card, please first update your preferred name on identity.uw.edu. After two business days, UW students and employees who already have a Husky Card can visit one of our ID Center locations to exchange their card. Your current, active Husky Card must be turned in to receive a replacement during and after the waiver period.

U-PASS holders should allow 24-48 hours for their new card to begin working on transit.

New card design
Beginning this April the UW will use a new, unified card design for the Seattle, Bothell and Tacoma campuses, including UW Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center. The SafeCampus phone number will be printed on the back of all cards to help promote community safety. New employees and students, as well as those exchanging cards to have their preferred name listed, will receive cards with the new design.

For additional information about exchanging your Husky Card, visit
hfs.uw.edu/Husky-Card-Services/FAQ.

 Jonathan was in kindergarten, getting used to his routine as a busy, young boy when everything changed.

His parents noticed he had some unusual bruising, so they took him to the pediatrician. They were heading home after school when the doctor called.

“He told us to go to the ER right away,” said Jonathan’s mom, Jean.

As one night in the hospital turned to four, the family’s fear grew.

“The hardest part was explaining to Jonathan what was happening,” Jean said. “Outwardly, he looked like his normal, healthy self. But inside, his blood was slowly making him sick.”

Jonathan was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia which often requires lifelong maintenance and monitoring. His current medication requires a regimented schedule that has created an entirely new daily routine for his whole family.

In the midst of this tumultuous time, Jonathan and his family received a life-changing gift through Make-A-Wish® Alaska and Washington, which helps make wishes come true for children with l critical illnesses.

Jonathan’s dream became reality through the program as he traveled to New York City, walked the city streets, spent a day with the New York Police Department and experienced the many sights of a bustling metropolis.

“Jonathan’s wish opened our eyes to the world around us,” said Jean.

Now, Jonathan looks forward to anything involving Make-A-Wish^®, where he’s surrounded by people who truly care about him and encourage him to keep dreaming. His family has stayed involved because they know how important a wish can be and how it gives a needed break to families constantly in the throes of medical procedures.

“Wishes give kids something to look forward to. They bring sense where things are confusing in their medical world,” said Jean. “Wishes bring hope, and this hope is tangible.”

Now, the UW Combined Fund Drive and Make-A-Wish^® Alaska and Washington are teaming up to make wishes come true, and you can help.

Airline travel remains Make-A-Wish^® Alaska and Washington’s single largest expense. It would take an estimated 80 million miles annually to grant all local travel wishes. Make-A-Wish^® Alaska and Washington’s goal is to raise one million miles from March 5-18 to send more kids like Jonathan on their wish trip. You can play a part in granting these wishes by donating your unused miles today and sharing the donation link so others can do the same.

Here at the University of Washington, our commitment to bettering our world knows no bounds, and this year’s UW Combined Fund Drive showed just that. The UW community came together to raise $2,167,963 for local and global nonprofits during the fall drive.

Through event participation and personal donations, UW faculty, staff, students and alumni helped fund local charities, made a significant impact on a variety of causes and continued to go above and beyond in serving our state and world.

“I want to thank everyone who generously supported their favorite causes this year,” said Kerri Fuller, development officer and campaign manager for the UW Combined Fund Drive. “It’s wonderful to know that the UW is making a difference for so many.”

Each year, the UW Combined Fund Drive selects a featured charity and this year’s pick was Special Olympics Washington, in preparation for the USA Summer Games coming to the UW in July. The organization provides athletic training and holds competitions in a variety of Olympic-style sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, teaching lessons about determination, courage and finding value in both losing and winning.

“We challenged ourselves to raise $2,018 for each Washington state athlete to train and compete for the 2018 USA Summer Games – and we succeeded,” Fuller said. “Thanks to all our generous donations, seven athletes will now see their dreams come true.”

The statewide fundraising campaign dates back to 1984, and since then, the UW community has contributed a total of more than $46 million for nonprofits, UW scholarships and UW programs.

Visit the UW Combined Fund Drive website to find volunteer opportunities as well as special events like the Make-A-Wish Washington airline miles drive in March and April’s Earth Day Forum.

If you missed this year’s drive or still want to show your support, you can still give year-round through payroll deduction.

by Hannah Myrick

Each year since 1976, the University of Washington has acknowledged outstanding creativity and scholarship by naming a faculty member to deliver the annual University Faculty Lecture. This award honors an individual whose work has made a significant impact on their profession, on the research or performance of others, and on society as a whole.

At this year’s lecture, Michael H. Gelb, the Boris and Barbara L. Weinstein Endowed Chair in Chemistry and an adjunct professor in the Department of Biochemistry, will discuss his life-saving work on newborn screening tests. In advance of the event, the globally recognized expert on enzymes and drug development talked about his research and inspiration.

Q: What inspired you to begin researching newborn screening?

MG: When my wife was pregnant with our second child, she had an amniocentesis, a prenatal procedure that checks for possible genetic disorders and other health concerns of the baby. The nurses had tested only for Down syndrome and a few other conditions. After that, I began to wonder — what other diseases weren’t being checked for in newborns?

Around 1994, I started working with my colleagues Dr. Ronald Scott, professor of pediatrics at the UW School of Medicine, and Frank Tureček, professor of chemistry, who helped us with the technology we needed to begin our research. We determined some specific diseases we could test for and began doing so with our new technology. Now, doctors and researchers across the country and around the world are using our research to provide more comprehensive newborn screenings.

Q: How does the test work? What does it measure, and who does it affect?

MG: Traditionally, when we test newborns, we test only for diseases that have good early treatments. There are about a dozen diseases called lysosomal storage diseases that our team tests for and that are treatable.

All the diseases in this test are caused by broken enzymes, which are responsible for the breakdown of metabolites in cells. The degree to which the enzyme works determines how severe the disease is. These diseases aren’t black and white, and some conditions do not develop until a child is a teenager or an adult.

For the screening test, we place a few drops of the infant’s blood onto filter paper. Then we expose the enzymes in the blood to different molecules to measure their reactions. In general, the more molecules that are made, the better the enzymes are working.

For perspective: In Washington state, about 80,000 babies are born each year. Of these, four to five kids need treatment immediately, and 10 to 15 who don’t have the disease yet are put on alert — made aware that a disease may develop later in life.

Q: Who decides which tests are implemented in different states?

MG: While there’s no federal umbrella policy, states tend to follow the Congressional Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act of 2014. This act allocates funding for a committee of experts to add diseases to the list of conditions to test for during newborn screenings.

Q: Who are some major players involved in this project?

MG: I often work with foundations started by families with an affected child. I think it carries more weight if they — instead of professors or biotech companies — advocate for these improved newborn-screening procedures. These foundations are extremely active with their state representatives and legislatures.

Q: What does your future research for the project look like?

MG: The National Institutes of Health renewed our grant for another four years. I’m not sure where our future research goes, but we’re optimistic that diseases will continue to be added to the panel. As we learn more about new diseases that people can develop, we’ll revisit the technology and adjust it to test for those.

Q: Why is this project important to you?

MG: What these families go through is kind of a mess — going through the health care system, through the diseases. I can’t stress enough how horrific these diseases are for the families and the kids. I think this is the most important field I’ve ever worked in; it’s great to see these kids getting better.

Q: What do you like about working at the UW?

MG: I’ve been here a long time, so it feels like home. I like my colleagues, especially how closely our chemistry department works with UW Medicine. Also, the UW’s CoMotion is an excellent resource. It was instrumental in helping me obtain patents, partner with other organizations and develop technology.

About Michael H. Gelb
Professor Gelb is the Boris and Barbara L. Weinstein Endowed Chair in Chemistry and an adjunct professor in the Department of Biochemistry. His research on enzymes has led to the development of drugs to treat neglected diseases and the screening of newborns for genetic metabolism disorders. Join us for his University Faculty Lecture, “Newborn Screening for Treatable Genetic Diseases.”

University Faculty Lecture
Jan. 23, 2018
7:30 p.m. Lecture in Kane Hall, Room 130
8:30 p.m. Reception in Kane Hall, Walker-Ames Room

To celebrate the start of the UW Combined Fund Drive from Oct. 4 to Dec. 1, all UW students, staff, faculty and retirees are invited to the Charity Fair & Silent Auction on Tuesday, Oct. 10.

Stop by the HUB ballroom from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to hear from more than 80 nonprofit representatives about their work to build stronger, healthier communities. Plus, enjoy kittens and puppies, free refreshments, a stationery sale, a photo booth with Dubs and amazing door prizes.

The silent auction will benefit Special Olympics Washington. Auction items include a Hyatt Regency Bellevue bed and breakfast for two, Whidbey Island cabin stay, Agua Verde & Paddle Club package, evo gift card and skate park lessons, FareStart Guest Chef Night tickets, Hoodsport Winery wine tasting for four, and Stevens Pass lift tickets.

Participate in the book drive by bringing a new or gently used children’s book for The Center for Pediatric Dentistry at the UW.

During last year’s campaign, more than 4,000 UW community members generously donated to raise a total of $2.2 million. With your help, we are looking forward to deepening our impact this year. The campaign runs Oct. 4 through Dec. 1.

Get your fall quarter off to a good start by taking advantage of the many improved and expanded UW CareLink services available to benefits eligible UW employees, their dependents and household members. CareLink provides counseling; legal, financial and eldercare assistance; coaching for managers and supervisors and more.

Check out the following services:

• Multilingual call center answered by counselors with master’s or doctoral degrees
• Five counseling sessions per issue —  available in-person, by phone or video
• Unlimited legal, financial and eldercare consultations, answered by in-house representatives. (If legal representation is needed, employees will be connected with a local attorney for 30 minutes at no charge and 25% reduction thereafter)
• Unlimited concierge-like services for a wide range of needs including child or elder care, education, adoption, pet care, housing searches and home repair
• Unlimited management consultations by phone, which includes coaching and support for supervisors and managers as well as traumatic workplace incident response
• On-site trainings, workshops and traumatic workplace incident response

A complete list of new and improved services is available at hr.uw.edu/worklife/uw-carelink/. You can continue to access UW CareLink through the WorkLife website or by calling 866-598-3978.

These improvements come as we move to a new vendor — ComPysch, a leading provider of employee assistance programs with more than 33,000 client organizations in over 140 countries. Please note that we are sunsetting the URL www.uwcarelink.com. If you have this site bookmarked, be sure to update it to hr.uw.edu/worklife/uw-carelink/.

Contact worklife@uw.edu for any questions about this change or new services offered.