You’re invited
Join President Cauce, in person or virtually, for her annual address where she will share her vision for how the UW will create the greatest possible impact in the world for the good of students, the public and future generations. To be followed by Q&A and a reception at:
The Henry Art Gallery
Thursday, Oct. 12
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Even after more than 35 years at the UW, I continue to experience joy and excitement as our campuses burst into life and activity with the start of each new academic year. As we welcome students back to campus, including more than 11,500 who are just starting their Husky Experience, the energy they bring is a reminder of the exhilarating potential our community holds.
The academic year ahead of us is especially rich with opportunities for all of us to get engaged in the learning, discovery and public service for which the UW is an unparalleled launchpad. As one of the world’s leading public research universities, the UW creates and accelerates change that betters the world both broadly and deeply, and as a member of this community, it can open countless doors for each of us to contribute in ways that are personally meaningful and satisfying.
The UW is particularly focused on certain areas where our deep expertise and wide network of partnership and interdisciplinary efforts have the potential to create impact on a global scale. I plan to talk more about these key University Initiatives during my Annual President’s Address on October 12 to which our whole community is invited.
Working together, and with our communities, we can have an even greater impact on pressing challenges like substance abuse and behavioral health, the climate crisis, and economic and racial inequities. At UW Bothell, the opening of Innovation Hall will mark a new era of collaboration with Cascadia College to prepare students for high-demand STEM careers. And on the UW Tacoma campus, work is underway to foster financial wellness among both students and community members, including the upcoming launch of a Financial Wellness & Markets Lab. On all three campuses, faculty and staff will discover countless opportunities to get involved in efforts that speak to you.
This year will also mark several important milestones and exciting celebrations, including the 50th anniversary of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a pivotal piece of legislation that enshrined the rights of people with disabilities under federal law. You can find out about the events and programming connected with this anniversary from our Office of the ADA Coordinator.
I’m also delighted to be working with several new UW leaders including Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Tricia Serio, Dean of the School of Social Work Michael Spencer and Dean of the School of Pharmacy Jayanth Panyam as they begin to their first academic years at the UW. And we are currently well underway in our leadership searches for our next CEO of UW Medicine and Dean of the School of Medicine and our next Director of Athletics.
Whatever you are most excited about in the academic year ahead, I wish you a rich and fulfilling start to it. We have exciting work ahead together as a community – I look forward to undertaking it together.