UW and the Community

The new Center for Human Rights, based in the College of Arts and Sciences with Angelina Godoy as director, hopes to encourage broad collaboration on human rights issues. “It’s gratifying to see how readily colleagues across the campus have embraced the Center’s interdisciplinary vision,” says Godoy. 

Have you ever read a book steeped in science and wished you could discuss it with an expert in the field? That's the idea behind the Biology Book Club, introduced by a professor and a staffer in the Department of Biology. 

Anthropology Professor Steve Harrell, PhD students Barbara Grub and Tami Blumenfield, and alumna Victoria Poling ('04) created the Cool Mountain Education Fund, providing scholarships for students in China’s Liangshan region to continue their studies beyond primary school.

The Department of Scandinavian Studies celebrates its centennial on September 26 with a tree-planting ceremony, live performances, and lots and lots of meatballs.

The School of Drama’s Playhouse Theatre, now the Jones Playhouse, has a long history that includes housing one of the few Negro Theatre Units of the WPA’s Federal Theatre Project in the 1930s.

Burke Museum staff travel to schools across the state to introduce the museum's collections to young students. 

Using GIS technology, geography students collaborate with community partners on projects ranging from siting Pea Patch gardens to analyzing K-12 student philanthropy. 

After an extensive remodel—only the second in its 78-year history—the Jones Playhouse reopens in October with a host of improvements.

Tour downtown Seattle with Professor Michael Brown and you’ll experience the city from a rarely seen perspective, focusing on Seattle’s gay and lesbian history.

During the Summer Institute for Mathematics at the UW, high school students spend six weeks exploring math topics with UW faculty and like-minded peers.

At the Speech and Hearing Clinic's Communication Camp, children work on their communication skills with the assistance of graduate students, who gain valuable clinical experience. 

The Jackson School’s Summer Seminar for Educators, offered annually, focused on rituals this year, ranging from a North African tea service to a Day of the Dead celebration to Makah whaling traditions. 

The Willapa National Wildlife Refuge includes artworks created by UW students enrolled in a UW public art course. 

History professor Robin Stacey’s love of J. R. R. Tolkien’s work led to a popular course and now a five-part lecture series.

Alumnus Maurice Woods created the Inneract Project, a summer program that introduces inner city youth to graphic design as a career option. The program is offered through the School of Art.