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Presidential Blog

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month and the deep roots of Indigenous people and culture at the UW

Indigenous voices and accomplishments are a vibrant part of our academic community, and this month, I encourage everyone to take advantage of the many opportunities to explore and celebrate the work of some of the UW’s most accomplished Indigenous faculty, staff, students, alumni and neighbors.

Honoring those who served and celebrating their ongoing contributions

Our veteran students, faculty, staff, alumni and family members are vital contributors to our community and we are proud to recognize them at our annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Friday, November 11. I invite you to join us at the Medal of Honor Memorial on the Seattle campus and to participate in Veterans Appreciation Week events across our three campuses.

The 2022 Annual President’s Address “Accelerating change for the public good: Expanding the role of public research universities”

Thank you to everyone who attended this year’s Annual President’s Address. Our university creates impact for the public good in countless ways, and we have the power to expand and accelerate that impact at an even greater scale.

Celebrating the determination and diverse pathways of UW transfer students

Across our three campuses, we are committed to being welcoming, accessible communities in which our many transfer students can thrive throughout their academic journeys and during Transfer Student Celebration Week, we have the chance to both celebrate our transfer students and examine how we can meet their distinctive needs even more effectively. 

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of what unites us all

National Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to the very best of what our nation aspires to be: a place that welcomes immigrants and their descendants, and celebrates multiculturalism, weaving diverse cultures and traditions into our national fabric for the betterment of all.  

Mark Richards to step down as provost in summer 2023

As we approach the start of the academic year next month, I’m writing to let you know 2022–23 will be Mark Richards’ last year as Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. Mark plans to step down as provost in summer 2023, after he completes his five-year term in the position. He will retain his position as professor of Earth and Space Sciences in the College of the Environment and continue his research and teaching as a geophysicist.