College of Arts and Sciences

"I want to encourage you all to recognize the virtues that come from each of your backgrounds. There is a strength that comes from being first-gen, and I hope that you all can recognize it within yourselves." – Dan Guyer, Student

"Being a first-generation student holds great significance for me, as I am the first in my family to attend the University of Washington. This is a major milestone, and I feel privileged to be part of such an esteemed institution." – Jackie Hernandez, Student

"Your education at the UW is an important gateway to opportunities and connections that you might not have otherwise had. The people around you, including your professors, classmates, and mentors, may not look like you or share the same experiences as you, and that is okay. We are all a part of the same UW community. Connect with them to find ways to achieve your goals. Make the most of your time as a Husky." – Alshakim Nelson, Professor and Chair, Department of Chemistry

"Decades later, UW feels like home. My goal as a professor is to help all my students feel that same sense of belonging, and to foster a place where they can explore and flourish, no matter the path they took to get here." – Christine Harold, Professor and Chair, Department of Communication

"College is about embracing yourself as a learner, inside and outside of the classroom. Explore different classes, but also explore that intramural sport you've always wanted to try, or go to that club meeting you're shy about. Developing your skills as a community member and a leader are just as important as learning the content to your major." – Jazz Espiritu, Head of Program Affairs, Communication Leadership, Department of Communication

To prepare students for professional success, the UW College of Arts and Sciences offers “gesture,” a mock startup company where student interns gain skills that employers seek. 

To honor his wife and support the college that has meant so much to both of them, former Arts & Sciences dean John Simpson created the Katherine and John Simpson Endowed Deanship. 

In the College of Arts & Sciences, we are proud to celebrate our first-generation community through a collection of stories! We honor our faculty and staff, and their many contributions to our university community and beyond.

Discovered in Kansas, this clam is already going viral in Seattle.

The next time your phone’s virtual assistant gives you a quick answer instead of nudging you to think harder, remember Andre Ye (Computer Science / Philosophy, 2025). He’s part of a new generation of researchers reimagining how AI supports human thought.

It's time to think about winter quarter course registration! Check out these cool Arts & Sciences courses to be offered Winter Quarter 2026.

Henry M. Jackson, a successful congressman and the namesake of UW’s Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, was a strong advocate of the importance of international studies.

The Multicultural Alumni Partnership is proud to present the 2025 community and student MAP awardees.

The Department of History is saddened by the death of Professor Emeritus Quintard Taylor, who passed away September 21, 2025. A renowned scholar of Black history, Taylor joined the department in 1999 and retired from teaching in 2018. He continued to research and write on African American history following his retirement, devoting particular attention to the award-winning website that he founded, BlackPast.org, the world’s largest online encyclopedia dedicated to Black history.

Come curious. Leave inspired. We invite you to connect with us this November through a rich and varied schedule of more than 30 events, exhibitions, podcasts, and more. From chamber opera premieres and public lectures to Indigenous storytelling and poetry celebrations, theres something to spark every curiosity. Expect boundary-pushing performances, thought-provoking dialogues on memory and...