Long-time leader at the UW and within OMA&D, Dr. Gabriel Gallardo passed away on May 11, 2020. On August 22, 2024, we honored his legacy by dedicating a room at the Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center (Kelly ECC) in his name.
The OMA&D community gathered in the early afternoon at the Kelly ECC for a reception before the dedication ceremony, where they enjoyed catered food, drinks, and being together in community for this occasion. One OMA&D staff member remarked, “It is really heartwarming to see so many people come together again to honor Dr. Gabe and all of the work he put into [OMA&D]. This kind of show of support really shows how important his work was to everyone.”
After the reception, Kristian Wiles, associate vice president of student success at OMA&D, and long-time friend of Gallardo, welcomed the community of gatherers and spoke about the history of Gallardo’s work, and the long planning and work that went into making the room dedication a reality. He also expressed gratitude to the Gallardo family.
Following Wiles, another long-time friend and director of the Kelly ECC, Magdalena Fonseca welcomed guests and gave remarks about the impact Gallardo had on her personally, but also the lasting impact she has witnessed on the lives of students who call the Kelly ECC their “home away from home.”
Rickey Hall, vice president for OMA&D and university diversity officer, delivered personal remarks about knowing Gallardo and how grateful he is for the decades of work he had done with OMA&D before his passing. “To his OMA&D colleagues, Gabe was a leader – a mentor – and a supportive friend. In addition, to me he was a confidant and trusted advisor,” said Hall. “Gabe is not only remembered by our community for the lives he has forever changed through his work, or the ways in which he pushed this University to do better – to BE better – but because his love of life was infectious.” As Hall completed his remarks, OMA&D staff lowered the curtain and revealed a mounted glass etched plaque hanging on the door of the Kelly ECC conference room, now named in honor of Gallardo.
Closing the program, Gallardo’s widow, Veronica Gallardo, reflected on the ways in which she and her family remember Gallardo and his love and dedication to the UW and to OMA&D specifically. She expressed her gratitude to the UW and to OMA&D for honoring Gallardo’s memory in this way and continuing to recognize his legacy of championing student success.
In 2021, the Ronald E. McNair Undergraduate Symposium was also renamed in Gallardo’s honor to the Gabriel E. Gallardo Research, Student Leadership & Advocacy Symposium, and the Dr. Gabriel Gallardo EOP Endowed Fund for Undergraduate Students was established to award scholarships to qualified EOP students.
RECEPTION
DEDICATION
