Social Sciences Division

Study abroad in Vietnam and Madrid. An internship with the State Department. International studies major Grace Kelly explored the world as a UW student.

As the five-year anniversary of George Floyds murder approaches, KING 5 is examining the current state of the Black Lives Matter movement. Alexes Harris, professor of sociology at the UW, is interviewed.

"Empathy can make people weaker both physically and practically, according to social scientists. Consider the phenomenon known as empathy fatigue, a major source of burnout among counselors, nurses and even neurosurgeons. These professionals devote their lives to helping others, yet the empathy they feel for their clients and patients wears them down, making it harder to do their jobs," co-writes Colin Marshall, associate professor of philosophy at the UW.

If you're reaching for a chatbot instead of a search engine or a trusted source, think twice before acting on the information it gives you. Katy Pearce, associate professor of communication at the UW, is interviewed.

When generative artificial intelligence, or AI, dropped into our lives two and a half years ago, educators around the world went into a panic. Suddenly there was a chatbot easily accessible to students that could help them cheat on tests and assignments and likely get away with it. Fast forward, and now students are complaining that teachers are using AI in their jobs, and they don't like it. Should they? Katy Pearce, associate professor of communication at the UW, is interviewed.

“Angela has spent her career bringing tough issues into the light, and she has done so with integrity and an honest desire to inform the public,” says Rickey Hall, vice president for Minority Affairs and Diversity and the UW diversity officer.

"The Trump administrations cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development and other aid funding for global health are cruel and catastrophic. One estimate just published in the journal Nature suggests that up to 25 million people could die over 15 years because of the cuts to TB, HIV/AIDS, family planning, and maternal and child health programs. Cancellations of National Institutes of Health funding for global health research contribute to the devastation," writes James Pfeiffer, professor of global health and of anthropology at the UW.

The Office of Global Affairs features Antonia Romana Zito for the Global Visionaries series. Antonia is a senior double-majoring in International Studies and History in the College of Arts & Sciences. Antonia was recognized as a 2025 Husky 100 and is passionate about advocating for migrants and refugees, being trilingual, and making a global impact.

The Office of Global Affairs celebrates Tony Lucero for the Global Visionaries series. Dr. José Antonio (Tony) Lucero, is Professor and Chair of the Comparative History of Ideas Department and a Professor in the Jackson School of International Studies. He describes his experience centering reciprocity in his research and teaching, and leading study abroad programs to Peru and Ecuador.

The Asian American Foundation's study shows increased concerns about Asian American loyalty and national security. Connie So, teaching professor of American ethnic studies at the UW, is quoted.

"Republicans in Washington have their sights once again on defunding public media," writes Matthew Powers, associate professor of communications at the UW.

Seattle sees thousands mobilize on May Day each year to advocate for immigrant and worker rights, echoing traditions starting from labor protests decades ago. James Gregory, professor of history at the UW, is quoted.

Communication professor Benjamin Mako Hill studies why successful peer-produced websites (like Wikipedia) eventually struggle to maintain their openness to new contributors.

Seemingly no international issue provokes as much heartbreak, consternation and demand for moral action for many right now as the fate of Palestinians and Israelis. And few academics have as much insight into the challenges and benefits of honest discussion and scholarship about that region as Liora Halperin, professor of history and international studies at the UW.

In a global ranking of research productivity of political scientists, UW Professor Christopher Adolph was ranked first globally for recent impact, thanks to his research on COVID-19 policies.