Social Sciences Division

As King County officials work through the budget process, they are engaged in deciding the future of a restorative justice program diverting youth from the criminal legal system. Sarah Cusworth Walker, research professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences in the UW School of Medicine and Katherine Beckett, professor of sociology and of law, societies and justice at the UW, are quoted.

On October 22, the Department of Communication recognized outstanding alumni who have made a difference in their communities at our annual Alumni Hall of Fame and Alumni of Distinction awards dinner.

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.

At its heart, the Jackson School’s Cybersecurity Initiative is more than a program — it’s a community. From the get-go, the program builds a sense of community that carries students through their time at the University of Washington and well into their professional lives.

A decade ago, nearly every country in the world adopted the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit the rise in global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius by 2100. Adrian Raftery, professor emeritus of statistics and of sociology, is interviewed.

The "996" schedule is 12-hour shifts, 6 days a week and it's captivated Silicon Valley tech leaders. NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with Margaret O'Mara, professor of history at the UW, about this workplace trend.

A new report from the University of Washingtons Center for Human Rights found that federal immigration enforcement has been mining license plate data from local law enforcement in Washington state. 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.

A new report reveals federal immigration authorities have been accessing automated license plate reader systems operated by local police departments across Washington state, potentially violating a state law that prohibits collaboration with civil immigration enforcement. 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.

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.

COVID-era school closures caused the U.S. significant economic and educational loss while being less effective than other transmission interventions, according to new research. Adrian Raftery, professor emeritus of statistics and of sociology, is quoted.

University of Washington researchers analyzed data collected in the decade following the Paris Agreement, an international treaty signed in 2015 to limit warming by cutting emissions. The treaty has helped nations reduce the amount of carbon released per dollar, but emissions are still too high due to global economic growth.

Demonstrators are gearing up for another nationwide No Kings Day Protest this weekend against President Donald Trump.Scott Radnitz, professor and Daniel Bessner, assistant professor, both of international studies at the UW, are interviewed.

Seattle-area residents are setting their sights on the future in light of the precarious ceasefire announced between Israel and Hamas this week. Liora Halperin, professor of history and international studies at the UW, is quoted.

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.