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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Chemical Sciences Building will:

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

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

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

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The 天美影视传媒 Class of 2030 was welcomed officially at the University鈥檚 43rd annual New Student Convocation held Sunday morning in Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

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 in academic regalia for a ceremony focused on students. The other is the graduation ceremony, Commencement. These two events are the seminal bookend events of a college career.

Students heard from President Robert J. Jones, Vice President for Student Life Denzil Suite, Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs Ed Taylor and others.

Alexes Harris, the Gordon Hirabayashi Professor for the Advancement of Citizenship and a professor of sociology in the College of Arts & Sciences, was the featured faculty speaker. Harris鈥� research fundamentally centers on issues of inequality, poverty and race in United States鈥� legal systems. In 2022, Harris was appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee to serve as the inaugural faculty representative to the Board of Regents. She is also the chair of the Department of American Ethnic Studies and the UW faculty athletics representative.

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

Preliminary fast facts on the incoming class:

• Preliminary figures project the incoming first-year class at UW Seattle at about 7,455 students.
• Around 4,720 first-year students, or about 63%, are projected to be from Washington state.
• An additional 1,719 transfer students are projected to enroll at the UW鈥檚 Seattle campus this fall, including about 1,457 from Washington community colleges.
• UW Bothell is projecting about 1,153 first-year students and 660 transfer students.
• UW Tacoma is projecting 730 first-year students and 730 transfer students.

Official enrollment data will be announced later in the quarter.

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Maeda also was appointed a professor of American ethnic studies. He succeeds Dianne Harris, who will complete her service this year.

Maeda has previously served as the dean of the University of Colorado Boulder College of Arts and Sciences where he also was a professor of ethnic studies. He is an interdisciplinary cultural historian and is a nationally recognized scholar in Asian American studies and comparative ethnic studies.

鈥淒r. Maeda brings a wealth of experience to all aspects of the role of Katherine and John Simpson Endowed Dean for the College of Arts & Sciences, including a deep commitment to shared governance,鈥� Serio said. 鈥淭hroughout the selection process, Dr. Maeda repeatedly elevated the broad strengths of the College of Arts & Sciences, and the students, staff and faculty who define them, as foundational to leading the path forward through a framework of opportunity for all.鈥�

Since joining CU Boulder as an assistant professor in 2005, Maeda has served as chair of the Department of Ethnic Studies, associate dean for student success in the College of Arts and Sciences, and dean and vice provost of undergraduate education. Maeda served as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences since June 2024 until he was appointed dean earlier this year. He is returning to the UW where he was an acting assistant professor in the Department of History from 2001 to 2002.

鈥淚 am deeply honored to serve the College of Arts & Sciences and grateful for the opportunity to partner with its exceptional faculty, students and staff,鈥� Maeda said. 鈥淭ogether, we will build on the college鈥檚 distinguished tradition of discovery, creativity and public impact while advancing an inclusive and inspiring vision for the future.鈥�

The College of Arts and Sciences at CU Boulder has 1,300 faculty members and 400 staff members. The college also has approximately 15,000 undergraduates in 49 majors and more than 2,000 graduate students in 36 doctoral programs and 35 master鈥檚 programs. As dean, Maeda managed an annual budget of more than $250 million and led a collaborative process that created the college鈥檚 budget allocation model. Under his leadership, the college established new records for first-year retention and six-year graduation rates and set a record for highest annual fundraising in the college鈥檚 history.

Maeda has published two books and numerous articles and book chapters on Asian American activism in the 1960s and 1970s. His most recent book, a cultural history of the iconic martial artist and actor 鈥� and former UW student 鈥� Bruce Lee, was published in 2022.

Maeda earned his doctoral and master鈥檚 degrees in American culture from the University of Michigan. He also holds a master鈥檚 in ethnic studies from San Francisco State University and a bachelor鈥檚 in mathematics from Harvey Mudd College.

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Neurodivergent adults, such as those on the autism spectrum, or with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, or other cognitive differences, experience significant barriers to inclusion in education and employment due to disabilities that often aren鈥檛 obvious. Research shows聽that remain consistently employed over time, and just are employed, compared to 87% employment among adults without ADHD. Studies suggest that is neurodivergent. Accordingly, efforts to improve the neuroinclusivity of academic institutions and workplaces have significant potential for impact on individuals, families and the U.S. economy.

鈥淭he lower education and employment outcomes are largely attributed to education and workplace environments that were designed to reinforce normative expectations,鈥� said , UW associate professor in the Information School and founding director of the Institute. 鈥淲hen learning and work environments are designed for neurodiversity 鈥� and managers and teachers are trained to be neuroinclusive 鈥� neurodivergent individuals achieve far better outcomes.鈥�

Annabi is a leading scholar on neurodiversity and employment. Her work in this space includes the publication of a series of Neurodiversity @ Work Playbooks that make a case for hiring neurodivergent people and offer concrete instructions for supporting their growth and career development.

鈥淭he Institute for Neurodiversity and Employment is set up to make a significant difference 鈥� not just at the 天美影视传媒, but for communities all over our state,鈥� said , executive director of the Canopy Neurodiversity Foundation. 鈥淭his institute will build on Canopy鈥檚 vision for a truly neuroinclusive workforce, dramatically expanding what鈥檚 possible in our state.鈥�

Housed in the Information School, the Institute will integrate faculty, research and support from the and the , with additional collaboration from UW Medicine and the School of Social Work.

鈥淭he new institute will build upon the outstanding neurodiversity work of Dr. Annabi at the Information School,鈥� said , dean of the UW Information School. 鈥淎dding the deep expertise of our cross-campus collaborators, along with Canopy and other community partners, we will create truly multidisciplinary, innovative and impactful solutions that will transform Washington鈥檚 education and employment spaces 鈥� including here at the UW.鈥�

鈥淎t present, research addressing lifespan issues such as employment is happening in silos across various disciplines, limiting our ability to develop comprehensive solutions,鈥� said Annabi. 鈥淏y convening a broad coalition of partners across the neurodiversity, employment and academic communities, we can move beyond isolated efforts toward innovative, systems-level change 鈥� driven by those with lived experience and deep expertise.鈥�

The Institute鈥檚 work will focus on five pillars: translational research on neurodiversity and employment, applied professional education and training, community empowerment across Washington state, advocacy efforts to create and strengthen neuroinclusive policies and practices statewide, and direct engagement with UW leadership to make the university a premier destination for neurodivergent faculty, staff, clinicians and students.

Annabi is particularly enthusiastic about the UW鈥檚 commitment to 鈥榳alk the talk鈥� by committing, through the Institute, to neuroinclusive employment practices.

“The UW recognizes that employment is an important component of a person鈥檚 quality of life and the equitable distribution of societal resources and power,鈥� said UW Provost Tricia Serio.听 “As one of the state鈥檚 largest employers, we have a vital role to play in modeling ways to increase support for neurodivergent people and break down the persistence of barriers in post-secondary education and the workplace that they face. We are thrilled to channel this work through the Institute for Neurodiversity and Employment.鈥�

The UW Institute for Neurodiversity and Employment will launch activities and programming in 2026.

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For questions, please contact: neurodiversity@uw.edu.

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Barrow comes from Louisiana State University, where he is vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Success. At the UW, Barrow will lead and manage the Office of Enrollment Management, which includes Undergraduate Admissions, Office of the University Registrar, Office of Financial Aid, International Student Services and the Veterans Education Benefits Office.

鈥淲ith a passion to positively contribute to the nation鈥檚 education system, Danny has worked throughout his career to directly influence the participation and graduation rates of students at public research universities,鈥� Serio said. 鈥淚nspired by his own journey as a first-generation college student and Pell Grant recipient, he is dedicated to serving students and ensuring success. I鈥檓 thrilled to welcome him to the UW.鈥�

Barrow also will serve as a strategic thought leader for the University’s enrollment management efforts for the Seattle campus. This work will encompass leading a student financial aid strategy; fostering and refining student recruiting strategies; identifying and developing key data and analysis that will guide the UW鈥檚 enrollment strategy; and steering the modernization of student support services and administrative technologies.

鈥淚 have long viewed the 天美影视传媒 as a place where opportunity, academic excellence, and research for the public good come together with purpose,鈥� Barrow said. 鈥淎s I engaged with the UW community, I saw a university ready to lead in this moment. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute by listening, learning, and partnering with colleagues to co-create the next era of enrollment management.鈥�

In his current role, he oversees University College; Center for Academic Success; Undergraduate Admissions; Office of the University Registrar; Financial Aid & Scholarships; Future Scholars Program; Office of Retention & Student Success; University Testing & Evaluation; Student Support Services; McNair Scholars; and Enrollment Operations, Data and IT.听He previously held a number of leadership roles in admissions and recruitment at the University at Buffalo, the University of Delaware and Towson University.

Barrow received his master鈥檚 degree in higher education administration from LSU and his bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology from The George Washington University. He also completed the College Board鈥檚 Enrollment Leadership Academy.

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Thornton will step into the position vacated by Maya Tolstoy, who recently announced she is leaving the UW.

As professor and chair of the Department of Atmospheric and Climate Science, Thornton is an atmospheric chemist. He studies the impacts of human activities on air quality and climate through changes to the atmosphere鈥檚 composition and chemistry. Thornton has received an NSF CAREER Award and a NASA New Investigator Award, given to young researchers who show exceptional promise. He also received the Houghton Award from the American Meteorological Society and the ASCENT Award from the American Geophysical Union for his research contributions to the field of atmospheric science.

Serio said that a search advisory committee will be appointed to launch a national search for a new dean this fall.

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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

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Thompson fills the position previously held by Azita Emami, who left in 2023 to lead the Yale School of Nursing. Allison Webel served as interim executive dean.

Thompson already is intimately familiar with UW鈥檚 world-class healthcare training and delivery. She鈥檚 a professor of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics in the UW School of Nursing, core faculty at the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center and an adjunct professor in Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education in the UW School of Medicine.

鈥淒r. Thompson brings incredible knowledge and dedication to this leadership role, as well as a comprehensive understanding of the profession and the opportunities for the School to advance its history of excellence across the tri-campus system,鈥� Serio said.

As a UW faculty member since 2006, Thompson held several leadership roles, including graduate program director for the School of Nursing. Through that position, she developed several collaborative relationships, held budgetary and human resource responsibilities, and delegated responsibilities from the associate dean for academic affairs. Since 2021, she has served as an associate vice provost in the Office of Academic Personnel in the Provost鈥檚 Office.

鈥淭he 天美影视传媒 School of Nursing has a tremendous legacy of both innovation and excellence in research, education and practice. I look forward to partnering with students, staff and faculty across the three campuses, as well as our community and clinical partners, to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve,鈥� Thompson said.

Thompson鈥檚 research centers on improving outcomes following geriatric traumatic brain injury, as well as fall prevention. This work has been recognized with induction into Sigma’s International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame and membership in the Washington State Academy of Sciences. Her work is funded in part by the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Thompson earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in biology from Mary Washington College in Virginia and her accelerated bachelor’s of science in nursing from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. A registered nurse and nurse practitioner, she earned her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, and completed her postdoctoral work at the UW.

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The 天美影视传媒 and the University of Tsukuba have entered an innovation partnership with NVIDIA and Amazon aimed at furthering research, entrepreneurship, workforce development and social implementation in the field of artificial intelligence. This U.S.-Japan academic partnership is part of a broad, $110 million effort to build upon the strong ties between the U.S. and Japan and to continue to lead innovation and technological breakthroughs in artificial intelligence.

The groundbreaking agreement involving universities and industry leaders in both countries was announced on April 9th in Washington, D.C. as part of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio鈥檚 historic state visit. U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, and Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Moriyama Masahito announced two new research partnerships in artificial intelligence between the 天美影视传媒 and the University of Tsukuba and between Carnegie Mellon University and Keio University. These partnerships are supported by $110 million in combined private sector investment from NVIDIA, Amazon, Arm, Microsoft, and nine Japanese companies. Amazon and NVIDIA will each invest $25 million in this collaboration.

鈥淭his is an extraordinary opportunity for the UW to lead the global conversation on AI and to convene academic researchers, industry experts and governmental leaders to not only advance the workforce, but to change lives and communities by leveraging this powerful technology,鈥� said UW Provost Tricia Serio.

鈥淭his is an exciting effort that brings together the talents and expertise of cutting-edge, world-class universities,鈥� said Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. 鈥淎dvancements in AI are happening at a breakneck pace. This collaboration will help provide the research and workforce training for our regions鈥� tech sectors to keep up with the profound impacts AI is having across every sector of our economy.鈥�

At the invitation of Ambassador Emanuel, the UW has been forging ties with the University of Tsukuba over the past year, with a focus on shared expertise in artificial intelligence. Tsukuba is known in Japan for being at the center of scientific research and innovation, much like Seattle鈥檚 reputation for fostering technological breakthroughs and being home to some of the world鈥檚 biggest technology companies.

鈥淲e are honored to work with Amazon and NVIDIA as well as with the University of Tsukuba to advance artificial intelligence and global engagement,鈥� said Nancy Allbritton, dean of the College of Engineering. 鈥淭sukuba is a science city just as Seattle is, and we see a tremendous opportunity to leverage the university and the whole ecosystem to create a better future on both sides of the Pacific. We are grateful to Ambassador Emanuel for catalyzing this landmark partnership.鈥�

Faculty and staff from the College of Engineering will spearhead UW interdisciplinary efforts. This multi-year partnership will feature work in areas where AI can drive transformative change to benefit society, including healthcare, robotics, climate change and atmospheric science, among others. The funding will support research awards, post-doctoral and doctoral students, an undergraduate summer research program, and an entrepreneurship bootcamp program.

Artificial Intelligence is the third strategic university-corporate partnership initiative concluded between American and Japanese academic institutions and the corporate sector since May 2022, when President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Kishida made a commitment to advance U.S.-Japan science and technology cooperation. The UW also is the lead partner on UPWARDS, a program focused on workforce development for the semiconductor industry supported by Micron, Tokyo Electron Limited and the National Science Foundation.

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