Profiles

"You don’t have to have everything already figured out to belong here. You are enough just by virtue of being you. Ask for help, build community, and remember that the path you’re walking honors not just your own story, but the ancestors who made it possible." – CS W. Henry, Student

"When I met my mentors, I knew the UW was the right place for me. It felt like joining a community that not only values research and discovery but also welcomes diversity. Being here has given me the chance to grow as both a scientist and a person." – Laura Quinche, Student

"I remember strolling across the UW campus during my first quarter, treading on crisp autumn leaves, and realizing that I have built a life here that once seemed impossible. I don't say this often, but I am really grateful for how far I have come. For current and future first-gen students — remember, your background is your strength." – Anjali Yadav, Student

"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

"You are remarkable for becoming the first trailblazer in your family's intellectual journey... Celebrate that victory and keep that fire burning as you chart the educational trajectory for your family's future generations." – Andri Fernanda, Student

"I see being first-gen as powerful because it represents the first step in changing my life and the lives of my loved ones. It motivates me to pursue the goals I have always wanted, reminding me that I have the power to create something beautiful." – Anna Frank, Student

"My passion for chemistry and English became my compass, opening new doors and driving me step by step to where I am today – the University of Washington. To me, being a first-generation student means breaking barriers and carrying my family’s dreams across borders and transforming them into opportunities." – Perizat Kanatkyzy Abdigali, 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

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.

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

A new book from David Armstrong, University of Washington affiliate instructor of drama, is an historical and cultural account of how the Broadway musical was predominantly created by people marginalized from mainstream society. The book, Broadway Nation: How Immigrant, Jewish, Queer, and Black Artists Invented the Broadway Musical, traces this history through four major eras.

Derek Sheffield, ’90, ’99, a poet and English teacher, was appointed Washington State’s Poet Laureate in April by Governor Bob Ferguson. A passionate naturalist known for co-editing the best-selling “Cascadia Field Guide: Art, Ecology, Poetry” with Elizabeth Bradfield, ’94, and CMarie Fuhrman, Sheffield is “always packing” binoculars and hand lens and birds by ear—often in the woods near his home in Leavenworth. He has butterflied alongside Robert Michael Pyle, ’69, ’73, the lepidopterist, and once exchanged letters with Pulitzer-winning biologist E.O. Wilson.