Today I had the pleasure of addressing our University community from the wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ, or Intellectual House, about the incredible value that the University of Washington delivers to the people of our state. As the University FOR Washington, the time is now for public reinvestment in this resource that serves all of Washington, before we begin to erode this great institution.
Presidential Blog
Mourning the loss of Paul G. Allen, a true innovator and friend of the UW
Today we mourn the loss of Paul G. Allen, a man of extraordinary vision, leadership and generosity whose impact on our world is profound. Paul was a true innovator — co-founding Microsoft and launching the revolution that put a computer on every desktop — and what many would call a Renaissance man.
Celebrating a milestone – and the people who made it possible
Today, the University of Washington’s philanthropic campaign – Be Boundless – For Washington, For the World – passed a historic milestone. We met the campaign’s goal two years ahead of schedule thanks to the extraordinary generosity of more than 380,000 donors — including many in our own UW community — and through the collaboration of so many of our faculty, staff, alumni and students.
Professor of psychology Kristina Olson wins MacArthur “Genius Grant”
Congratulations to Kristina Olson, an associate professor of psychology and the director of the UW’s Social Cognitive Development Lab, who is the latest UW recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship – aka a “genius grant.” Kristina’s groundbreaking, long-term studies of transgender and gender-nonconforming children are a fabulous example of how methodologically rigorous research matters by helping to inform policy and support mental health.
To our community, new and returning, welcome!
There has been an undeniable uptick in our tempo over the past few weeks as we welcome new students, faculty and staff — and their families — to our community. To all of you, whether this is your first year at the UW or your 40th, welcome. You infuse the UW with a vast potential that is truly inspiring, and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together this year.
UW alumni are vital to ensuring reinvestment in Washington public higher ed
We are at a pivotal moment for the future of our University. The next session of the state legislature in January will be a crucial one for the UW and all of public higher education.
A dose of inspiration from Justice Sotomayor
This weekend, I had the tremendous honor of interviewing Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor who was invited here by the University Book Store and the UW School of Law to talk about her newest book, Turning Pages
Mourning a loss for our community
As we have feared, and as the Seattle police today confirmed, tragically, two UW students, Kornkamon Leenawarat and Thiti-On Chotechuangsab, died in an apartment near the Seattle campus earlier this week. Both were students in the UW School of Law Masters of Law program.
Learning doesn’t take a summer vacation at the UW
For the University of Washington, the summer remains a dynamic and energetic environment. So while the lines are shorter at the coffee shops and dining halls and parking spots a little easier to come by, it’s anything but quiet.
Welcoming our new provost, Mark Richards
It’s my pleasure to extend a warm welcome to Dr. Mark Richards, the University of Washington’s new provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and Professor of Earth and Space Sciences. I am delighted to be working with Mark and look forward to his contributions to our community. Mark’s responsibilities are broad and include serving as the University’s chief academic and budget officer in support of teaching, research and service across the UW.
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Prior to joining us, Mark was a professor of Earth and planetary science and special assistant for diversity in the mathematical and physical sciences, having previously served as executive dean of the College of Letters and Science (2006-2014) and dean of Mathematical and Physical Science (2002-2014), all at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a celebrated scholar of geology and will be delivering a public lecture of great general interest — the seismic and meteoric activity that coincided with the extinction of the dinosaurs — on October 30. It will be a wonderful opportunity for our campus to get to know Mark and learn more about his fascinating research — I look forward to seeing you there and at the welcome reception that will follow.
Until then, Mark will be taking time this summer to get to know our campus and community, as well as our beautiful region and state. He’ll be visiting many units and departments to learn about the extraordinary teaching and scholarship that define our academic community, as well as the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Please join me in making Mark — along with his wife, Dr. Sarah Noonberg, and their three children — feel welcome, as we all work together to advance the great public mission of the UW.