A coalition of housing developers, community organizations, childcare providers and educators today broke ground on the Mount Baker Redevelopment and Rainier Rising Early Learning Campus. The 3.8-acre project is expected to create 400 affordable apartments, provide high-quality childcare and be home to a first-of-its-kind early childhood learning center.

By bringing affordable housing, early learning and community resources together, families will be better supported. This development, across the street from Sound Transit鈥檚 Mount Baker light-rail station, creates a unique, transit-accessible place where affordable housing and high-quality early learning exist side-by-side, with resources and partnerships designed to support children and families more holistically.

鈥淭his moment represents a major milestone in bringing a long-envisioned, community-centered project to life,鈥� said Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson. 鈥淭he partnership reflects a belief that complex challenges require us to work differently 鈥� and together. No single organization or sector can address the interconnected needs of children, families and communities alone. This project demonstrates what is possible when government, community organizations, philanthropy and the university bring their respective strengths together around shared priorities.鈥�

The redevelopment is the result of an eight-year collaboration between the UW College of Education, the City of Seattle Office of Housing, the State of Washington, Mercy Housing Northwest and El Centro de la Raza, among others. These organizations hold a shared commitment to children and families 鈥� and a belief that supporting thriving communities requires innovative approaches that work across traditional boundaries.

鈥淭ogether, this project will bring affordable housing, high-quality early learning and family and community resources together in one dynamic, transit-accessible location,鈥� said Mia Tuan, dean of the UW College of Education. 鈥淩ainier Rising Early Learning Campus creates an extraordinary opportunity to bring the UW鈥檚 world-class research and expertise in early learning into partnership with the knowledge and experience of our community partners 鈥� creating a place where research informs practice, innovation takes root and what we learn together can strengthen early learning for children and families well beyond this campus.鈥�

Since 2018, the UW College of Education and partners across southeast Seattle have worked alongside families, educators and community leaders to imagine a space shaped by community needs and community voices. Co-designed with Rainier Valley residents, Rainier Rising Early Learning Campus (RRELC) was created to address longstanding inequities in access to affordable, high-quality childcare and preschool while centering culturally affirming, anti-racist care for children and families.

The Mount Baker Redevelopment 鈥� built in two phases 鈥� will create housing for more than 1,000 individuals. The first phase includes 239 affordable rental homes.

鈥淭he groundbreaking is an important milestone, but it is only the beginning,鈥� said Colin Morgan-Cross, Mercy Housing Northwest. 鈥淭oday, we come together to celebrate years of hard work in partnership, planning and community engagement. As we start of the next phase of work, we remain grounded in the fact that the impact of this project will be shaped not just by the buildings themselves, but by the relationships, programs and opportunities that grow from them.鈥�

The development prioritizes affordable family living, cultural diversity and community safety. One-third of the homes will be reserved for families earning at or below 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and a total of 60% will be family-sized homes.

Mercy Housing Northwest, together with El Centro de la Raza, are developing more than 400 units of affordable housing. The completed project will be a community that reflects the voices and rich cultural tapestry of the Mount Baker neighborhood. Rooted in the shared principles of justice, equity and partnership, this redevelopment project addresses housing affordability, enhances public spaces and creates economic opportunities for residents and local businesses.

鈥淭here is an ongoing role for the community and our broader network of partners.,鈥� said Estela Ortega, executive director of El Centro de la Raza. 鈥淭his development means a life of dignity for families in our community 鈥� access to safe and affordable housing, supportive services and the opportunity to build a better future. As this project takes shape, we invite our neighbors, community members and partners to be part of the journey, share the story, and help create a place where families feel supported, connected, and rooted in our community for generations to come.鈥澨�

The $170 million Mount Baker Redevelopment funding comes from a variety of state, city and private sources.

The RRELC will be a first-of-its-kind early learning hub that will expand access to high-quality early care and education, bring research and evidence-based practices into partnership with community expertise, and strengthen the region鈥檚 early learning workforce. The space will consist of about 35,000 square feet split between two floors. An eight-classroom early learning space on the first floor is designed to serve more than 120 children from infancy through preschool. The second floor will host an ecosystem of early learning organizations who support children and families, professional development and adult learning.

What sets the RRELC apart is its integrated approach to learning, support and innovation. The campus will provide high-quality early education for local children while also serving as a training and demonstration center for educators, researchers and community partners. Through partnerships with healthcare providers, early learning organizations, and the UW, the campus will strengthen the early learning workforce, connect families to critical resources, and advance research-informed practices that can improve outcomes for children locally and nationwide.

Beyond the classroom, the RRELC will connect children and families with resources that support their health and well-being. Partners from across the UW 鈥� including UW Medicine, the School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy, School of Dentistry and School of Social Work 鈥� will work alongside community partners to bring their expertise to the campus and explore new ways to support children and families.

To honor former UW President Ana Mari Cauce鈥檚 role in advancing the RRELC from vision to reality, the early learning hub will feature the Cauce Community Space, a dedicated area for families and community members to gather, learn and access resources. This flexible-use space honors Cauce鈥檚 dedicated advocacy of this project during her presidential tenure, including uplifting the critical importance of robust, culturally centered and research-informed early learning practices at the local, state and national levels. Made possible through a gift from the Bezos Family Foundation, the Cauce Community Space will expand the RRELC鈥檚 holistic support to families and community members in Rainier Valley.

Additionally, the UW College of Education鈥檚 Cultivate Learning will bring its expertise in early childhood professional learning, coaching and quality improvement to the campus, creating opportunities for early learning educators to build their skills and learn promising practices. Cultivate Learning will occupy part of the second floor and facilitate classroom learning sessions and trainings for students and in-service professionals, and will amplify results to education leaders nationwide.

The RRELC鈥檚 total cost came to about $36 million with funds that were secured through a braided effort of philanthropy, federal, state, county and city resources. These costs are in addition to the funding for the Mount Baker Redevelopment.

In addition to housing and the RRELC, the development will include:

• Public Spaces: A 20,000-square-foot open space as the centerpiece of the development, fostering connection with the community and outdoor play and activities.
• Community Hub: 6,000-square-foot space for events, cultural programming, and services to support the residents and celebrate the neighborhood鈥檚 diversity.
• Support for Local Businesses: 4,000 square feet of commercial spaces designed to uplift BIPOC-owned and locally owned businesses.
• Climate Resiliency: Green design features include advanced stormwater management and beyond-code environmental practices.

The Mount Baker Redevelopment Project phase one and the RRELC is scheduled for completion by 2029. The architect for the Mount Baker Redevelopment is Runberg Architecture Group. Beacon Development Group is the developer consultant and Walsh Construction is the builder. For the RRELC, the architect is Mithun and Walsh Construction is the builder.

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The 天美影视传媒 today announced a multimillion-dollar gift to establish the Winbond Endowed Fund for Excellence in the College of Engineering, supporting research, education and innovation for students, faculty and staff.

The $12 million gift from Winbond Electronics Corporation America, a U.S. subsidiary of Taiwan-based Winbond Electronics Corporation, a global semiconductor company and leading provider of memory and integrated circuit solutions, provides the College with the flexibility to make strategic investments in exceptional people, promising ideas and emerging opportunities.

鈥淲inbond鈥檚 investment in the College of Engineering reflects tremendous confidence in our faculty and students and strengthens our ability to advance discovery in emerging technologies. Deepening the UW’s partnership with Winbond also creates new opportunities to connect with leading companies and scholars across the Pacific Rim,鈥� said UW President Robert J. Jones. 鈥淭he fact that this partnership is championed by UW alumnus Arthur Chiao makes it all the more special to the University.鈥�

Winbond鈥檚 chairman, Arthur Y.C. Chiao, (MS 鈥�80 Electrical Engineering) has spent more than three decades helping shape Taiwan鈥檚 semiconductor industry, advancing innovation in memory and logic integrated circuits, strengthening independent research and development capabilities and fostering collaboration across industry, academia and government. Chiao envisions the new fund as a catalyst for breakthrough discoveries, early-stage research and interdisciplinary collaboration, enabling the College to pursue bold initiatives and respond to evolving opportunities in engineering, technology and fields of future strategic importance. Examples include semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and advanced manufacturing, areas where the UW Engineering already leads, and could expand to include other emerging fields.

鈥淪eattle is a gateway to the Pacific Northwest of North America, and the 天美影视传媒 will play an important role in connecting future technology innovation between North America and East Asia,鈥� Chiao said.

The fund will support research, faculty recruitment and retention, student scholarships and fellowships, research infrastructure, interdisciplinary collaborations and emerging opportunities across the College.

The work will build upon existing Pacific Rim collaborations and further interconnect the UW with industry and research across the globe.

“Arthur Chiao’s vision, leadership and lifelong commitment to the 天美影视传媒 make this gift especially meaningful. This investment strengthens our ability to attract talent, foster innovation and deepen collaborations across the Pacific Rim, creating new opportunities for students and researchers while advancing the technologies that will shape the future,鈥� said Nancy Albritton, the Frank and Julie Jungers Endowed Dean at the College of Engineering.

For more information, contact Jackson Holtz at jjholtz@uw.edu.听

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The 天美影视传媒 today broke ground on a $231.1-million Chemical Sciences Building. Once completed, the state-of-the-art facility will be a nexus for collaborative research and teaching that will help the UW define the next 100 years of science education and breakthroughs.

Recognized worldwide, the UW鈥檚 Department of Chemistry is one of the largest in the country, and faculty are leaders in the field. The new Chemical Science Building will provide research synergies and dynamic, active learning spaces.

鈥淭he Chemical Sciences Building will be more than a new facility. It is an investment in the students, faculty and researchers whose curiosity and collaboration drive discovery. We are deeply grateful to the donors, state leaders and supporters who are making this investment possible,鈥� said UW President Robert J. Jones. 鈥淭he work that happens here will help advance science, strengthen our state and improve lives for generations to come.鈥�

The Chemical Sciences Building opens additional pathways for workforce development, industry collaboration and academic excellence in Washington. Updating facilities also helps the UW attract and retain top-notch students and scientists, further fueling the state鈥檚 economy and renown.

鈥淲ashington鈥檚 economy is built on innovation,鈥� Gov. Bob Ferguson said. 鈥淢aintaining our leadership requires a reliable pipeline of skilled, highly educated workers. We鈥檙e proud to be an investor in this state-of-the-art new building. It鈥檚 an investment in our students, and Washington鈥檚 economic vitality.鈥�

Funding for the project is led by the State of Washington, the College of Arts & Sciences and private support. The 104,500-square foot, five-story building will be constructed on the former site of the Chemistry Library Building behind the Molecular Engineering and Nanoengineering buildings on West Stevens Way NE. New classrooms and laboratories in the Chemistry Sciences Building will allow the UW to complete a renovation and update of Bagley Hall, the 1937 structure that鈥檚 long housed the Department of Chemistry.

鈥淭his new building will be a catalyst for both the Department of Chemistry鈥檚 and the College鈥檚 collaborative work that addresses some of the most pressing and complex challenges of our time,” said Daryl Maeda, the Katherine and John Simpson Endowed Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. 鈥淩esearchers will push the boundaries of chemistry further than ever before, partnering with students in spaces designed for creativity and connection. Our students will benefit from a world-class education and research opportunities that set them up for success and impact after graduation.鈥�

The Chemical Sciences Building will:

• Expand student opportunity by providing hands-on research labs and connecting classroom learning with scientific discovery. Students will work alongside faculty, gain experience with modern tools and prepare for high-demand careers across Washington and beyond.
• Enhance collaboration by bringing research groups together and giving them the newest and best tools to do their jobs, spark new ideas and accelerate solutions.
• Create paths to discovery. Flexible, state-of-the-art laboratories will remove barriers posed by aging facilities and support work in sustainable chemistry, human health, advanced materials, quantum science and more.

The design-build team is Skanska and Payette+EHDD. Completion is scheduled for 2029.

For more information, contact Lance Kissler at lkissler@uw.edu.

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Eight 天美影视传媒 researchers have been selected as Fulbright Scholars for 2026-2027 and will pursue studies around the world.听

Fulbright Scholars are college and university faculty, administrators and researchers, as well as artists and professionals, who build their skills and connections, gain valuable international insights and return home to share their experiences with their students and colleagues.

This year鈥檚 UW cohort represents a variety of disciplines, including sciences, engineering, business, environmental sciences, electrical and computer engineering, and computer science. The scholars will conduct research across the globe, including in Australia, India, Indonesia, Western Europe, Scandinavia and East Asia.

Two-thirds of this year鈥檚 UW applicants were selected as Fulbright Scholars 鈥� an astonishing acceptance rate in the prestigious and highly selective program.

鈥淲e are incredibly proud of these outstanding 天美影视传媒 faculty and staff whose selection as Fulbright Scholars reflects the excellence, innovation and global impact of their work,鈥� said UW Vice Provost for Global Affairs Ahmad M. Ezzeddine. 鈥淭he knowledge, partnerships and cultural understanding they gain through these experiences will enrich the UW and strengthen our shared commitment to addressing global challenges through collaboration and discovery. As the Fulbright Program celebrates its 80th anniversary, we are grateful for the U.S. Department of State鈥檚 continued investment in this transformative program.鈥澨�

The Fulbright Scholar Program for academics and professionals supports more than 800 people to teach and conduct research abroad.听

This year鈥檚 UW Fulbright Scholars are:

is a professor in the Department of Biology in the College of Arts & Sciences. His research focuses on how mutually beneficial interactions between species 鈥� such as how insects pollinating plants is beneficial to both 鈥� scale into networks involving multiple species, and how the structure of those networks affects ecosystems. For example, some ecological network structures, or how connections between species are arranged, make these networks more resilient to perturbations, such as droughts or climate change.

Brosi’s Fulbright Scholar award will be through Spain’s flagship public research institution, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cient铆ficas, at the Do帽ana Biological Station in Seville. His work there will involve synthesizing and analyzing two comprehensive long-term datasets 鈥� one from his lab and one from his Spanish host lab 鈥� to better understand global patterns in pollination networks. In particular, scientists have recorded species that appear to be 鈥渟pecialists鈥� 鈥� such as a bee species that has only been recorded visiting one plant species听 鈥� in many ecological networks, but, without long-term data, it鈥檚 difficult to disentangle whether they are really specialists or just rare. Brosi will tackle this problem in collaboration with his Fulbright host, Ignasi Bartomeus, at Do帽ana.听听

is the director of academic services in the Department of Bioengineering in the College of Engineering and UW Medicine. She supports the department鈥檚 doctoral students with a focus on improving the research experience, expanding opportunities and advancing access and collaboration.听

While a Fulbright Scholar, she will develop a framework for a new doctoral biomedical research exchange between the UW and Tampere University in Finland. Combs will work with faculty, students and staff at both universities to lead the development of a preliminary structure of a doctoral research exchange, including eligibility criteria, mentorship plans and evaluation metrics. She will also explore funding sources for the program鈥檚 ongoing sustainability and draft a memorandum of understanding for the institutions to consider.

, an assistant professor of management and organization and the Helen Moore Gerhardt Faculty Fellow in Entrepreneurship in the Foster School of Business. Her areas of expertise include entrepreneurship, organizational growth and scaling, technology and innovation strategy, and venture capital. DeSantola teaches entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial strategy to undergraduates, master鈥檚 and doctoral students. She was named a Poets & Quants top 50 undergraduate business professor in 2021.听

DeSantola will use her Fulbright award, during which she will be a visiting U.S. Scholar to University College Cork in Ireland, to study factors influencing innovation and entrepreneurship in novel food technologies. The project connects to a broader stream of DeSantola鈥檚 research exploring the emergence and evolution of new technology-based industries.

is听 an interdisciplinary scientist in the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs in the College of the Environment. Her work focuses on how coastal communities adapt to climate change and other environmental and socioeconomic stressors, particularly within fisheries and aquaculture systems. During the past 15 years, she has worked with coastal populations, including Indigenous harvesters, to support food sovereignty and long-term approaches to adaptation and resilience.

Green鈥檚 Fulbright award is to advance the inclusion of听 fish and other aquatic foods 鈥斕� 鈥淏lue Foods鈥� 鈥� into Indonesia鈥檚 National School Lunch Program. The goal of this project is to improve nutritional outcomes for school-aged children while strengthening local food systems. Through working directly with fishers and fish suppliers, Green will work with the project team to identify the conditions necessary to provide Blue Foods that promote positive nutritional outcomes for children, support local fishers and sustain local ecosystems. This project is a pilot program for the initiative that will hopefully be expanded nationally.

is an associate professor in the Information School and also is part of the Responsibility in AI Systems and Experiences (RAISE) Center. An interdisciplinary scholar with expertise in human-centered AI, Mitra’s work draws on human-computer interaction, machine learning, natural language processing and social science to understand how people and AI interact in large-scale online systems. Her research examines the societal impacts of generative AI and develops methods to make AI systems more trustworthy, culturally aware and beneficial for diverse communities.

She will use her Fulbright award in India, where she will collaborate with researchers at the Centre for Machine Intelligence and Data Science (C-MInDS) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Bombay) 鈥� the nation鈥檚 topmost and most selective public research institution. She will investigate the risks and capabilities of generative AI systems across socio-cultural contexts most relevant to the Global South. The work aims to advance more culturally aware and responsible AI while strengthening research partnerships between the United States and India.

is an associate professor in the School of Oceanography in the College of the Environment. Morris鈥� research uses cultivation and whole-genome DNA sequencing to identify the roles of bacteria in global nutrient cycles. With a focus on carbon, nitrogen and sulfur, he has conducted studies that show the effects of low dissolved oxygen on the nutrient cycling activities of the ocean’s most abundant organisms.听

During his time at in South Korea, Morris will pursue a project entitled, 鈥淗igh-throughput cultivation-based genomics of freshwater Chloroflexota.鈥� A key goal is to advance understanding of the evolution of this important group of bacteria and its potential to mediate key nutrient transformations.

is an associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and in the Department of Bioengineering in the College of Engineering. She leads a neural engineering lab focused on motor brain-computer interfaces, or BCIs. Her work combines experiments with computational methods to develop new ways to build BCIs that interact with plasticity in the brain.

During her stay at the Champalimaud Institute Centre for Restorative Neurotechnology in Portugal, she will collaborate with two researchers, Dr. Juan 脕lvaro Gallego and Dr. John Krakauer. The new projects aim to improve our understanding of how plasticity shapes brain dynamics and apply new BCI algorithms for stroke rehabilitation.听听

is a professor in the Information School and an adjunct professor in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering in the College of Engineering. He is the founding director of the InfoSeeking Lab and founding co-director of RAISE, the Center for Responsibility in AI Systems & Experiences. His research focuses on agentic AI, human-centered information seeking and responsible AI, examining how intelligent systems can act on people’s behalf while remaining transparent, trustworthy and accountable. He is also the founder and CEO of VersarAI, a startup translating his research on AI agents into enterprise applications. His book, 鈥淎gent Nation,鈥� was published this year.听

Shah will use his Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, to study how agentic AI can responsibly power entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems. Working with RMIT researchers and Australia’s startup community, he will investigate what he calls the Delegation Paradox: the tension between the efficiency gained by delegating tasks to AI agents and the oversight, trust and accountability that delegation demands. The work aims to produce frameworks that help founders, enterprises and policymakers adopt AI agents in ways that drive innovation without sacrificing human agency.

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President Robert J. Jones, Provost Tricia Serio and more than two dozen new 天美影视传媒 faculty toured Washington state last week on the annual Faculty Field Tour.

The five-day bus tour departed from the Burke Museum in Seattle on June 15 and made stops at historic sites, the state capitol, health clinics, vineyards, farms, cities and towns throughout the state.

Jones met the group in Richland to participate in a fireside chat. The following day, the UW president joined them at Schoesler Farms, the Ritzville wheat farm owned by Sen. Mark Schoesler, a Republican, and his family. Jones, an agronomist, was delighted to spend time with new faculty, meet Schoesler and get a hands-on tour of the wheat farm.

鈥淲e are a state university. We have an obligation on both sides of the mountains,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淲e have breadth that runs the entire state. And on this tour, these relatively new faculty members have a chance to experience that.鈥�

UW鈥檚 Faculty Field Tour began more than 30 years ago to foster connection between new faculty and communities statewide. While making a counterclockwise loop around Washington, the participants learn about Washington鈥檚 varied economies, diverse geography and the places where their students grew up. The tour typically stops in Tacoma, Olympia, Mt. St. Helens, Vancouver, Toppenish, Tri-Cities, Ritzville, Spokane, Grand Coulee and Leavenworth before returning to Seattle.

Held the week following Commencement, the tour is open to faculty from all three UW campuses. This year鈥檚 cohort included an oceanographer from the College of the Environment, a writing studies professor from UW Tacoma, an economist from the College of Arts & Sciences, and UW Bothell鈥檚 executive vice provost for academic affairs, among others.

鈥淥ur students come from all over the state, right? Certainly not just Seattle,鈥� said , a UW assistant professor in the Information School who was on the tour. 鈥淚f you want to be an effective educator, you need to understand where your students come from and what their communities are like.鈥�

The 2027 Faculty Field Tour is scheduled for the week of June 14.

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天美影视传媒 President Robert J. Jones presided at the UW鈥檚 151st Commencement ceremony on Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium on Saturday, June 13.

Graduates have profound potential and have capacity to combine purpose, skill and cooperation in ways that will change the world,听 Jones said.听

鈥淭hey are innovators, scientists, artists, educators, healers, entrepreneurs and storytellers who have made their mark on the UW and are poised to do the same in the world beyond,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ecause of that, I feel not just hope 鈥� but confidence 鈥� that the future is in their capable hands.鈥�

About 7,500 UW graduates of the Class of 2026 participated in Saturday鈥檚 ceremony. Officials said about 50,000 family members and friends cheered the graduates from the Husky Stadium grandstands. Families from 42 countries from every continent except Antarctica joined the ceremony virtually.

, Class of 鈥�83, who shared the, was the featured speaker.听听

鈥淟eave yourself open to opportunities when they arise. Be willing to take a risk and to say yes to the unknown,鈥� Brunkow told the crowds in Husky Stadium. 鈥淵ou chose UW 鈥� and succeeded here 鈥� because it is a place of discovery, collaboration and optimism. Carry those values with you out into the world. We can鈥檛 wait to see what you make of them.鈥�

By Sunday evening, President Jones will have presented nearly 18,462 degrees to the Class of 2026 across all three UW campuses鈥� ceremonies. Members of the UW Board of Regents, deans and other representatives of the University鈥檚 24 colleges and schools across all three campuses also participated in the ceremonies.听

The following听data, drawn from preliminary information broken down by campus and prepared by the Office of the University Registrar, will be presented听at the Board of Regents鈥� June 11 meeting:听

• For work completed at the听Seattle听campus, about 14,932 degrees will be conferred, specifically: 9,066 bachelor鈥檚 degrees, 4,372 master鈥檚 degrees, 615 professional degrees, 16 Educational Specialist degrees, and 863 doctoral degrees.听
• 础迟听UW Bothell, about 1,886 degrees will be conferred, including 1,619 bachelor鈥檚 degrees and 267 master鈥檚 degrees.听
• And at听UW Tacoma,听students will receive about 1,644 degrees, including 1,321 bachelor鈥檚 degrees, 304 master鈥檚 degrees, 10 Educational Specialist degrees and nine doctoral degrees.听

Degrees are awarded to those who have completed academic requirements during the 2025-2026 academic year. Many colleges and schools also hold separate graduation programs and investiture ceremonies.听

UW Tacoma will hold its commencement June 12 at the Tacoma Dome. UW Bothell鈥檚 graduation ceremonies are scheduled for June 14 at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

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The 天美影视传媒 kicked off Pride Month on Monday with a ceremonial flag raising. Just after noon, the large rainbow flag 鈥� the Progress Pride Flag 鈥� unfurled to cheers from a crowd of about 100 people, the largest gathering in the history of the Pride Flag raising on campus.

While speakers at Monday鈥檚 event reflected on the solidarity and importance of community, the ceremony also served as a time to mourn the loss of Juniper Blessing, the 天美影视传媒 student slain last month. Blessing identified as a part of the UW LGBTQIA+ community. A moment of silence was held in Blessing鈥檚 memory.

鈥淧ride Month signifies a time of joy and celebration, but it also marks a time for unity, remembrance, and solidarity,鈥� Alan Galvez, co-chair of the UW Queer Faculty Staff Alliance and a senior advisor in the UW Student Activities Office, told the crowd. 鈥淛uniper Blessing lived her life the way she felt was right for her. To live in a world authentically as yourself means that you may face a world that may not understand you, but that’s where we use our voices and stand strong together, so we ensure that no one gets left behind or forgotten in our challenges ahead.鈥�

Pride Month commemorates the 1969 Stonewall riots, when queer activists sparked a lasting gay-rights movement. Seattle鈥檚 gay pride activities culminate at the end of June with a parade that draws thousands of visitors.

University leaders on Monday also announced the to support students whose leadership, community involvement or lived experience reflects a meaningful connection to the LGBTQIA+ community and who are studying or actively engaged in music at UW. Blessing was an atmospheric sciences and music studies sophomore and a member of the University Chorale.

鈥淎s we begin Pride Month, I encourage all of us to celebrate in the spirit of love, resilience, openness, and joy,鈥� said Rickey Hall, vice president for Minority Affairs & Diversity and the UW Diversity Officer. 鈥淓ven as we grieve, we can honor one another by showing up for community and carrying forward the values that pride represents.鈥�

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Graduates at听the 天美影视传媒鈥檚听151st Commencement,听scheduled for Saturday, June 13, at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium,听will hear from听,听Class of 鈥�83, who shared the听.听听

Brunkow, who studied听molecular and cellular听biology at the UW, won the Nobel Prize for 鈥�groundbreaking discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance that prevents the immune system from harming the body.鈥澨�Brunkow said she plans to inspire graduates to pursue innovations and discoveries听that will make an impact around the world.听

鈥淚鈥檓 honored to be addressing the听Class of 2026 at the 天美影视传媒, the place where I discovered the joy of asking hard questions in a community that believes in possibility,鈥� Brunkow said.听鈥淎t the UW, mentors opened lab doors, curiosity was encouraged听and persistence was taught by example. I look forward to celebrating and encouraging the next generation of explorers, creators and changemakers at the institution that sparked my own sense of what a life in science听鈥斕齛nd service听鈥斕齝ould be.鈥�听

Brunkow听shares听the听Nobel听Prize听with听Frederick J. Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi听for their combined research听into听how the immune system works. Brunkow and Ramsdell conducted research together听at听Celltech听Chiroscience,听formerly Darwin Molecular,听in Bothell,听Washington.听They听identified听a mutation in a gene called听Foxp3,听which听makes听mice susceptible to a听systemic autoimmune disorder听and is听manifested by a visible skin condition. Mutations in the human听equivalent of the鈥�Foxp3鈥痝ene are also responsible for鈥�, which has symptoms including intestinal problems,听diabetes听and scaly, itchy skin.听听

Later,听Sakaguchi described the role of the听wild-type听Foxp3听gene in the development of certain white blood cells known as regulatory T cells.听These cells, which Sakaguchi discovered, keep other T cells from mistakenly attacking normal tissues. Regulatory T cells also call a ceasefire once the body gets an infection under control.听

Together, these discoveries听led听researchers to develop听a听concept听called “peripheral immune tolerance,”听through听which听the body听keeps听the immune system in check听by听avoiding听autoimmune responses that can damage healthy tissues. The听research听field听based on this concept听holds promise in advancing therapies for cancers and autoimmune听diseases,听and听improving听treatments to reduce transplant rejection.听

鈥淢ary Brunkow鈥檚 groundbreaking work reflects the power of curiosity, persistence and discovery to improve lives around the world,鈥� said UW President Robert J. Jones. 鈥淲e are proud to count her among the 天美影视传媒鈥檚 distinguished alumni and honored to welcome her back to inspire the Class of 2026 as they begin their own journeys of service, leadership and innovation.鈥�听

Brunkow听is听currently听a听distinguished investigator and听senior program manager at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle. After graduating from听the UW,听she听went on to earn her doctoral degree from Princeton University in 1991.听In addition to being the featured speaker at Commencement, Brunkow听also听will听receive听the Alumna听Summa Laude听Dignata听Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a UW graduate.听听

Contact Jackson Holtz at听jjholtz@uw.edu for more information or to arrange an interview with Brunkow.听

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Thornton听has served as听interim dean听since last July, filling the position vacated by Maya Tolstoy.听

Thornton,听a听professor and chair of the听College鈥檚听Department听of Atmospheric and Climate听Science,听is an atmospheric chemist who studies the impacts of human activities on air quality and climate through changes to the atmosphere鈥檚 composition and chemistry.听听

鈥淭hroughout the search process, the deep respect for Dr. Thornton as both a scholar and an effective and engaged leader were evident,鈥� Serio said.听鈥淗is extensive knowledge of and dedication to the College and its mission will support its continued excellence.鈥�听

Thornton鈥檚听research focus is on the processes which regulate the formation and removal of short-lived greenhouse gases such as methane and ozone, and the formation and growth of airborne particulate matter. These atmospheric components听鈥斕齭trongly modulated by both human activities and natural processes听鈥斕齢ave important effects on human and ecosystem health, and impact climate through the greenhouse effect and changes to cloud properties.听听听

“I am truly honored and delighted to have been selected as the Maggie Walker Dean of the College of the Environment,” Thornton听said.听“Supporting the incredible research and teaching that takes place here as interim dean has been an inspiring experience, and I’m looking forward to partnering with our entire community to further grow the impact of this crucial work.”听

The recipient of a National Science Foundation CAREER Award and a NASA New Investigator Award, Thornton has also received the Houghton Award from the American Meteorological Society and the ASCENT Award from the American Geophysical Union for his research contributions to the field of atmospheric science.听听

He earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in听chemistry from Dartmouth College, and听his doctoral degree听in听chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.听听听

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The 天美影视传媒 unveiled the 2026 Husky 100, recognizing 100 undergraduate, graduate and professional students from the UW Bothell, Seattle and Tacoma campuses in all areas of study who are making the most of their time at the UW and are making an impact in their communities.

This remarkable achievement 鈥� a kind of uber dean鈥檚 list 鈥� is awarded to students who demonstrate several key attributes, markers that they will be innovators and leaders.

Since 2016, the UW has highlighted 100 students each year, telling their stories on an interactive website, creating a community on campus and as alumni, and inspiring new generations of Huskies.

Here are some key facts about this year鈥檚 Husky 100:

• There were 734 applicants and 88 faculty and staff who helped select the final 100.
• Nearly half are Washington residents; students on the list hail from all corners of Washington including Seattle, Bellingham, Spokane, Prosser, Olympia and Warden, and many more.
• There are 72 unique majors, including double majors.
• Seventy-one are seniors; 24 are graduate and professional students; and five are juniors.
• Students are from 16 U.S. states and 13 countries including Ghana, the United Kingdom, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Taiwan and China.

This year鈥檚 cohort will be recognized Monday with a celebration at the HUB. Learn more about this year鈥檚 Husky 100.

To find out more about students, their hometowns and for interviews, contact Jackson Holtz at jjholtz@uw.ed.

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