College of Arts and Sciences

Upper Skagit elder Vi Hilbert's legacy in language and culture preservation lives on through archival records collected in the Vi Hilbert Collection, first curated and digitized by retired longtime UW Ethnomusicologist Laurel Sercombe and now housed through UW LIbraries, and through a documentary film and symphony she commissioned, Healing Heart of the First People of This Land," staged at the UW in February 2026 by the UW Symphony and soloist (and School of Music alumna) Adia S. Bowen.  

Despite vows to restrict immigration authorities access to Washington state Department of Licensing information, the data sharing continued in a new form, researchers revealed Thursday. Angelina Godoy, professor of law, societies, and justice and of international studies, as well as director of the Center for Human Rights at the UW, is quoted.

According to the Jacob Lawrence Gallery, allegra was chosen for their unique approach to conceptual practice, interdisciplinary research, and community engagement. Allegra will spend January working with student assistants as well UW academic departments and resources to further develop their artistic work.

Emma Teal Laukitis, ’18, and her sister Claire not only catch and sell Alaska’s most famous fish, they help feed hundreds of thousands Alaskans through their donations.

More than a half dozen years after Washington began limiting access to drivers license data for immigration enforcement, federal officials were still using the information for immigration arrests as recently as late last year, a report released the University of Washington Center for Human Rights shows. Angelina Godoy, professor of law, societies, and justice and of international studies, as well as director of the Center for Human Rights at the UW, is mentioned.

A newly discovered asteroid spins about as fast as a Ferris wheel. With a rotation period of just 112 seconds, its the new record holder for fastest-spinning asteroid wider than 500 meters. Scientists think it must be made of solid rock to avoid breaking apart. Sarah Greenstreet, affiliate assistant professor of astronomy, is quoted.

A new UW study links license plate lookups through a Washington State Patrol switchboard to immigration arrests. Angelina Godoy, professor of law, societies, and justice and of international studies, as well as director of the Center for Human Rights at the UW, is quoted.

Hutchinson Hall was abuzz with excitement and anticipation Tuesday, Dec. 2 for one reason and one reason only. Not for any auditions being held, not for any finals, and not for any performance seated to take place that evening. The buzz was solely because UW Drama alumni Joel McHale was coming to speak with the students in the department. 

After 15 years teaching a class about sex, the most popular course at the University of Washington, this professor shares her most important takeaways.

After 15 years teaching a class about sex, the most popular course at the UW, this professor shares her most important takeaways. Nicole McNichols, associate teaching professor of psychology at the UW, is interviewed.

In December, the Trump administration announced its intent to close a climate research center in Boulder, Colorado. This sparked worry amidst atmospheric scientists around the world, including many in the Pacific Northwest. The National Center for Atmospheric Research, or NCAR, was founded by the National Science Foundation in 1960 to strengthen computer models and research methods for understanding weather and the climate. Its run by a consortium of universities that includes the UW, which is one of 14 founding members. Abigail Swan, professor of atmospheric sciences and of biology at the UW, is quoted.

New art by Barbara Earl Thomas (BFA 1973, MFA 1977) makes the Judkins Park light rail station a destination of its own.

“This Is Native Land” is a permanent, 3,000-square-foot exhibition at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma that weaves the stories of Indigenous peoples into the fabric of the 30-year-old institution. Co-curated by Associate Professor Danica Sterud Miller (Puyallup) and Todd Clark (Wailaki), tribal liaison for the Washington State Historical Society, the project engaged more than 100 Native contributors from more than 60 tribes. 

Key collaborators include elder Philip H. Red Eagle, ’83, ’87 (Dakota and Puget Sound Salish); artist Joe Feddersen, ’83, (Colville); Owen Oliver, ’21 (Quinault); current UW museology student Markus Teuton, ’24 (Cherokee); and museum staff, including head of collections Maggie Wetherbee, ’00, and director of audience engagement Mary Mikel Stump, a former UW student. Viewpoint spoke with Miller, who is on faculty at UW Tacoma, for a look at the making of “This Is Native Land.”

A bilingual educator with 18 years of experience at both the college level and in K–12 public schools, Whitemarsh hopes to give back to her hometown of Pasco.

With the recent arrival of generative AI programs that can write conversationally, produce vivid imagery, and perform myriad tasks for us, some technologists believe the superintelligent machines of science fiction are right around the corner. Emily M. Bender, professor of linguistics at the UW, is quoted.