UW and the Community

Boeing is still a force locally, both in influence and sheer numbers. The company still receives very generous tax benefits from Washington, notes Margaret O'Mara, professor of history at the UW. Yet its presence in the region isn’t top of mind for many anymore.

In the first of the history department’s annual History Lecture Series, Professor Emeritus John Findlay presented “City and Citizens: Seattleites and Their Rights, 1850-2000,” reflecting on different groups that have immigrated to Seattle.

On Monday, when Washington plays Michigan for the national title, it will have been 128 days since the Husky football ride began. The UW's Sonny Sixkiller, senior associate general manager at UW Athletics, and Kyle Crowder, professor of sociology, are quoted.

Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf has been learning American Sign Language and has taken some of this newfound knowledge to the field, signing his celebrations after scoring. What began as a hobby has become a means of self-expression, and as Metcalf has gained attention for signing during games, he has realized it has a great significance to those who use ASL to communicate and the deaf community. The UW's Dan Mathis, assistant teaching professor of linguistics, and Kristi Winter, associate teaching professor of linguistics, are quoted.

"Asian communities in Washington are changing, and our state’s century-old Asian languages department must change as well. Comparison of the U.S. 2020 Census results with the previous 2010 Census demonstrates that Asian demographics in our state and region are undergoing dramatic changes," writes Zev Handel, professor and department chair of Asian languages and literature at the UW.

Colleen J. McElroy, a nationally known poet and the first Black woman to serve as a full-time faculty member at the UW, died of natural causes Dec. 12. She was 88. Frances McCue, a teaching professor of English at the UW, is quoted.

The dual pandemics of COVID-19 and the racial reckoning after the murder of George Floyd in 2020 changed us. While we may be ready to move on, bearing witness for one another can teach us about ourselves, our resilience and our communities. Timeka Tounsel, assistant professor of Black studies in communication at the UW, is quoted.

Professor Mark Rodgers has reimagined "The Concert Season," a course to familiarize students with jazz and classical music performances. Students can now personalize the course to fit their interests. 

This week, attend the Diversity Lecture Series “Unveiling Maternal Morbidity and Mortality in the United States”, celebrate the Jacob Lawrence Gallery Reopening, listen to Indigenous storytellers at Sacred Breath, and more. November 13, 3:00 – 4:30pm | Diversity Lecture Series: “Unveiling Maternal Morbidity and Mortality in the United States: Disparities and Challenges in Women’s Health”,...

"Seek mentors and advisors whom you can trust and who also understand your situation. Ask questions if you are unsure about procedures, classes, or course of studies! Use the resources you have available. Don’t ever feel embarrassed for asking for advice or help! UW holds many resources and nobody wants to see you fail!" - Annegret Oehme, Associate Professor, Department of German Studies

"There are going to be many days where it doesn't seem to make sense, and that is an incredibly vulnerable space to maneuver, but just know that you belong here at this incredible university along with every great opportunity you come across in your journey.  It's okay to not have the answers or feel entirely comfortable in new spaces you'll find yourself in. Use curiosity to your advantage and ask questions, read for fun beyond the classroom, listen to new music that makes you want to bop around, or take a walk, and look for chances to join student organizations. Curiosity is a great tool in the classroom, and it will also serve you well beyond the University of Washington. Give it your all because you'll get back what you put in." - Juan Rodriguez, Marketing Production Specialist, College of Arts & Sciences

This week, attend the UW Pandemic Project’s Radical Listening Session to honor each individual’s lived pandemics experiences, head to Meany Hall for Garrick Ohlsson’s piano performance, celebrate Diwali with the Burke Museum, and more. November 7, 4:30 – 6:00pm | Sharon Stein, “The University and Its Responsibility for Repair: Confronting Colonial Foundations and Enabling Different...

This week, check out Grammy-winning vocal group Roomful of Teeth’s performance, an ingenious dark comedy written by Jen Silverman, attend the Labor Studies Annual Awards Celebration Banquet, and more. November 2, 7:30pm | Roomful of Teeth with Gabriel Kahane, Meany Hall  The Grammy-winning vocal group Roomful of Teeth continue to expand the capabilities of the...

"Have faith in yourself. Guide the decisions you make with YOUR passions, YOUR insight, and YOUR questions, what feels good to YOU! Do not let others or your fear force you in a certain direction or limit your potential. I always said, and continue to say to myself, that the only person I am competing with in life is myself.  Do not let anyone hold you back. Ask tons of questions, do not be afraid to ask for support or help when you need it. The smartest people stop and ask for help or clarity when they are unsure. Listen to advice, but seek it from many people and use what resonates with you the most. Do not be afraid to fail or stumble. Everyone does!  Also, have fun." – Alexes Harris (B.A., Sociology), University of Washington Presidential Term Professor, Professor of Sociology; Faculty Regent to the University of Washington Board of Regents; and UW Faculty Athletics Representative

Tina Nguyễn has dipped her toes into everything, graduating with a double degree in informatics and global studies and receiving the prestigious Gilman scholarship, all while continuously creating remarkable art. She sits down with writer Alexa Meyer to discuss what's next as one of UW’s best. Jackson School's Center for Global Studies is mentioned.