Lance brings more than 18 years of university leadership and legal experience to the role, serving for the past five years as chief of staff to the provost at Seattle University. Prior to that role, Lance served as SU鈥檚 associate university counsel from 2017 to 2021 and assistant to the executive vice president and assistant university counsel from 2010 to 2017.

鈥淒avid stood out not only for the depth and breadth of his experience as a university chief of staff, but for the incredible esteem in which he is held by all who have worked with him. In addition, his deep knowledge and understanding of the local higher education landscape makes him the ideal person to fill this important role,鈥� said President Jones.

Before joining Seattle University, Lance was an associate attorney for Miller Nash, LLP where his practice focused on higher education. He holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science from Marquette University, a juris doctorate from Seattle University School of Law and was an adjunct law professor from 2012 to 2016.

鈥淗aving been born and raised in Washington, I am honored to join the Husky family,鈥� Lance said. 鈥淭he UW stands as a leading public research university and prominent member of the AAU and Big Ten Conference. I look forward to serving alongside President Jones, Provost Serio and the UW community as we navigate the headwinds facing higher education, lead in this moment of change, and continue our work to educate students, care for patients, innovate and produce knowledge, and serve our communities, all for the common good.鈥�

As chief of staff, Lance will serve as a senior advisor to the president, helping to drive strategic priorities and oversee the operations of the Executive Office of the President and Provost. He will work closely with campus and external partners to ensure alignment across the University, advance the institution鈥檚 strategic plan and strengthen collaboration among divisions. Lance will also support the administration鈥檚 engagement with the UW Board of Regents and help ensure the University鈥檚 mission and values are reflected in its leadership and decision making.

Lance is the youngest son of two Huskies 鈥� Stan Lance, who graduated with a master鈥檚 degree in 1972 and an MBA in 1975, and Nora Lance, who earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in 1973.

Outside of work, Lance enjoys running and longs for more October baseball in Seattle. He also explores the Pacific Northwest鈥檚 trails, beaches and mountains with his wife, Christi, and three young kids.

Lance succeeds Hasoni Pratts, who served as chief of staff following the departure of Margaret Shepherd, who left the UW in September after serving at the University for听16听years.

[April 6] UPDATE: Flower petals are falling on the Quad as the trees lose their blossoms. The waning bloom is still quite a site but it’ll be a while before the trees are back on full display.

[March 23] UPDATE: The cherry trees are officially in peak bloom! Visit campus anytime in the next week or so to see the blossoms in all their glory.

[March 18] UPDATE: Recent temperature swings have slowed bud development for the Quad cherries. About half of the trees are still in peduncle elongation stage while half have moved on to the 鈥減uffy white鈥� stage that precedes full bloom. Cool temperatures in the coming days may delay peak bloom as trees gradually blossom. Warm weather could produce a sudden transition. Check the live cams for updates.

[March 13] UPDATE: It’s snowing but the blossoms are still growing! The Quad cherries are now in the “peduncle elongation” stage, where the flower-bearing stalk extends from the bud. Some have also begun to flower.

Each spring, large crowds gather on the 天美影视传媒 Quad to admire 29 puffy pink cherry trees making their seasonal debut. The trees begin to wake up as the weather warms, and this year, estimates suggest that they will reach 鈥減eak bloom鈥� on March 20.

The UW鈥檚 iconic cherry trees achieve peak bloom when 70% of the blossoms have opened, but the week before and after still offer visitors an optimal viewing experience.

The cherry blossom visitors鈥� website provides updates on bloom status as well as details on transportation, activities and amenities. The cherry blossoms also have live video feeds for virtual viewing and their own social media accounts on and .

The cherry trees are both beautiful and ecologically significant. Tracking when the buds burst each year helps researchers predict peak bloom and determine how climate warming is impacting the trees, which were planted in the Washington Park Arboretum in 1936 and then relocated to UW in 1962.

This year, many plants began to emerge early as a mild winter gave way to spring. Recent UW research described how plants rely on both temperature and light cues to time their flowering. Temperature is particularly important to cherry trees, which estimate the arrival of spring based on how cold it has been. They accrue 鈥渃hilling units鈥� as winter progresses and 鈥渉eating units鈥� as it yields to spring.

鈥淭he buds need to accumulate a specific amount of chilling units before they can start accumulating the heating units. When it is not as cold, the chilling units accumulate much slower, so it takes them longer to wake up from dormancy, which is very counterintuitive,鈥� said , a UW doctoral student of environmental and forest sciences.

Theil is now overseeing data collection on campus, with the help of approximately 20 undergraduate students. The researchers make observations as the trees begin to wake up and feed the data into a computer model that incorporates weather forecasts to predict peak bloom.

Historically, the onset of peak bloom has fallen between March 12 and April 3, with an average date of March 23. While the weather impacts peak bloom year to year, climate change drives longer term trends over multiple decades.

Research shows that bloom time has shifted approximately two days earlier each decade since the 1960s. Researchers began monitoring the trees in 2012 and referenced newspaper archives to estimate peak bloom dates for the preceding years.

鈥淲ith the climate warming more rapidly in the spring, I expected to see the flowers blooming earlier,鈥� said lead author , a recent doctoral graduate from the UW school of environmental and forest sciences. 鈥淏ut as we dove into the literature and examined the data, we saw a delay in bloom, as a result of winter warming in Seattle.鈥�

The study focused on the Somei-yoshino, or Yoshino, cherry tree cultivar. These trees, sometimes called the Japanese flowering cherry, are found throughout Japan. They also line the National Mall in Washington D.C. and paint many Seattle neighborhoods pink in the springtime.

The bloom delay Maust observed applies only to Yoshino cherry trees in Seattle. In colder climates, such as Washington D.C., the trees have ample time to accrue chilling units. Still, the two populations are quite similar, genetically.

Propagation, or breeding more trees, occurs by grafting one tree onto another. This process limits genetic variability in favor of consistency. Because all Yoshino cherry trees are sterile clones of one another, they do not produce fruits or seeds, but they do reliably bloom in beautiful pink hues each spring.

For more information on bloom time, contact Theil at mtheil@uw.edu or Maust at听 amaust@uw.edu. For information about the Yoshino Genome Project, contact Steinbrenner at astein10@uw.edu.

Come curious. Leave inspired.

For those near and far, we invite you to start the year with us through a range of events, performances, exhibitions, podcasts, and more. And as January comes to a close, see what’s happening in February.

In addition,听.

ArtSci On Your Own Time

Podcast: (Henry Art Gallery)
Frequencies is a creative audio project where a cohort of artists, writers, and community members are invited to contribute sonic responses to the Henry鈥檚 exhibitions. The series serves as an aural companion to the work on view and can be experienced either in-gallery or before or after visiting. In lieu of a traditional museum guide in which historical and contextual insights are gleaned, these responses provoke further thought and exploration demonstrating that interpretations of contemporary art can be as varied as the individuals who encounter it.

Book: (History)
This book examines spaces, practices, and ideologies of incarceration in the ancient Mediterranean basin from 300 BCE to 600 CE. Analyzing a wide range of sources鈥攊ncluding legal texts, archaeological findings, documentary evidence, and visual materials鈥擬atthew D. C. Larsen and Mark Letteney argue that prisons were integral to the social, political, and economic fabric of ancient societies. Ancient Mediterranean Incarceration traces a long history of carceral practices, considering ways in which the institution of prison has been fundamentally intertwined with issues of class, ethnicity, gender, and imperialism. By foregrounding the voices and experiences of the imprisoned, Larsen and Letteney demonstrate the extraordinary durability of carceral structures across time and call for a new historical consciousness around contemporary practices of incarceration. .

Dive deeper with Letteney during the , , and .

Week of January 5

January 7 | (Music)
A free lunchtime performance featuring UW School of Music students in the North Allen Library lobby. Presented in partnership with UW Libraries. Free.

January 8 | (Jackson School of International Studies)
Alongside China鈥檚 rapid economic growth and urbanization, the country has witnessed an unprecedented wave of rural-to-urban migration. Educating this large population poses considerable challenges to the nation鈥檚 household registration (hukou)鈥揵ased education system. Addressing the educational needs of migrant children is not only essential for promoting social equity and cohesion, but also carries profound implications for China鈥檚 long-term economic development and social progress. Since the central government issued a 2001 directive requiring destination cities to provide public education for migrant children, their access to urban schools has improved substantially, however, reforms related to high school admissions have progressed more slowly. This lecture addresses the data gathering structure created by the author and examines how these policies influence family migration decisions and the educational outcomes of migrant children. Free.

January 8 | (Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture)
Part of Burke鈥檚 Free First Thursday series, the museum opens its collections spaces from 4:30 to 7:30鈥疨M. Visitors can explore behind鈥憈he-scenes labs and storage, and speak with researchers, staff, and volunteers about their work. Free.

January 9 | (School of Drama)
School of Drama faculty Nikki Yeboah, Jasmine Mahmoud, and Odai Johnson share recent scholarship on women and performance, followed by conversation. Coffee provided. Free.

Closes January 11 | 听(Henry Art Gallery)
Spirit House investigates how contemporary artists of Asian descent challenge the boundary between life and death through art. A thematic exploration of the work of thirty-four Asian American and Asian diasporic artists, Spirit House asks the question, what does it mean to speak to ghosts, inhabit haunted spaces, be reincarnated, or enter different dimensions? Inspired by spirit houses, small devotional structures found throughout Thailand that provide shelter for the supernatural, this exhibition considers how art can bridge the gap between this world and the next. Free.

Admission to the Henry is free to all visitors.

Week of January 12

Online – January 12 | 听(Jackson School of International Studies)
Presented by Edward Alden, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations; John Koenig, U.S. Ambassador (ret.) and UW Lecturer; and Jacqueline Miller, President and CEO of World Affairs Council-Seattle. Trump in the World 2.0 is an online series of talks and discussions featuring guest speakers and faculty exploring global perspectives on a second Trump administration. Free.

UW students: Interested in taking this as a 2-credit/no credit course? Visit MyPlan for complete course details.

Online – January 12 | (Simpson Center for the Humanities)
Drawing on his new book, Pan-African Futurism, Dr. Reginold Royston will discuss technology and role of Pan-Africanism in the fields of international development, diaspora and politics in Ghana and beyond.

January 13 | (School of Art + Art History + Design)
The question to consider during dinner and conversation: How can we bring together emerging, established, and elder leaders in the conversation around liberation? This program is part of the year-long Liberation Book Club series exploring liberation through shared texts, art, film, music, and workshops. Free.

Online option – January 14 | Philosophical Nonviolence and the Democratic Ideal with John Wood Jr. (Public Lectures)
Too often, democracy is narrowly defined by the act of voting, reducing the citizen鈥檚 role to mere electoral participation. However, a truly thriving democratic society is one in which full inclusion is built upon a foundation of cultural goodwill between distinct communities. This vision of a beloved community鈥攔ooted in the philosophy of nonviolence鈥攚as championed by Martin Luther King Jr. It is this philosophy that we must revive to bridge the deep political and cultural divides that threaten American democracy today. Free.

January 15 – 18 | (featuring UW School of Music faculty and students)
In addition to papers by scholars from around the country, the festival features keynote talks and performances by internationally acclaimed musicians and writers. Free.

January 16 | 听(Political Science)
As a part of the Severyns Ravenholt Seminar in Comparative Politics, this lecture features Jihyeon Bae, Ph.D. Student.听Free.

January 17 |听(Meany Center for the Performing Arts)
Karim Sulayman 鈥� lauded for his 鈥渧elvety tenor and pop-star charisma鈥� (BBC Music Magazine) 鈥� joins guitarist Sean Shibe, whose 鈥渕usic-making is masterful, beautiful and convincing in every way鈥� (The Times, UK), for an intimate recital of music ranging from the Middle Ages to the present. This compelling musical journey examines the close cultural and musical ties between East and West, reflecting the artists鈥� personal experiences with roots in Lebanon and Japan.

Week of January 19

January 22 | (School of Music)
The acclaimed piano鈥損ercussion quartet Yarn/Wire performs contemporary works by UW composition students and alumni in an evening of innovative new music.

January 22 – 25 | (Dance)
The inaugural Grad Lab Concert debuts an evening-length work co-created and performed by UW MFA candidates Jake Bone, marco farroni leonardo, Alice Gosti, Jillian Roberts, and Tracey Wong. Through five distinct artistic perspectives, the piece weaves a vibrant tapestry of movement鈥攅xploring lineage, experimentation, and care.

Online – January 22 | 听(History)
Catherine Conybeare is the first woman to write a biography of Augustine since Rebecca West. She has received awards and fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the American Council of Learned Societies and the National Endowment for the Humanities, amongst others. She is the Leslie Clark Professor in the Humanities at Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania.听Free.

Online option – January 22 | (Jackson School of International Studies)
Professor Nicholas de Villiers of University of North Florida, contends in his book that we need to theorize both queer time and space to understand Taiwan-based director Tsai Ming-liang鈥檚 cinematic explorations of feeling melancholy, cruisy, and sleepy. Building on those arguments, this presentation starts with a reading of Tsai鈥檚 short film It鈥檚 a Dream (2007)鈥攕et in a movie theater in Malaysia鈥攁s a microcosm of Tsai鈥檚 themes and motifs of sleep/dreaming, cruising, nostalgia, and the space of the cinema. It then addresses Tsai鈥檚 鈥減ost-retirement鈥� (after 2013) films and museum installations, including the queer Teddy award-winning digital feature film Days (Rizi, 2020) shot in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Thailand, and the short film The Night (2021) shot in Hong Kong in 2019. Free.

January 22 | (Stroum Center for Jewish Studies)
Mark Letteney will be joined by Stroum Center faculty and history professor Joel Walker and classics professor Sarah Levin-Richardson to discuss the book, unpack what role prisons played in ancient societies and how this history continues today, and answer questions. Free.

January 23 | (Meany Center for the Performing Arts)
Celebrated Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes performs an eclectic solo recital featuring works by Schumann, Jan谩膷ek, and Kurt谩g.

January 23 | (Classics)
This year’s McDiarmid Lecture features Kirk Ormand (Oberlin College). Free.

January 23 | (Political Science)
Presented by Barry Rabe,Arthur F. Thurnau Professor Emeritus; Professor Emeritus of Public Policy; Professor Emeritus of Environmental Policy; Professor Emeritus of the Environment; Professor Emeritus of Political Science. Free.

January 25 | (Burke Museum)
Uncover an ancient marine creature in the dig pit, compare your footprint to a giant sauropod, and learn about the mighty animals of the Mesozoic.

Week of January 26

Online – January 26 | 听(Jackson School of International Studies)
Presented by Roberto Dondisch, Distinguished Fellow Stimson Center; Lecturer, 天美影视传媒 and Bonnie Jenkins, U.S. Ambassador (ret.); Visiting Professor, George Washington University. Trump in the World 2.0 is an online series of talks and discussions featuring guest speakers and faculty exploring global perspectives on a second Trump administration. Free.

UW students: Interested in taking this as a 2-credit/no credit course? Visit MyPlan for complete course details.

January 28 | (Stroum Center for Jewish Studies)
Miriam Udel will discuss her new book, Modern Jewish Worldmaking Through Yiddish Children’s Literature. Free.

Online – January 29 | (Jackson School of International Studies)
The U.S. intervention in Venezuela recalls a painful history of similar actions by the United States in the region. Since the capture of President Nicol谩s Maduro, responses around the world have ranged from celebrations by the Venezuelan diaspora to protests against U.S. imperialism and the violation of Venezuelan sovereignty. Underscoring the importance of historical knowledge of inter-American relations, this virtual roundtable will feature 天美影视传媒 professors Ileana Rodr铆guez-Silva (History) and Sebasti谩n Rubiano-Galvis (Law, Societies & Justice), political scientist and Sim贸n Bolivar University professor Colette Capriles, and historian of Venezuela and New York University Professor Alejandro Velasco, who will shed light on the invasion. Free.

January 29鈥�31 | (Meany Center for the Performing Arts)
Ephrat Asherie鈥檚 choreography remixes street and club dance styles with the live Latin jazz of Grammy鈥憌inner Arturo O鈥橣arrill in Shadow Cities.

January 29鈥揊ebruary 8 | (School of Drama)
In this new translation of Chekhov鈥檚 鈥漵erious comedy of human contradictions鈥�, a group of artists and dreamers meet in the countryside and wrestle with the costs of ambition, unspoken longings, and the harsh realities of artistic pursuits. Set against a backdrop of love, passionate aspirations, and the search for meaning,听The Seagull听captures the fierce hopes and quiet heartbreaks of an artistic career.听 Directed by MFA Student Sebasti谩n Bravo Montenegro.

January 30 | (German Studies)
Presented by Alexandra Sterling-Hellenbrand, Professor of German and Global Studies at Appalachian State University.听Free.

ArtSci Roundup goes monthly!

The ArtSci Roundup is your guide to connecting with the UW鈥攚hether in person, on campus, or on your couch.

Previously shared on a quarterly basis, those who sign up for the Roundup email will receive them monthly, delivering timely updates and engaging content wherever you are. Check the roundup regularly, as events are added throughout the month. Make sure to check out the ArtSci On Your Own Time section for everything from podcasts to videos to exhibitions that can be enjoyed when it works for you!

In addition, if you like the ArtSci Roundup, sign up to receive a monthly notice when it’s been published.

Do you have an event that you would like to see featured in the ArtSci Roundup? Connect with Lauren Zondag (zondagld@uw.edu).uw.edu).

Come curious. Leave inspired.

For those near and far, we invite you to end the year with us through a range of events, performances, exhibitions, podcasts, and more. As you begin to shape your December plans, don鈥檛 miss the inspiring events still to come this November.

In addition,听.

ArtSci On Your Own Time

Henry Art Gallery Exhibitions Closing in January:

Influenced by non-verbal communication, Kim merges graphic and musical notation with American Sign Language. Her compositions uniquely address her experience as a Deaf individual in a hearing-centric society and broader societal influences on whose voices hold sway.

This presentation is the second rotation in a two-part series showcasing new additions to the Henry鈥檚 permanent collection. Artists featured in this presentation highlight both locally and globally recognized figures, including Sarah Cain, Fiona Connor, Demian DineYahzi鈥�, Mary Ann Peters, and Carrie Yamaoka, among others.

Spirit House investigates how contemporary artists of Asian descent challenge the boundary between life and death through art. A thematic exploration of the work of thirty-four Asian American and Asian diasporic artists, Spirit House asks the question, what does it mean to speak to ghosts, inhabit haunted spaces, be reincarnated, or enter different dimensions? Inspired by spirit houses, small devotional structures found throughout Thailand that provide shelter for the supernatural, this exhibition considers how art can bridge the gap between this world and the next.

Admission to the Henry is free to all visitors.

Podcast: 听(Jackson School of International Studies)
Launched in 2021 with UW Professor Daniel Bessner and writer Derek Davison, 鈥淎merican Prestige,鈥� the winner of the 2025 Signal Awards “silver” medal, offers an in-depth analysis of U.S. foreign policy and international affairs, and has featured guests such as actor Morgan Spector and HuffPost senior diplomatic correspondent Akbar Shahid Ahmed.

Exhibitions in the Community: (Art + Art History + Design)
Eight students graduated in June 2025 with their Master of Fine Arts degrees and just a few months later, are already making impressive moves in their artistic careers with work being featured at the Tacoma Art Museum, 4Culture, and more!

Podcasts: (天美影视传媒 Magazine)
From Indigenous Jazz to conversations about how to live with uncertainty and discomfort without disconnecting from our shared humanity, listen to podcasts and radio shows from UW alumni and faculty.

Events Happening in December

December 1 | 听(Music)
Phyllis Byrdwell leads the 100-voice Gospel Choir in songs from the Gospel tradition.

December 1 | (Slavic Languages & Literature)
UW professor, translator, and writer Jos茅 Alaniz discusses his latest book, Comics of the Anthropocene: Graphic Narrative at the End of Nature, the first full-length monograph to explore how US comics artists have depicted environmental destruction, mass extinctions, and climate change. He will be joined in conversation by fellow artists Megan Kelso, Leonard Rifas, and T Edward Bak.听Free.

December 2 | (Political Science)
The UW Political Science Department welcomes Hayko Ba臒dat to the stage with UW Professor Asli Cansunar for a discussion on minority rights, freedom of expression and belonging in Turkish politics today. Drawing on personal stories, they鈥檒l explore what it means to speak truth, to live in exile for that truth, and to carry both love and loss for a country from afar. Free.

December 2 | (Art + Art History + Design)
Our question to consider: What is the soundtrack to liberation? This year-long program series hopes to honor our commitment to social justice and to gather our community to think about the work of liberation through shared texts, art, film, music, conversation, and workshops. Unlike your traditional book club all the reading and study happens together, so no need to prepare.

December 3 | 听(Music)
A free lunchtime performance featuring UW School of Music students in the North Allen Library lobby. Presented in partnership with UW Libraries.听Free.

December 4 | (Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture)
Part of Burke鈥檚 Free First Thursday series, the museum opens its collections spaces from 4:30 to 7:30鈥疨M. Visitors can explore behind鈥憈he-scenes labs and storage, and speak with researchers, staff, and volunteers about their work.听Free.

December 4 | (Simpson Center for the Humanities)
Over the past quarter-century, the Simpson Center has established itself as an internationally recognized model for leading-edge humanities research. Its work鈥攆rom scholarly gatherings to fellowship programs to publications鈥攈as been transformative for faculty, students, and staff at the 天美影视传媒. The new faculty director of the Simpson Center, Professor Lynn M. Thomas, invites you to celebrate the impact of the Center鈥檚 work and to raise a glass to honor Professor Kathleen Woodward鈥檚 legacy of leadership at the Simpson Center.听Free.

Online Option – December 4 | The Office of Public Lectures presents: Healthcare Where All Can Thrive: Advocating For Older LGBTQ Adults with Carey Candrian (Graduate School Public Lectures)
Healthcare can be challenging for anyone鈥攂ut for older LGBTQ individuals, the barriers are often deeper and more complex. This talk explores how thoughtful, inclusive communication can transform healthcare experiences, making every person feel truly seen, heard, and respected. Free.

December 4 | School of Music Performances
Free

Free

December 5 – 13 | (Drama)
Part farce, part protest, this sharp and timely comedy explores Capitalism and economic survival with wild humor and a lot of heart. Directed by Bradley Wrenn, as part of our Producing Artists Laboratory, They Don鈥檛 Pay! We Won鈥檛 Pay! brings riotous laughter to a situation that feels all too close to home.

December 7 | 听(Meany Center for the Performing Arts)
Join Cantus for a reflection on the meaning and joy of the holiday season with a program that the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune deemed “as joyful a celebration of the season’s spirit as any caroling party you’re likely to attend this year.”

December 7 | (Music)
The 天美影视传媒 Modern Music Ensemble (Cristina Vald茅s, director) presents diverse and innovative programming from the mid-20th century to the present. Free.

December 8 | 听(Asian Languages & Literature)
In this talk, David Spafford, Associate Professor of Premodern Japanese History at the University of Pennsylvania, takes a closer look at the complexities of sixteenth-century Japan and unpacks why this particular moment in history matters so much 鈥� and how the hit Shogun series does (or doesn鈥檛) help us understand it. Free.

December 9 | (Meany Center for the Performing Arts)
Through a captivating multimedia performance, Feinstein breathes life into iconic songs, blending holiday classics and more. The concert includes a wide-ranging selection of favorites with melodies that promise an unforgettable evening celebrating the magic of the holiday season.

December 11 | (Meany Center for the Performing Arts)
Dianne Reeves 鈥� one of the pre-eminent jazz vocalists in the world today 鈥� brings her fresh interpretations of Christmas standards to Meany for a night of holiday magic. Her brilliant virtuosity, improvisational prowess and unique jazz flair are showcased in a set of music from her celebrated album, Christmas Time Is Here.

December 18 |

Read the book ahead of time, or join to learn more about the selection. The听December book is The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

Polly Olsen, Burke Museum Tribal Liaison, will discuss The Serviceberry and illustrate the book鈥檚 core concept, the gift economy. After the conversation, explore the museum on your own and see examples of lessons from The Serviceberry in the galleries.

December 18 – 20 | (Dance)
From improvisation and playful experiments, to a soft collision with movement, each work has a distinct choreographic style. The evening asks us to consider different modes of relation: between artists, across decades, in conversation with lineage, and with embodied inquiry. In collaboration with UW Associate Professor Rachael Lincoln.

December 31 | (Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture)
Enjoy fossilized fun at five drop-in stations designed for young learners ages 3鈥�8. Hold fossils and casts at the touch table, make scientific discoveries in the dig pit, create a craft to take home, and collect a new stamp each month in your Fossil Finders Passport.

ArtSci Roundup goes monthly!

The ArtSci Roundup is your guide to connecting with the UW鈥攚hether in person, on campus, or on your couch.

Previously shared on a quarterly basis, those who sign up for the Roundup email will receive them monthly, delivering timely updates and engaging content wherever you are. Check the roundup regularly, as events are added throughout the month. Make sure to check out the ArtSci On Your Own Time section for everything from podcasts to videos to exhibitions that can be enjoyed when it works for you!

In addition, if you like the ArtSci Roundup, sign up to receive a monthly notice when it鈥檚 been published.听

Do you have an event that you would like to see featured in the ArtSci Roundup? Connect with Lauren Zondag (zondagld@uw.edu).

, artist in residence and head of organ studies at the 天美影视传媒, will be joined by students and colleagues on Friday, Oct. 31, to perform a concert of spooky organ classics and Halloween fun.

The concert will open with 鈥淭occata and Fugue in D minor,鈥� which Price will play on the organ. Most likely written by Johann Sebastian Bach in the Baroque period, the composition is strongly associated with Halloween and spooky films, including the Disney movie 鈥淔antasia.鈥�

鈥淧eople will recognize that piece and sort of expect it,鈥澨� Price said. 鈥淲e will then have vocal students and instrumentalists from the UW School of Music, which will show how the organ can be an accompanying instrument, outside of just being a solo instrument. Each organist will bring their own character and style to their performances.鈥�

Other concert selections include 鈥淭he Ballad of Sweeney Todd,鈥� 鈥淧ink Panther,鈥� the Mexican folk song 鈥淟a Llorona,鈥� , and the American folk tune 鈥淭he House of the Rising Sun.鈥澨�

鈥淓vents like this are important because they expose people to organ music that may not ever take the chance to go and hear an organ concert,鈥� Price said. 鈥淚t is a very popular event, and it’s oriented around popular music and familiar music. That makes it a fun experience.鈥�

After graduating from Western Connecticut State University, Price received a Fulbright Scholarship to Toulouse, France, where he studied historical and modern performances practices of French organ music. He went on to earn a master鈥檚 degree and a doctoral degree in music.

鈥�I have a colleague here in Seattle who believes the instrument chooses you, and I think there may be some truth to that,鈥� Price said. 鈥淭he first time I saw an organist play, I knew instantly that’s what I wanted to do.鈥�

Spanning approximately 12,000 square feet, the historic ASUW Shell House is located just feet from the northeast edge of the Montlake Cut and stands as a testament to UW鈥檚 enduring spirit of community, achievement and perseverance. The renovation of the 107-year-old building, preserving its open, hangar-style layout, is made possible by public funding and private philanthropic support. The building will seat up to 250 people, be available for both student and public use 鈥� the culmination of eight years of work and $22.5 million in funds raised in order to prepare the iconic structure for its next century.

The Shell House has served many purposes over the years, most famously as the site of the workshop of legendary boat-builder George Pocock, who crafted racing shells that carried Washington Rowing through eight national championship wins, including the legendary team that captured Olympic gold in 1936. It served as the inspiration behind Brown鈥檚 bestselling book and the movie, “The Boys in the Boat.”听Originally built as a WWI seaplane hangar, it most recently has been used as a place to store shells and boats. The location is known as 鈥淐arry a Canoe鈥� in Lushootseed, st蓹x虒史ug史it (stukh-ug-weelth) which for many years served as a natural portage used by families and tribes.

After the war, the Navy’s buildings were turned over to UW. In August 1919 it was announced that most would be sold and removed. Since hangars of this type were considered temporary structures to support the Navy鈥檚 war effort, most were demolished. Student volunteers and crew members dug a 1,000-foot trench to carry steam pipes from Lander Hall to heat the cavernous space, and when all was ready, large letters painted above the huge doors spelled out “A.S.U.W. Shell House.” Today, it remains one of only two such wooden hangars still standing and has become an icon of rowing and UW鈥檚 history.听

鈥淏uildings, like people, have stories to tell,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淚n these fractured times, we all crave examples of people pulling together for some kind of common goal. And that is really what the story of 鈥楾he Boys In the Boat鈥� and this building are all about.鈥�

鈥淏ecause of your support, our campus and community can unite on the water鈥檚 edge, honor our shared legacy and launch a bold future together,鈥� said Denzil Suite, UW’s vice president of student life, whose division oversees the building鈥檚 operations.听

Planning for the renovation project began in 2016. From the beginning, the goal has been for members of the community to contribute ideas for preserving the building鈥檚 historic identity, while adapting it for modern use and ensuring its structural integrity of its facilities 鈥� making it an ideal space for events, programs and community gatherings. An exhibit honoring the historic Pocock shop and rowing legacy of the UW and the Seattle region, together with the restoration of the historic wood interior and hangar doors are key features.

Many aspects of the historic preservation were considered, including legacy, community impact, budget, adaptation to modern building codes, shoreline improvements and legal requirements.听听

鈥淲e are deeply grateful to every member of our community who shared their input, passion and perspective,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淭ogether, we are not only honoring the remarkable history of the ASUW Shell House, but also shaping a welcoming, functional space that will serve generations to come and ensure its long-term vitality.鈥�

The University established a large and diverse advisory committee to represent the building鈥檚 many different histories as well as its variety of future users. Over the past several years, the committee has provided valuable perspectives surrounding the project. These perspectives will ensure that the finished building incorporates a wide array of viewpoints from individuals who care deeply about the story that inspired a nation.听听

鈥淩ooted in a rich history of gathering and purpose, the iconic space has long brought students, athletes and the broader community together,鈥� UW Foundation Board member Brooks Simpson said. 鈥淚t will truly be the 鈥榝ront dock鈥� to the UW campus 鈥� greeting students and welcoming the public to experience our rich and complex waterfront history.鈥�

听鈥淛ust as with any good crew, we are unique individuals who have learned to row together. Our common cause and careful process have led to the plan that we now embark on,鈥� former State Sen. Mark Mullet said. Mullet, who previously served on the Senate Ways & Means (budget) committee and as vice chair of the capital budget, helped to secure $3 million in state funding investment for the renovation and adaptive use. 鈥淭ogether, we will ensure that the building 鈥� its beams, its rafters and its authentic voice 鈥� remain the first and most important storyteller.鈥�

The ASUW Shell House was the first UW building to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places (1975 as the Old Canoe House), and the first UW building to become a Seattle Landmark (2018). Today, it continues to sit atop a culturally significant site 鈥� a place of gathering and movement for generations past, present and future.听听

Learn more about the history of the ASUW Shell House.

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Editor鈥檚 NOTE:听 The credit: Plomp for Mithun | Sellen) are also available online. Photos from the event are courtesy of Tara Brown Photography.听

A new era of astronomy and astrophysics began Monday when the first images captured by the NSF鈥揇OE were released, demonstrating the extraordinary capabilities of the new telescope and the world鈥檚 largest digital camera.

Officials in Washington, D.C., unveiled large, ultra-high-definition images and videos, as well as discoveries of thousands of new asteroids. Astronomers and researchers around the world watched along at viewing parties, including at the 天美影视传媒鈥檚 Planetarium.

The images offer a preview of the most comprehensive census of the solar system scientists have ever conducted, and a peek into the exponential increase in discoveries and understanding of the cosmos this new telescope will make possible.

The UW was one of the founding members of Rubin鈥檚 ambitious undertaking and will play a key role in making sense of the discoveries. UW scientists and engineers were critical in advocating for the project, designing the observatory and developing the software that will analyze the petabytes of data from Rubin鈥檚 telescope, including the asteroid discovery algorithms.

鈥溙烀烙笆哟� faculty recognized early on that dreaming big about Rubin鈥檚 capabilities and leading the scientific charge would shape our knowledge of the solar system and propel innovation in data science not only in astrophysics but also across disciplines,” said UW Provost Tricia R. Serio. “We often talk about the impact the UW is making here and around the world. This project will take us far into space and give us information about the very origins of the universe and set the stage for future discoveries we can’t even imagine today.”

From its peak in the Chilean Andes, Rubin鈥檚 Simonyi Survey Telescope will scan the sky with its 8.4-meter mirror and enormous 3,200-megapixel camera, the largest digital camera in the world. The telescope鈥檚 sight path, the pace and frequency of observations and the vast field of vision required a new type of discovery algorithm to reliably make sense of the troves of data collected. Scientists and researchers at the UW worked across disciplines to evolve data science and computer science to meet Rubin鈥檚 demands.

In 2017, the UW 鈥� with founding support from the Charles and Lisa Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences 鈥� established the , or DiRAC. The Institute, part of the , aims to be an interdisciplinary hub to address fundamental questions about the origins and evolution of the universe. Leaders recognized that the future of astrophysics relied on using software as the chief instrument for this exploration. Combined with the UW鈥檚 and the deep connections to the Pacific Northwest鈥檚 tech community, DiRAC has developed a global reputation for working toward new discoveries.

As the Rubin sets out on a 10-year mission to conduct the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), software created at the UW will be pivotal as scientists advance understanding of the cosmos and the origins of the solar system. UW’s faculty, students and staff have played key roles in the construction of this new facility They’ve also been pivotal in developing the algorithms that keep the telescope image sharp and creating the codes for mapping the solar system and discovering the most energetic and rarest phenomena in what astrophysicists call the 鈥� UW’s , a professor of astronomy, is the director of the federally-funded Rubin Construction Project.听

Unlike other telescopes 鈥� which tend to focus and 鈥渮oom in鈥� on a few objects of interest 鈥� Rubin is alone in the capability to quickly and repeatedly map the entire visible sky.听

鈥淩ubin has the unprecedented capacity to capture the cosmos,鈥� said , a professor of astronomy and director of UW鈥檚 . He鈥檚 also the co-principal investigator of the supported LSST Interdisciplinary Network for Collaboration and Computing (LINCC) Frameworks program to develop state-of-the-art analysis techniques capable of meeting Rubin鈥檚 scale and complexity.

鈥淩ubin will deliver the largest map the universe ever made: tens of billions of galaxies, billions of stars and millions of new small bodies in our own solar system. It鈥檚 a data analysis endeavor of epic proportions,鈥� Connolly said.听

For each object Rubin observes, there will be much more than a static image, the technology will produce a thousand-frame movie: trillions of measurements of billions of objects, said , a research associate professor and the science lead of Rubin鈥檚 time-domain software team.

鈥淲ith these data, scientists will better understand the universe, chronicle its evolution, and delve into science ranging from dangerous asteroids to the mysteries of dark energy,鈥� Bellm said.

For example, the UW鈥檚 team helped create simulation software to predict Rubin鈥檚 discoveries. The research found that the telescope will map more than 5 million main-belt asteroids, 127,000 near-Earth objects, 109,000 Trojan asteroids that share Jupiter鈥檚 orbit, 37,000 trans-Neptunian objects and about 2,000 Centaurs, or orbit-crossing objects.听

These objects, revealed in color and in more detail than was previously possible, help tell the story of the solar system鈥檚 origins, said , a professor of astronomy and the principal investigator of UW鈥檚 Rubin team.

Juric said that Rubin will help answer some fundamental questions: How did the planets form? Is there an unknown planet hiding in the outskirts of our solar system? Did comets bring water to the Earth? Or asteroids? And are there any that could still collide with us today?

鈥淭he first look we share today is a glimpse into the transformational capacity Rubin will bring to answer questions like these,鈥� Juric said.

The work to support the Rubin Observatory hasn鈥檛 been limited to UW faculty. Numerous UW undergraduate and doctoral students have played contributing roles, authoring important journal articles, developing simulation software and writing complex computer codes.听

Exposure to the LSST has helped prepare students to succeed post graduation, whether applying for work in industry or moving onto advanced academic degrees.

鈥淒eveloping cloud-based analytics platforms, or building pipelines to process large amounts of imaging data, are skills that allow one to do not just cutting-edge astronomy but also any other data-intensive problem,鈥� said Steven Stetzler, who recently completed doctoral work at UW and now holds a postdoctoral appointment at NASA鈥檚 Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

For more information, contact Juric at mjuric@uw.edu or James Davenport at jrad@uw.edu.听

天美影视传媒 President Ana Mari Cauce inspired graduates at the UW鈥檚 150th Commencement ceremony on Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium on Saturday.

Cauce delivered her final address before ending her 10-year run as president and returning to the faculty.

“Graduates 鈥� right here, right now you stand on the edge of possibility, and you will be confronted with choices, challenges and opportunities that none of us can begin to imagine,” Cauce said. “That鈥檚 why all of us on this stage and in the audience are not only proud of your achievements, we are grateful 鈥� because the world urgently needs your voices and efforts.”

More than 7,400 UW graduates of the Class of 2025 鈥� the most ever to pre-register 鈥� participated. About 50,000 family members and friends cheered the graduates from the Husky Stadium grandstands.

UW Tacoma held its commencement June 13 at the Tacoma Dome. UW Bothell鈥檚 graduation ceremonies are scheduled for June 15 at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

See highlights from Husky Stadium, Hec Edmundson Pavilion and the Tacoma Dome in the photo gallery below.

President Cauce presented nearly 18,833 degrees to the Class of 2025 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 will participate in the ceremonies.

The following data, drawn from preliminary information broken down by campus and prepared by the Office of the University Registrar, was presented at the Board of Regents鈥� June 12 meeting:听

• For work completed at the听Seattle听campus, about 15,412 degrees will be conferred, specifically: 8,712 bachelor鈥檚 degrees, 5,161 master鈥檚 degrees, 589 professional degrees, 17 Educational Specialist degrees, and 933 doctoral degrees.听
• At听UW Bothell, about 1,663 degrees will be conferred, including 1,425 bachelor鈥檚 degrees and 238 master鈥檚 degrees.听
• And at听UW Tacoma,听students will receive about 1,758 degrees, including 1,393 bachelor鈥檚 degrees, 350 master鈥檚 degrees, 12 Educational Specialist degrees and three doctoral degrees.听

Degrees are awarded to those who have completed academic requirements during the 2024-2025 academic year. Many colleges and schools also hold separate graduation programs and investiture ceremonies.听

With a career in public media spanning over two decades, Pamintuan鈥痓rings a wealth of experience and leadership to KUOW.听 Before joining STLPR, she was the general manager at鈥疜ALW鈥痠n San Francisco. During her time there, she oversaw the creation of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, launched and managed the station鈥檚 first governing board, and negotiated its inaugural operating agreement with the San Francisco Unified School District.听 Her efforts led to a five-year strategic business plan and helped reinvent the station鈥檚 local public affairs and music programming to attract a more inclusive and diverse audience.听

At St. Louis Public Radio, Pamintuan partnered with her staff to create a strong and resilient workplace culture and to develop a three-year strategic plan. During her tenure, the station won the highest number of journalism awards in its history two years in a row and was also awarded its largest grant. Her tenure culminated in the University of Missouri鈥檚 announcement that the station would transition into an independent nonprofit, a move Pamintuan had long advocated for.听

听鈥淪electing a new leader to guide KUOW into the future was no easy task. We are thrilled to have found someone of Tina鈥檚 vision and expertise to take the helm,鈥� said Randy Hodgins, UW vice president of External Affairs. 鈥淗er skills and experience will allow her to lead KUOW with excellence as the station builds on its strong tradition of producing award-winning journalism, innovative podcasts, and strong community engagement.鈥�听

Prior to her leadership role at KALW, Pamintuan founded and directed the audio journalism program at the鈥疌raig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism鈥痑t the City University of New York. There, she taught courses in radio news writing and reporting, news magazine production, podcasting, audio documentary, and oral history. Her former students are regularly heard on air across the public radio system and podcasting worlds.听

Pamintuan will succeed Caryn G. Mathes, who is retiring on June 2 after 11 years at KUOW鈥檚 helm.听听

鈥淚 am honored to join KUOW and look forward to working with the exceptional team here,鈥� Pamintuan said. 鈥淭ogether, we will build on the station’s legacy, chart its future course, and explore new opportunities to serve and engage our audience.鈥� Pamintuan is committed to fostering a culture of excellence, inclusivity, and accountability ensuring that KUOW remains a vital resource for listeners. Pamintuan’s work is deeply rooted in her belief in the power of people and their stories, and the ability of public media to foster community and societal change. She has a proven track record of creating environments where staff are supported to do their best work and continue growing at every stage of their careers.听

鈥淲e are confident that Tina鈥痠s the right leadership choice for the future of our station and growing public audience,鈥� said Ian Warner, KUOW Board Secretary and Chair of the search committee. Pamintuan was selected following an exhaustive, nationwide search led by a KUOW PSPR board-appointed search committee and executed by Campbell & Company. KUOW is the top news station in one of the country鈥檚 largest radio markets and is a self-sustaining service of the 天美影视传媒.听 It is licensed to the 天美影视传媒 Board of Regents. Under an agreement, the station is managed by KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio, a private, non-profit corporation established in 1999 and governed by the KUOW PSPR community board of directors.听听

Kerry Swanson, KUOW鈥檚 Chief Operating Officer, and long-time public media leader, will act as Interim President and General Manager, from June 2 through August 1, 2025.听听

For more information, please contact Michaela Gianotti Boyle, michaela@kuow.org听听

Rep. Frank Chopp dedicated his life to public service and to improving the lives of all Washingtonians. Many thousands of students have been able to pursue a degree thanks to his leadership in expanding access to higher education, including in high-demand fields critical for our state鈥檚 economic prosperity. The Workforce Education Investment Act and expansion of the Washington College Grant are both landmark achievements for our state鈥檚 students.

Rep. Chopp was also dedicated to improving our state鈥檚 health care system, including mental health services. His advocacy for UW Medicine has enabled us to serve countless more patients, including through the Center for Behavioral Health and Learning.

Rep. Chopp left our state a heathier, more prosperous place and that will stand as his enduring legacy. I was proud to work with him these past many years and our University is proud to count him among our accomplished alumni. The UW community joins his family and friends in mourning the loss of one of our state鈥檚 foremost public servants.

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