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.

It all started with a slide rule.

In the fall of 1965, during Cheryl Wright鈥檚 first week at the 天美影视传媒, she went to Suzzallo Library to complete a chemistry assignment. She needed help with a math problem and saw a boy across the reading room who had a slide rule 鈥� an analog calculator. The young pharmacy student who helped her that day was Raymond Wilson. Together the couple, who go by Cherie and Ray, did far more than solve a mathematical equation 鈥� they married and formed a bond that鈥檚 lasted more than six decades.

Cherie and Ray, both members of the Class of 1969,听 went on to have successful academic and professional careers.听 Over the years, their connections to the UW have deepened. They have supported scholarships, created alumni communities, built friendships and professional relationships, and cheered for Husky athletics, including the volleyball, basketball and football teams.

Now, the Wilsons have made a bequest of more than $8 million to be shared among the College of Education, the School of Pharmacy and UW Medicine鈥檚 BRaIN Laboratory. Bequests allow donors to direct their assets to causes after their death. The bequest brings the Wilsons鈥� total giving to more than $10 million and they now will be recognized by the UW as Presidential Laureates.

鈥淭his remarkable bequest reflects not only Cherie and Ray Wilson鈥檚 generosity, but a lifetime of connection to the 天美影视传媒. It represents an enduring relationship grounded in gratitude, trust and a shared belief in the power of education and discovery,鈥� said UW President Robert J. Jones. 鈥淔rom their earliest days as students to this extraordinary commitment, they have invested in people, ideas and communities across our university. Cherie and Ray鈥檚 impact will be felt for generations, expanding opportunity for students and advancing research that improves lives.鈥�

After graduating from the UW, both Cherie and Ray attended the University of Kansas, where Cherie earned a master鈥檚 degree in early childhood development and Ray earned his doctorate in medicinal chemistry. They both earned medical degrees from the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University, respectively.

Cherie and Ray wanted to return to Washington state and eventually settled near Seattle, where Cherie worked as a pediatrician at Seattle Children鈥檚 and in private practice in Bellevue. Ray set up a gastroenterology practice at the Everett Clinic. Their career success enabled them to give back to the community in several ways, including philanthropically, with several gifts supporting the UW. For Ray, who was able to attend the UW thanks to scholarships, supporting students today is a way to pay it forward.

鈥淥ur giving is out of gratitude for what the University did for us,鈥� Ray said. 鈥淚t certainly helped me when I didn’t have a lot of money. It鈥檚 a privilege to try and help other students who might be struggling to get through school.鈥�

College of Education

Ray was inspired to create an endowed scholarship fund at the College of Education more than a decade ago to support master鈥檚 level teacher training for Native Americans. It was a way to honor his high school baseball and basketball coach, Dan Iyall. Iyall, an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, reached legendary status as a pioneer in Washington high school athletics.

Iyall worked for nearly 50 years in education and is a member of the Washington Baseball Hall of Fame. He created the Washington high school baseball championships and is credited with developing a new style of bunting. He coached championship-level teams from four different high schools across Eastern Washington: Coulee City, Deer Park, Oroville and University. He also took a team from Oroville to the Washington State A boys basketball championship.

Wilson said Iyall鈥檚 presence reinforced the importance of inclusivity.

鈥淓ventually, I decided we need more people like Dan Iyall,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淲e need more teachers like that.鈥�

The bequest will grow the Dan Iyall Native American Support Fund by more than 300%. 听Thanks to the fund, more than a dozen Native American fellows have earned their master鈥檚 in teaching. Now, the College will be able to award more fellowships each year.

The Wilsons are also creating the Dean Mia Tuan Endowed Professorship, to recognize Tuan鈥檚 leadership and long-standing emphasis on authentic, reciprocal community partnerships and culturally informed problem solving. The new endowment will allow the College to recruit and retain faculty specializing in community- and equity-based education.

鈥淩ay and Cherie are extraordinary people whose generosity reflects a deep commitment to strengthening our communities,鈥� Tuan said. 鈥淭heir gift will support Native students in becoming teachers while helping diversify Washington鈥檚 educator workforce. I am also deeply moved that their gift will establish an endowed professorship dedicated to authentic community partnerships and culturally grounded problem solving.鈥�

School of Pharmacy

Several decades after Ray received financial assistance to attend the UW School of Pharmacy, he teamed up with classmates and launched the Class of 1969 Scholarship Fund. Set up in the 2000s, it was the first School of Pharmacy alumni class to create a fund to help students.

鈥淚 came from a small town in Eastern Washington with almost no money, and yet, the University provided me with scholarships and completely covered my tuition,鈥� Ray said.

Wendel L. Nelson, a professor and pioneer in medicinal chemistry, recognized Ray鈥檚 talents early on and hired him to work in a lab. The research helped Ray advance his career, and the extra money helped pay for food and housing. More than that, the combination of scholarships and laboratory work enabled Ray to graduate debt-free.

With this bequest, the Wilsons鈥� generosity supports two additional funds in the School of Pharmacy: The Wendel L. Nelson Endowment in Medicinal Chemistry, named for Ray鈥檚 mentor, will support graduate students involved in basic laboratory research in medicinal chemistry. The gift also adds to the Nelson-Mendenhall Summer Scholars Program Fund, which brings undergraduates to the UW School of Pharmacy for a 10-week intensive in pharmaceutical sciences.

鈥淔rom their longstanding financial support to their ongoing participation in School events, to Ray鈥檚 past volunteer leadership, Ray and Cherie have already contributed so much to our School of Pharmacy community, and they have done so with a genuine desire to help students and the School thrive,鈥� said School of Pharmacy Dean Jay Panyam. 鈥淭he Wilsons鈥� estate commitment is yet another example of their incredible generosity, and I know it will have a significant and lasting impact for our students.鈥�

UW Biorepository and Integrated Neuropathology (BRaIN) Laboratory in the UW School of Medicine

The Wilsons鈥� bequest contributes additional funds to the BRaIN Laboratory, part of UW Medicine鈥檚 Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology.

Researchers at the BRaIN Lab are studying normal brain anatomy and function and how these change in injury and disease, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury and chronic traumatic encephalopathy .

Cherie and Ray听 were introduced to the BRaIN Lab鈥檚 groundbreaking research by their former neighbors, Linda and Bob Dahl, whose son, Matthew Dahl, was one of their favorite neighborhood kids. When he died at 24, they were moved to learn about the BRaIN Lab, where Bob and Linda had donated his brain for research and to understand the impact of a childhood traumatic brain injury (TBI). The examination determined that Matt鈥檚 childhood TBI had evolved, rather than resolved. The outcome 鈥� Matt鈥檚 brain showed significant damage 鈥� highlighted the importance of such donations and moved the Wilsons to make meaningful philanthropic contributions to the lab.

Cherie said she鈥檚 hopeful the BRaIN Lab鈥檚 work may lead to treatments that could result in better long-term outcomes for patients.

鈥淪ome of these problems are going to be solved,鈥� Cherie said. 鈥淛ust becoming aware of chronic head injury and the effect on kids is really, really important.鈥�

The BRaIN lab is a global leader in neurological research on many topics, including TBI. With this bequest, the Wilsons support the intersection of pharmaceutical research and brain injury and disease.

鈥淩ay and Cherie鈥檚 engagement and generosity will continue to help the BRaIN Lab become a national model for neuropathology research. This generous gift will accelerate our work to better understand the mechanisms of brain injury and disease and to support the development of new strategies for diagnosis, treatment and prevention,鈥� said Dr. Caitlin S. Latimer, director of both the Division of Neuropathology and the BRaIN Lab.

Tohoku University and the 天美影视传媒, two leading academic research institutions of the Pacific Rim, announced 鈥淨-DREAM,鈥� a significant expansion of their decades-long collaboration.

The agreement, signed by university leaders in Tokyo on Friday, provides a broader, future-oriented framework that represents areas of the highest potential synergy. The two universities will engage in joint research, education and innovation in quantum information science & engineering, disaster resilience, engineering and advanced manufacturing, and medicine 鈥� summarized with the acronym Q-DREAM.

The Q-DREAM agreement will accelerate joint research and global impact, increase student and faculty exchange programs, enhance international visibility and funding opportunities, and foster innovation ecosystems connecting academia, industry and government. The first part of this new initiative will focus on quantum materials and is set to begin immediately. The remaining focus areas are expected to roll out over the next few years.

The UW-Tohoku collaboration has grown and deepened since it began in 1996. Rooted in aerospace research, the relationship has broadened to include clean energy technology related to transportation, materials for industrial applications and seismic engineering. Since 2017, Academic Open Space (AOS), has provided a strong foundation facilitating research matching across diverse fields and fostering vibrant faculty and student exchanges. And Q-DREAM allows for even more trans-Pacific interaction.

Q-DREAM鈥檚 work will include the following focus areas:

• Quantum: Builds on both institutions鈥� internationally recognized leadership in quantum materials, information science and technologies to accelerate the translation of discoveries into real-world applications with impact across science, industry and national security.
• Disaster resilience: Addresses natural hazards and climate-driven risks, including earthquakes, tsunamis and extreme weather events, with the goal of strengthening community preparedness and infrastructure resilience.
• Engineering & advanced manufacturing: Advances AI-driven engineering, sustainable and resilient manufacturing, and next-generation robotics.
• Medicine: Collaborates at the intersection of engineering and medicine to drive translational research and health innovation, with the goal of accelerating the path from discovery to clinical and societal impact.

鈥淎ddressing today鈥檚 complex challenges requires bold, collaborative solutions,鈥� said UW President Robert J. Jones. 鈥淲hen leading research universities align around a shared vision, we amplify our ability to advance discovery, drive innovation and serve the public good. We look forward to deepening this partnership with Tohoku University and advancing our shared work in the years ahead.鈥�

Tohoku University President Teiji Tominaga echoed those sentiments.

鈥淥ur shared strengths in engineering, science and medicine position us to deliver even greater global impact,鈥� said Tominaga. 鈥淭hrough this collaboration, we are committed to building resilience, advancing scientific discovery and improving lives.鈥�

The Q-DREAM agreement was signed by the leaders of both institutions on the eve of UW Converge Tokyo, the UW鈥檚 annual gathering for its global community of alumni and friends.

The 天美影视传媒 and Microsoft have announced the expansion of their long鈥憇tanding partnership uniting world-class academic research with world-leading technology. UW and Microsoft aim to accelerate AI discovery, prepare students and workers for an AI-driven economy, and help communities understand and use AI responsibly.

The announcement, made today by UW President Robert J. Jones and Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith during an event at the UW鈥檚 Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, will increase the University鈥檚 access to the most advanced AI computing power, expand internship and applied research opportunities for its students, and develop community AI literacy programs, including a foundational AI course for working Washingtonians.

鈥淥ur long-standing partnership with Microsoft demonstrates what鈥檚 possible when universities and industry come together to support students and our society, and we are grateful for their continued support,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淭ogether, we鈥檙e expanding students鈥� access to hands-on learning, advancing AI research and strengthening our workforce.鈥�

This announcement builds on Microsoft鈥檚 decades-long support of the University, including $165 million of investments in student scholarships and enhancements to the UW鈥檚 world-leading computer science and engineering programs. In tandem with ongoing state and federal support, these investments have helped increase access to education and contributed to the state鈥檚 highly skilled workforce.

鈥淧resident Jones has outlined a bold vision for the 天美影视传媒, one that expands access and affordability in higher ed, forges radical partnerships and strengthens civic health,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 essential that this vision includes broad access to AI technology and the skills to use it, so students, workers and communities across Washington are prepared for this new era of computing and can share fully in its benefits.鈥�

The timing of the announcement comes as forecasts predict a need to fill 1.5 million job vacancies in Washington by 2032 鈥� about 640,000 new jobs and 910,000 openings due to retirements, according to Partnership for Learning. Up to 75% of those vacancies will require post-secondary credentials, with four-year and advanced degrees in highest demand. If current trends hold, experts predict a shortfall of nearly 600,000 credentialed workers in Washington over the decade.

鈥淚t鈥檚 critical that industry, colleges and universities, and policy makers continue to work together to maintain the region鈥檚 economy and climate of innovation and discovery,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淭hat includes avoiding going backward by making cuts to core state funding that would make a college degree less accessible to our state鈥檚 students.鈥�

The budgets proposed by the Washington State Legislature鈥檚 majorities would keep funding for the UW largely stable. Historically, the Legislature has created a fertile environment for workforce growth and training through the Washington Workforce Education Investment Act (WEIA) and the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (WSOS).

Since passage in 2019, with support from Microsoft and other business leaders, the WEIA has generated more than $2 billion in dedicated funding to expand higher education access in Washington.听 WSOS 鈥� a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership in which private employers contribute philanthropic dollars that are matched by the State of Washington to expand access to higher education in high-demand fields 鈥� has delivered nearly $150 million in total scholarships statewide, combining private donations and state matching funds. One-third of WSOS scholars attend the UW.

鈥淭hese new elements of our partnership with Microsoft continue to position the UW and our state as leaders in access to higher education and at the forefront of the emerging technologies that can drive broad-based prosperity,鈥� Jones said.

Microsoft and the UW鈥檚 expanded partnership will:

• Provide faculty, researchers and students with access to advanced computing capabilities that enable modern AI training, experimentation and research, and instruction. Microsoft is supplementing this effort by donating Microsoft Azure cloud computing credits to help accelerate the development of a research cloud computing platform.
• Launch a new initiative to connect UW faculty, visiting professors and students with real-world research opportunities at Microsoft. This is based on a new 鈥渞esearch marketplace鈥� that will be established and supported by Microsoft鈥檚 AI for Good Lab. It will be complemented by 10 additional graduate student-researcher slots per year 鈥� eight through the Microsoft Research organization and two in the AI for Good Lab.
• Support undergraduate students as they become civic leaders, helping them build ethical judgment, digital citizenship and agency to co-design how emerging technologies, including AI, will serve communities and democracy.
• Join forces with UW鈥檚 Continuum College, an institution serving more than 50,000 learners annually through 400 programs serving young people, working adults and senior citizens. The UW and Microsoft will develop programming that helps Washingtonians navigate AI-related workforce transitions with confidence and purpose. This collaboration will result in new courses and other learning pathways focused on career resilience, evolving job demands and navigating the challenges that accompany shifting career identities.
• Beginning this fall, the UW and Microsoft will launch a new collaboration on Microsoft鈥檚 Redmond campus that reimagines how universities and industry work together. This part of the work will deepen workforce鈥慶onnected education and applied learning. The collaboration will support the co鈥慸evelopment of select courses and learning experiences for Microsoft employees navigating rapid AI鈥慸riven change, while enabling UW students to learn alongside industry professionals and gain real鈥憌orld insight as part of their academic experience. Additional details will be announced later this year.

Since becoming the UW鈥檚 34th president in August 2025, President Jones has set out three key priorities for the University: increasing access to education, including through the goal of making a UW degree debt-free for Washington undergraduates; spurring radical collaborations with businesses and communities to advance positive change; and eliminating any artificial barriers between the University and the communities it serves.

Along with strategic planning underway at the UW, Jones is engaging with corporate and civic leaders, as well as organizations throughout the region, to expand existing partnerships with the UW. Through these relationships, he aims to support access and affordability for students and the economic vitality and social fabric of Washington state and beyond.

For more information, contact Victor Balta at balta@uw.edu.

The 天美影视传媒 has again earned a prestigious recognition for the impact and importance of the connections faculty, students and staff have with local, regional and global communities.

All three UW campuses were recognized with the Carnegie Foundation Community Engagement reclassification, placing the university among nationwide. Officials with the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, who award the designation, noted that these universities are deepening partnerships, centering community assets and addressing urgent societal challenges with clarity and distinction.

鈥淭his Carnegie reclassification affirms what I鈥檝e long believed about the role of public universities: our work has to be rooted in partnership and focused on impact for all people,鈥� said UW President Robert J. Jones. 鈥淐ommunity engagement isn鈥檛 peripheral to our mission 鈥� it鈥檚 central to how we move the UW forward in service of the greater good. Being recognized again across all three campuses is a real point of pride and speaks to the shared commitment across the UW to working alongside our communities to drive meaningful change.鈥�

The UW鈥檚 three campuses were first recognized in 2020 by the Carnegie Foundation as community-engaged campuses. This reclassification is an external acknowledgement of the growing scale and quality of community-engaged work, built on a decades-long foundation. In recent years, the UW has strengthened relationships, expanded partnerships, and launched a tri-campus effort 鈥� funded in 2022 by a $3.8 million donation 鈥� to strengthen community engagement practices across campuses, develop shared definitions of community engagement, and build a digital clearinghouse to track and facilitate community work. Much of that work is documented on the Community Engagement Knowledge Hub, a website with resources for the UW and community partners.

The UW works with more than 700 different community organizations, including nonprofit providers of health care and other services, local and regional governments, school districts, tribal nations, and small businesses as well as large multinational companies.

The Carnegie Classification for the UW in Seattle recognizes the meaningful and sustained work of faculty, staff and students to engage with the community in genuine partnership, said Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

鈥淭hese relationships enable students to take up community-informed, academically rigorous work in our civic spaces, leading to a more sophisticated understanding of the complex problems facing society,鈥� Taylor said. 鈥淲e are honored and humbled by this recognition of our work so far and inspired to continue to deepen our focus on addressing the most pressing needs of our campus and broader community. Sustaining these outcomes at scale requires dedicated infrastructure, student support, and long-term investment from partners.”

For example, via , the UW works with rural and tribal schools statewide. These programs are designed to enrich existing K-12 education, enhance STEM learning and provide opportunities for children in those schools to learn about higher education. UW undergraduates support curriculums, connect with students in communities, all while being guided by UW faculty and staff.

鈥淥ur programs work with all different grade levels at various tribal nations here in Washington state, which I think is cool and unique,鈥� said Richard Alejandro Parra, who runs the program and is assistant director of Rural and Tribal Partnerships in the UW.

The Center is a leading coordinator at the UW for community-engaged learning, partnership development and student civic leadership. Each year, it supports thousands of students and hundreds of collaborations with community-based organizations and faculty to strengthen community-driven solutions to complex societal challenges.

鈥淲e have students that we’ve worked with since they were fifth graders, and we engage with them throughout their entire K-12 journey,鈥� Parra said. 鈥淎fter graduating, some of those students have come to UW, and they return to their communities to mentor younger students through our programs.鈥�

When the in Snohomish County was looking to expand its capacity to serve recent immigrants, leaders of the small nonprofit reached out to UW Bothell. During more than a decade of collaboration, a symbiotic relationship between LETI and the UW has blossomed, providing critical resources to support LETI鈥檚 growth and giving UW students from Bothell and Seattle real-world experience.

This year, more than 40 UW students are engaged in work-study and research at LETI, providing services in education, health and more.

鈥淭he community engagement effort that they have is one of the best that I have seen,鈥� said Rosario Reyes, LETI鈥檚 founder and president. 鈥淚 wish other schools would emulate it.鈥�

Employers, like LETI, view UW Bothell as a strong partner in regional workforce development, said UW Bothell Chancellor Kristin G. Esterberg.

UW Bothell faculty and students collaborate with hundreds of community organizations locally and globally. Since first gaining the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, UW Bothell鈥檚 commitment to collaboration has deepened. It is underpinned by new policies such as the addition of an undergraduate learning goal focused on community engagement and faculty legislation supporting community-engaged scholarship.

鈥淲e also engage with hundreds of nonprofit agencies, local governments and grassroots organizations year-round,鈥� Esterberg said. 鈥淭his reclassification by the Carnegie Foundation recognizes our community engagement and reinforces the value of this work.鈥�

UW Tacoma is a vital part of building the future for the city of Tacoma, said Jacques Colon, the director of the city鈥檚 Equity, Strategy, and Human Rights office. In addition to bolstering the redevelopment of the city鈥檚 downtown by expanding and modernizing the university鈥檚 campus, UW Tacoma also contributes to economic development by training a desirable and highly skilled workforce. That, in turn, attracts more business to the area.

鈥淚f we can make that kind of synergy work, that’s exactly the kind of relationship that has the ability to set a trajectory for a city long term, over a decade,鈥� Colon said. 鈥淭o me, that’s incredibly exciting,鈥�

That kind of community engagement is at the heart of UW Tacoma’s mission and the key to a more prosperous future for the region, said UW Tacoma Chancellor Sheila Edwards Lange.

UW Tacoma has established itself as one of the region鈥檚 most community-engaged universities.

Over the past year, UW Tacoma faculty and students partnered with community organizations on a wide range of initiatives addressing pressing social, environmental and health challenges. These collaborations included restoring riparian forests to support salmon habitat, co-creating alternative and low-barrier pathways for youth to access evidence-based behavioral healthcare, co-designing food justice programming that connects labor, culture, and care, and developing mental health workshops for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) youth.

鈥淭hrough our community-driven initiatives, our students give back while engaging in career-connected learning, and our faculty and staff work alongside our partners to solve some of society’s toughest challenges,鈥� Lange said. 鈥淭ogether, with our hundreds of community partners, we’re making a lasting impact in the South Sound and beyond.鈥�

Pratts brings a distinguished record of leadership in higher education governance and national policy advocacy.听She currently serves on the New York State Board of Regents, with responsibility for the general supervision of all educational activities within the听state, the University of the State of New York, and the New York State Education Department.听She serves on several committees,听including the Higher Education and the Professional Practice Committees overseeing the licensing and discipline of听54听professions.听

In addition to her service on the听New York State听Board of Regents, Pratts serves as Senior Advisor to the CEO of the National Urban League, where she has听demonstrated听exceptional skills in public policy, education equity, workforce development, stakeholder engagement, and economic empowerment initiatives that听impact听communities across the nation. 鈥�听

鈥淗asoni听Pratts brings an exceptional combination of governance expertise, strategic vision, and commitment to educational excellence,”听Jones听said. “Her experience navigating complex policy landscapes and her dedication to expanding access and opportunity in higher education make her ideally suited to help us achieve our strategic objectives and serve our diverse community.”听

Pratts holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from North Carolina A&T State University and a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University. This blend of financial acumen and public sector leadership expertise positions her to provide valuable counsel on the operational, strategic and policy dimensions of university administration.听

As chief of staff, Pratts will serve as key advisor to the President, manage strategic priorities, oversee operations of the Executive Office of the President and Provost, facilitate communication between leadership and key stakeholders, manage special projects, and ensure alignment of institutional efforts with the university’s mission and values. She will play a central role in advancing the university’s strategic plan, fostering collaboration across divisions, and strengthening connections between the administration and the UW Board of Regents.听

“I am honored to join the 天美影视传媒 at this transformative moment in higher education,” Pratts听said. 鈥淚 am hopeful that my experience in advancing an institution鈥檚 strategic priorities in the ever-dynamic landscape of higher education will position me well as a partner with the UW leadership, faculty, students and staff,鈥� Pratts says.鈥� 鈥淚鈥檓 excited about building new relationships and working alongside President Jones, the talented听leadership team, and the entire campus community to enhance the 天美影视传媒鈥檚 impact regionally, nationally and internationally.鈥濃���听

鈥淗asoni鈥檚听appointment reflects听my听ongoing commitment to recruiting visionary leaders who can help navigate the evolving landscape of higher education听and听staying听true to the听institution’s听core mission of teaching,听research听and public service,鈥� Jones said.听

Pratts succeeds Margaret Shepherd, who left the UW in September after serving at the University for听16听years.听

听# # #

Contact Victor Balta: balta@uw.edu.

鈥淥ur student conduct policies and practices must ensure there is transparency about the expectations we all have for our students, as well as what happens if their actions run counter to those expectations by violating the Student Conduct Code.听We must also ensure a fair process and听appropriate accountability, reflecting the unique circumstances of each situation and the responsibility we each have as members of the UW community,鈥� said Jones, who became UW President Aug. 1.听听

The firm听听will conduct the review.听It听will evaluate the Student Conduct Code () for its effectiveness in the modern University environment,听which includes听a number听of issues not foreseen when听the code听was last updated in 2021.听Student conduct policies and practices are听also听an important part of the University鈥檚 commitment to听upholding听Title VI, Title听IX听and other civil rights laws.听

The review听will evaluate how those policies are implemented,听including听how different听forms听of misconduct听鈥� including sexual and other non-academic misconduct 鈥� should be handled, with a goal of听continuing to听ensure听a fair听process and听promoting transparency and听appropriate听accountability.听It is not a review of individual cases, but rather of听student听policies and practices overall,听though听the review听may听be听informed by听the handling of specific cases to demonstrate trends or themes.听听

The goal is for the review to be completed听in听winter听quarter听2026,听with recommendations implemented听after听its completion.听

Husch Blackwell鈥檚 higher education team has worked for hundreds of colleges and universities across the country.听They have听reviewed听student conduct codes听and听other matters of institutional policy and procedure听at dozens of public universities, including other institutions within the Big Ten, and bring decades of experience with and sensitivity to the unique aspects of life on campus.听

Contact Victor Balta: balta@uw.edu听

The gift, which will be realized over the next 10 years, cements the School of Law鈥檚 global reputation in the fields of technology and intellectual property (IP) law.听

鈥淥ur听students and faculty are enriched by the generosity of Jay Shidler and his commitment to听supporting innovations in the area of听technology听and听intellectual property听law,鈥澨齭aid Tamara听F.听Lawson,听the Toni听Rembe听Dean听of the听School of Law.听鈥淯W Law is uniquely situated听in a region known throughout the world for听technology and innovation.听These resources will support our community听and keep us听competitive听in this听environment.鈥澨�听

With this gift,听Shidler听鈥� a philanthropist and听investor in educational infrastructure听who has听owned听interests in听more than 2,000 properties worldwide听鈥斕齝ontinues a tradition听he鈥檚 established听of听honoring听his uncle,听Roger Shidler, a 1924 graduate of the UW School of Law听who听was听an early听trailblazer听in technology law听alongside听William Gates, Sr.听

The gift will allow the School of Law to:听

• Establish a Shidler Endowed Chair who will lead the听Technology and Intellectual听Property听Law programs, while also covering adjacent needs including torts and contracts.听听

• Recruit a full-time scholar-in-residence to manage and听grow听the existing Shidler Lecture Series.听

• Support scholarships and fellowships awarded to students focused on Technology and Intellectual Property Law. The first year will support three students in the J.D. program with a $50,000 award for each. 听

鈥淲e are honored to steward Jay Shidler鈥檚 transformative investment in the critical intersection of technology and law,鈥� said UW President Robert J. Jones. 鈥淗is generous gift will help the UW School of Law attract the most talented faculty and students at a moment when expertise in IP and Technology law is urgently needed. We are thrilled to be able to expand our global reach in this important field.鈥� 听

鈥淚 am very fortunate to be able to financially support universities and colleges on the West Coast and in Hawaii. UW Law has had a special place in my family鈥檚 lore for almost 100 years,鈥� Shidler said.听

The听gift builds听upon听previous听gifts from Jay Shidler听to the UW, including听an听ownership interest in听a 2.6-acre property in Seattle鈥檚 South Lake Union neighborhood,听which was celebrated听in 2018.听Half听of the ownership of the land and buildings will be transferred to the UW听in 2115听to be divided equally between UW Medicine and the UW School of Law. The other half goes to Shidler鈥檚 alma mater, now called the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.听听

Shidler also contributed听$600,000听to the School of Law in听2016听for the creation of the听lecture series honoring Roger Shidler.听听

The UW recognized Jay Shidler and his wife, Wallette, as Presidential Laureates upon having generously contributed more than $10 million to the UW in 2017.

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The Katherine and John Simpson Endowed Deanship in the College of Arts & Sciences provides flexible funding to promote interdisciplinary teaching and research across the College. These critical resources will enable current and future leadership to act with urgency, take calculated risks and lead with vision.

“This generous gift from the Simpson family comes at a pivotal moment for the 天美影视传媒 and for the College of Arts & Sciences,” said UW President Robert J. Jones.听 “The deanship will expand opportunities for collaboration across disciplines, promote innovation and discovery, and prepare thoughtful, creative leaders ready to make an impact on the world.”

鈥淲e are so grateful to the Simpson family for supporting an institution they have already contributed so much of their lives to 鈥� John, who was on the faculty and led the College as dean from 1994 to 1998, and Katherine, a Husky alumna and professional staff member, who devoted countless hours to supporting arts education and leadership,鈥� said Dianne Harris, current dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. 鈥淭his generous gift firmly cements the Simpson family鈥檚 connection to the UW and builds on earlier Simpson family gifts to name and support the UW鈥檚 Walter Chapin Simpson Center for the Humanities. At a critical time in higher education, this gift allows the College to continue the impactful work we are doing across campus, throughout the state and around the world.鈥�

The Simpson family鈥檚 connection to higher education, the arts and the UW spans four generations.

John Simpson鈥檚 grandparents, Walter and Jessie Simpson, were both college graduates who believed in the importance of a humanistic education and passed on those values to their son, Barclay. It was Barclay who grew the family business, the Simpson Screen Company, that鈥檚 still operating as Simpson Strong-Tie. The Simpson family has long believed in the power of philanthropy and have generously supported the 天美影视传媒.

Barclay Simpson鈥檚 son, John, was on the psychology faculty at the UW for more than two decades and served as dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. John鈥檚 children hold advanced degrees from the UW, and his granddaughter is currently a UW undergraduate in the humanities.

After leaving the UW, John Simpson continued his career in academia as executive vice chancellor and provost at the University of California, Santa Cruz (1998-2003), and as president of the University of Buffalo (2004-2011). Katherine joined him for the Buffalo adventure as the university鈥檚 鈥渇irst lady.鈥�

“This deanship reflects the values and aspirations that guided my career 鈥� values that the Simpson family has long lived,鈥� said John Simpson. 鈥淚t is my earnest hope that this gift empowers a vibrant College community where disciplines do not exist in isolation but instead inform and inspire each other. I envision a College and UW that encourages students and faculty to collaborate across boundaries, to infuse art and science into their work, and to address the challenges of the future with flexibility and dynamism.”

鈥淭he Simpson deanship will catalyze new pathways at the UW as the arts are infused seamlessly into the sciences, the sciences into the arts, equipping the next generations of scholars, creators and leaders to contribute to the public good,鈥� said Harris. 鈥淭he UW College of Arts & Sciences already offers nationally recognized programs in numerous disciplines. This gift will establish the College as a model for modern, interdisciplinary education, research and artistic practice.鈥�

The College of Arts & Sciences is the largest college at the UW, educating about 90% of UW students and offering more than 4,000 courses every year. The College is central to the vitality of the entire university, as all other schools and colleges rely on Arts & Sciences for the foundational education of their students. Learn more about the .

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

The 天美影视传媒鈥檚 incoming classes were welcomed Sunday at the University鈥檚 42nd annual New Student Convocation inside Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.听 The ceremony was attended by thousands of students, family and friends.

Welcome, Huskies! Thousands of incoming @uofwa.bsky.social students gathered for an annual 'W' formation today after kicking off the school year with a convocation ceremony. #newhuskies2025 #uwdawgdazeMedia assets: drive.google.com/drive/folder…

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Preliminary figures show the incoming freshman class will be about 7,175 students, with around 4,550 from Washington.听 An additional 1,650 transfer students are expected to arrive this fall, including 1,375 of whom will be from Washington community colleges, according to preliminary university data. All figures are approximate. Official census information is announced later in the quarter.

New Student Convocation is one of two landmark occasions where the University president, the Board of Regents, the deans of the schools and colleges and the faculty gather for an academic ceremony focused on students. The other, of course, is the graduation ceremony, Commencement. These two events are the seminal 鈥渂ookend鈥� events of a college career.

Following the early morning ceremony, incoming students formed a giant block 鈥淲鈥� on the field inside Husky stadium.