Fall quarter is underway and campus is buzzing again with the excitement that the beginning of a new academic year brings.
A few days before classes started, I had the pleasure of introducing some of this year’s incoming freshmen and transfer students to the UW and Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity (OMA&D) family at Welcome Daze, our annual orientation event held in conjunction with Dawg Daze.
In my remarks, I told these new Huskies that we have great expectations for them. They are the ones who will continue to drive the excellence and innovation for which the UW is known. And they are the ones who will make us great. Many of these students have utilized OMA&D services since grade school and now they are here, ready to do big things. We are excited to have them here.
Also joining us this year are some talented new faculty members engaged in diversity-related research, teaching or service. Each fall we also recognize similar faculty who have recently earned the great distinction of tenure here at the UW. I hope you will take some time to learn a little more about them and what they bring to the University.
Perhaps one of the most anticipated OMA&D events in recent memory will take place in just a few weeks. On Oct. 25, we will break ground on the Intellectual House. For nearly 40 years, the UW Native American community has sought to build a longhouse facility on this campus. This ceremony gets us one step closer to making that dream a reality. We hope many of you will celebrate this special occasion with us.
That same day, the UW will commemorate its 152nd birthday with the annual “W Day” festivities. Homecoming Saturday takes place on Oct. 26, and will feature the 19th annual Multicultural Alumni Partnership Bridging the Gap Breakfast and OMA&D’s The Weekend. Tickets are going fast for combined admission to our tailgate in the Zone and the Husky football game versus California, so be sure to register early.
This past summer we said good-bye to alumni and close OMA&D friends, Bruce Hilliard, ’85, ’02, and Kip Tokuda, ’69, ’73. Both Bruce and Kip were great champions of diversity both on campus and in the community. We continue to hold them in our thoughts as we mourn their passing.
I invite you to visit OMA&D eNews to learn more about the highlights occurring here on campus and in the community. We continue to be grateful for the generosity of you, our alumni and friends, who make it possible for OMA&D to provide educational opportunity and access for students. We always enjoy hearing from you so be sure to fill out the OMA&D Alumni Connect Form to share what is happening in your world.
Sincerely,
Sheila Edwards Lange
Vice President for Minority Affairs
Vice Provost for Diversity