Skip to content
Presidential Blog

Presidential Blog

You are the best of UW

Posted on

As we approach the end of 2015, there is much to be thankful for, starting with our many colleagues — be they faculty, students, staff, alumni or friends — working to make the world a better place. True, these are challenging times, here and around the world. There is so much sadness, hate and fear that threatens to divide us; so much hard work, individually and institutionally, that remains. But by taking a moment to breathe deeply and soak in what’s right, we do not turn our backs on the struggle — we renew ourselves for the challenges to come.

In thinking about the past year, I’m drawn not only to the big events and achievements, but also to the milestones that defined the year for each of us. Some of these accomplishments are public, such as walking across the Commencement stage at Husky Stadium, or having news of a hard-earned award or ranking shared around the world. Others took place away from the limelight and far from the crowds, and might have even been difficult or uncomfortable, but were just as meaningful.

Regardless of whether it came in a packed hall or a practice space, in the middle of one of our campuses or at a far-off research station, each of these achievements adds up to create a greater whole. It is those moments — your moments — that we celebrate as the #BestofUW.

As we look to the year ahead, the University of Washington will continue to promote access and excellence — the central pillars of our mission as a public university. We will continue to facilitate open dialogue and real progress on the issues that speak to our shared values — to strive to be a model for equity and diversity. All of our progress in these and so many other areas will happen thanks to you.

It is an honor to support your work and to celebrate your achievements. I wish you a healthy, peaceful and prosperous new year.

Happy Birthday, Bill Gates Sr.

Posted on

Photo of Bill Gates Sr.Bill Gates Sr. is a big man with an even bigger heart. On this, the occasion of his 90th birthday, we salute the immense contributions he’s made to our University.

Ever since he earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the UW, Gates has been the University of Washington’s biggest champion. He served for 15 years on the Board of Regents; earned the UW Alumni Association’s Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus Award; chaired Campaign UW: Creating Futures, which raised $2.7 billion; has been a longtime and active current member of the UW Foundation Board; and has been a vocal, lifelong Husky football fan — the list goes on and on from there.

His wisdom, courage and compassion have made our world and our community a vastly better place. I can think of no better example of Passion Never Rests!

Learn more about this remarkable man in this Columns article.

The game-changing future of innovation Seattle-style

Posted on

If we are to lead as an epicenter of innovation, we must bring people together—business, nonprofits, educational institutions and entire communities — to identify challenges and develop solutions. Bringing together local business and nonprofit leaders to ensure that our region remains strong, diverse and competitive. As pioneers of innovation, these visionary CEOs are tackling issues like education and infrastructure head on, with creativity, collaboration, ingenuity and sustainability.

Big data holds tremendous opportunities to solve health challenges, Cauce tells Tsinghua forum

Posted on

The challenges of our time cross boundaries, so universities and nations must do the same to solve them. That was the message President Ana Mari Cauce delivered during her keynote address Monday at the Tsinghua University Innovation and Big Data Forum in Beijing.

“The future health, prosperity, and well-being of our nations and our planet depend on our ability to cross boundaries and build relationships. Relationships between our students, who are the future leaders of our nations; between our faculties, who are driving innovation around the world; and between our countries, as leading players on the global stage,” Cauce said.

Cauce said the opportunities of “big data” are perhaps most evident in public health, an area that is an area of particular strength for the UW. She discussed work by both the School of Public Health and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation to bring big data to bear on health challenges, from adverse pharmaceutical reactions to the effects of pollution.

IHME’s ongoing work with Chinese researchers and health agencies are identifying community-by-community health trends and challenges, and this enables a systematic approach to solving these challenges.

“Where you’re born matters. And by harnessing big data we’re able to see for the first time just how much it matters, to identify the hidden boundaries between us, and to do something about them,” Cauce said.

Read the full text of President Cauce’s remarks.

Honoring UW veterans

Posted on

This month, the University of Washington is hosting a series of events on all three of our campuses to honor the many UW students, alumni, faculty, staff and retirees who have valiantly served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The Veterans Day holiday, November 11, is the day our country and our University officially pause to recognize the sacrifices and contributions of veterans. At 11 a.m. that day, at the Medal of Honor Memorial, the UW will honor all veterans and present the 2015 Distinguished Alumni Veteran Award to Retired Army Col. Grethe Cammermeyer, ’76, ’91.

Beyond the ceremony, the UW strives to support our veterans year-round. Across our campuses, there are more than 30 programs for our 1,400 student veterans, active-duty military service members and their dependents, including:

You can find additional program information and links to related articles on the Veterans Appreciation Week website.

Please join me in extending our deepest gratitude to all UW veterans for their service, and thank you to all in the UW community who support them.

Our boundless future

Posted on

When I first set foot on campus almost 30 years ago as an assistant professor, I could never have imagined I’d be writing to you as president of the University of Washington. This is an incredible honor, and it is one that is made all the more special because I have shared this journey with so many of you. Thank you for the support and kindness you have shown me.

At a time when regents and trustees at some other institutions are questioning the ability of the academy to lead, our Regents demonstrated their belief in you. Their vote was a vote of confidence in the progress we’ve made together and in the future we have charted for the UW. This truly is our University.

As I look at our future, there are three key areas in which we have tremendous opportunities to contribute to the lives of our students, to advance the well-being of our world and to drive innovation here and around the globe.

For our students, we will provide a Husky Experience that prepares them for successful lives by coupling outstanding teaching with outstanding experiences. From internships and makerspaces, to study abroad and research, we will prepare our students to be engaged global citizens.

For those who rely on our research, scholarship and creative works, we will focus on the impact of what we do. Whether it is through environmental science that helps us be better stewards of the Earth, or by establishing vibrant futures for the arts and humanities, our work makes a difference. In all our disciplines, we can contribute to the world on a scale that few other institutions can match.

And throughout our University, we will be united by a drive to innovate. We will support and encourage new ways to tackle societal problems, from using big data to improve the health of patients and entire populations around the world, to bringing innovators together across disciplines to address challenges here in our own backyard.

All of this is in support of our proud public mission, which is firmly centered on providing both access and excellence to our students, and on advancing the health, well-being and prosperity of the people of Washington and beyond. You can learn more about our shared vision for the future in my Annual President’s Address.

Thank you for your excellence, your innovation, your creativity and your pursuit of discovery on behalf of our students, our state and the world. It is you who make our University such a special place, and it is an honor to serve as its president.

Ana Mari Cauce selected as UW president

Posted on

Editor’s note: This is UW Board of Regents chair Bill Ayer’s email message to the UW community.

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

It is my distinct honor to announce that the Board of Regents has selected Ana Mari Cauce to serve as the 33rd president of the University of Washington.

President Cauce is truly of Washington, exemplifying the values of our University and our state in every respect. She is a highly respected member of the faculty, having joined the UW as an assistant professor of psychology in 1986 and rising through the ranks while increasing her responsibilities through a number of leadership positions, most recently as interim president. She is a recipient of the University’s Distinguished Teaching Award and is an accomplished scholar, most notably for her clinical research in adolescent development, specifically youth at risk. Raised in Miami after immigrating to the United States from Cuba as a child, she inherited her parents’ passion for education, earning degrees in English and psychology from the University of Miami and a Ph.D. in psychology from Yale University.

The Board of Regents believe President Cauce has demonstrated that her enthusiasm, humility, tenacity, honesty, courage, keen intellect and deep belief in and genuine affection for the UW are just the right ingredients to lead our University to even greater impact and prominence in the coming years. She will focus on ensuring all students are ready for successful, engaged lives by enhancing the Husky Experience; on spurring the research and scholarship that truly transforms our world; and on continuing to infuse a spirit of innovation and creativity throughout the University.

We believe her nearly 30 years as a member of the faculty, as a leader in the greater Seattle community, and her well-known dedication to students will enable the University to forge and deepen relationships that are crucial to our success. And as a passionate champion of equity and inclusion and of higher education as the key to social mobility for first-generation and low-income students, we know she will both embody and remind us all about the deep importance of our work as a proudly public university – a University for Washington and for the world.

In honor of this occasion, please join us for a community reception on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. in the HUB Ballroom, after the Annual President’s Address at 3:30 p.m. at wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House.

Thank you for the insights you shared with the Presidential Search Advisory Committee and the Board of Regents during this search. I hope you will join us in celebrating this remarkable leader and historic moment for the University of Washington.

Sincerely,

Bill Ayer
Chair, Board of Regents

Welcome back, Huskies!

Posted on

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

Whether you’re a newcomer to the UW or, like me, a long-time member of the community, I hope you feel the excitement of the start of school. It is a great time for our city and our region!

Annual President’s Address

Join us to hear about topics of interest to the campus community, followed by Q&A and a reception at:

This quarter we welcome more first-year students to our three campuses than ever before along with those of you who have joined us as transfer students or to pursue graduate degrees. You join talented peers from across the state and from around the nation and world who are returning to campus. Thank you for pursuing your future with us and for your determination to make a difference. We believe in you, so be undaunted in pursuing opportunities. But, remember risk-taking involves facing challenges, so don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

To our faculty — including more than 260 new faculty members — thank you for the inspiration and mentorship you provide to our students and the impact your scholarship and creativity have on our world. What unites our students is the desire to learn from the world’s best: you. They also want to learn in a supportive and welcoming environment, and I want to thank our staff across the University for all that you to do create these surroundings and support the UW’s mission.

For all of us, the fall offers a fresh start and I encourage everyone to get involved in the many and varied activities across our campus — there’s something here for every interest. I’d love to see you join in the vital discussions we began last spring with the Race and Equity Initiative. Next week, we’ll host student discussions and a lecture as part of our efforts around making the UW a more welcoming and inclusive place to learn and work.

We have much to celebrate — for example, UW was just named the most innovative public university in the world — and our momentum is increasing because of you. You make the UW a place of boundless opportunities. Thank you for all that you do to make our world better, and best wishes for a great start to the year!

Let’s make it a great year — together.

Statement concerning the approved two-year state budget

Posted on

On behalf of University of Washington students, faculty, staff and alumni, I want to express my thanks and appreciation to our elected officials for making investments in higher education a true state budget priority during the 2015 legislative session. While the previous budget began to reverse the long-term trend of shifting the burden of paying for college from the state to students and their families, this new spending plan truly recommits the State of Washington to supporting public higher education. This historic tuition reduction is outstanding news for our students and their families, and I applaud the governor and legislators who came together to make this possible.

 

I also want to thank policymakers for their support of the UW’s efforts to educate the health professionals Washington needs to be healthy and prosperous. The budget agreement enables us not only to continue medical education in Spokane and eastern Washington through WWAMI, but to expand our ability to educate physicians for all of Washington state. I am also grateful for the Legislature’s support for expansion of our computer science program through investments to expand enrollment to help us meet another critical workforce need for the state.