The name of First Year Programs has recently changed to . The updated name more accurately reflects the work of the unit and the full range of first-year and transfer students it serves at the 榴莲视频. The change aligns with a University-wide shift in language and provides clarity as the UW adopts more inclusive terminology around student populations.
New Student & Transfer Programs supports incoming 榴莲视频 through academic transitions and community-building programs.
For more than two decades, First Year Programs has played a central role in supporting new undergraduates as they transition into the UW. Through orientation, first-year and transfer seminars, peer-led programs and other efforts that help students find community and connect with campus resources, First Year Programs has helped thousands of 榴莲视频 navigate their academic and social pathways. The move to New Student & Transfer Programs recognizes both the continued evolution of the unit鈥檚 work and its long-standing commitment to all new undergraduates.
鈥淥ur new name makes it clear that every student鈥檚 entry point into the UW matters,鈥� said LeAnne Jones Wiles, executive director of New Student & Transfer Programs. 鈥淲hether students are arriving straight from high school or transferring from another institution, we are here to ensure they feel seen, supported and connected from day one.鈥�
In August 2025, the Office of Admissions formally shifted from using freshman to first-year, bringing UW terminology in line with peer institutions across the country. The change reflects national trends in equitable and inclusive language and clarifies how the University defines first-year and transfer students. As a result, the name First Year Programs no longer accurately represented the broad population the unit serves, including students entering directly from high school and students transferring from other colleges and universities.
New Student & Transfer Programs facilitates Advising and Orientation, Dawg Daze, First Year Interest Groups (FIGS), Transfer Seminars, and the Commuter and Transfer Commons (located in the Husky Union Building). These programs help students build relationships, understand academic expectations and establish a strong foundation for their time at the UW.
Transferring to the 榴莲视频 is a major milestone for thousands of 榴莲视频 who start at Washington鈥檚 community and technical colleges. 鈥嬧�婽his fall, the UW is opening the in Mary Gates Hall, uniting programs and partnerships under and providing transfer students with a centralized, welcoming home for advising, peer mentorship and campus connections. As a central space for connection, collaboration and celebration, the Center builds transfer community year-round.
Located in Mary Gates Hall 141, the UW Transfer Center offers drop-in advising with UAA and OMA&D advisers and also hosts small-group campus visits for Washington’s community and technical colleges.
鈥淓stablishing a Transfer Center is the critical next step,鈥� said Joslin Boroughs, director of advising initiatives and partnerships for Undergraduate Academic Affairs Advising. 鈥淐entralizing brings visibility to the transfer student experience and improves coordination so we can support student success. Think of the Transfer Center as your campus partner. It鈥檚 a single front door for referrals and a resource hub for best practices.鈥� A central point of contact, transfer guides and departmental connections streamline referrals for prospective and current students, as well as faculty and staff.
The Transfer Center unites long-standing partnerships between UW advisers and Washington鈥檚 community and technical colleges to remove barriers to timely transfer. It also connects existing initiatives such as Path to UW, which gives prospective students early access to UW resources. The Center’s space is reservable for partner-hosted, transfer-supportive events.
鈥淭he Path to UW partnership with Seattle Colleges is re-writing the story of transfer to a flagship university,鈥� said Melody McMillan, senior executive director of Seattle Promise at Seattle Colleges. 鈥淏uilt with student access and success at the center, Path to UW was shaped by student and faculty feedback 鈥� and acting on that feedback works.鈥�
鈥淐oordinated advising through the Path to UW program meets students earlier and more consistently 鈥� expanding access to a world-class public research university,鈥� said Michaelann Jundt, senior associate dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.
Transfer students at a glance 鈥� 2025
Enrolled: 1,685 transfer students
From Washington community and technical colleges: 1,400 (83%)
Regions: Puget Sound, Olympic Peninsula, Southwest, Central and Eastern Washington (such as Seattle Colleges, Bellevue, Peninsula, Clark, Yakima Valley and Spokane)
Top majors: business, computer science, psychology, biology, nursing, communication, economics, informatics, engineering, design, English, sociology, environmental science and resource management
Students will also meet , a peer leadership team developed with 鈥� who host welcome events, offer one-on-one support and help students navigate their first year on campus.
鈥淎djusting to new teaching styles and the course load can be overwhelming,鈥� said Transfer Ambassador and psychology major, Iqra Mohamed, 鈥�26. 鈥淲hat helped me was introducing myself to people near me on day one and joining study groups. It can feel intimidating, but it sets you up for success and builds self-advocacy.鈥�
鈥淲ith a dedicated space, there鈥檚 a go-to for questions and drop-in support,鈥� Mohamed added. 鈥�It shows a place designed for transfer students, which can strengthen belonging. Transfer can feel like a short stop, but the Center will help students feel more connected and find accessible opportunities to create a memorable UW experience.” Kitchen access, study spaces and lockers remain available in the Commuter and Transfer Commons.
Ambassadors continue outreach at partner colleges, closing the loop from exploration to enrollment. 鈥淪eattle鈥檚 students are brilliant and driven,鈥� added McMillan. 鈥淲hen institutions align around them, applications turn into admissions, admissions into enrollment, and enrollment into graduation and career.鈥�
鈥淥ne year in, we expect growth in ambassador engagement, referrals and event participation 鈥� clear signals that students are reaching support sooner,鈥� said Boroughs.
鈥淥ver the past decade, the 榴莲视频 has become more vocal and intentional about transfer student success,鈥� said Jundt.
鈥淭he Transfer Center is that commitment made visible 鈥� a place where students can find their path, and their people, from day one.鈥�
About Undergraduate Academic Affairs Advising
Undergraduate Academic Affairs Advising supports undergraduates across all majors with academic planning, exploration and success 鈥� connecting students with advising, resources and opportunities that help them graduate on time and thrive at the UW.
In the Honors Program, where interdisciplinarity and inquiry define the student experience, Professor Jon C. Herron exemplifies the kind of teaching that changes how students see the world 鈥� and themselves.
榴莲视频 alumnus Evan Siu, ’23, has been selected as a Schwarzman Scholar, one of the world鈥檚 most competitive graduate and fellowship programs.
Siu, who earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in informatics, joins the program鈥檚 10th class of 150 scholars chosen from nearly 5,000 applicants worldwide. will pursue a fully funded master鈥檚 degree in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing, where they will study China鈥檚 role in global trends alongside leaders in business, technology and policy.
鈥淲hether through software, policy, investment or classrooms, my goal is to widen access through technology to finance, information and trade networks so geography isn鈥檛 the limiting factor in human potential,鈥� Siu said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to walk that path with my classmates, giving as much as I learn from all of them.鈥�
In Beijing, Evan Siu, 鈥�23, plans to engage with China鈥檚 technology sector and explore the region鈥檚 design, consumer services and global economic connections.
Siu is an associate product manager at Visa in San Francisco, where he has supported products across AI-powered fraud and identity, cross-border payments, small-business tools and cryptocurrency. He now works with Visa Ventures, helping shape the firm鈥檚 strategy for investing in fintechs and startups worldwide.
鈥淢y professional experiences have shown me how financial technology can bank the unbanked, reduce barriers in commerce and make interactions between nations more seamless,鈥� Siu said. 鈥淚 hope to apply those lessons to deepen U.S.鈥揅hina collaboration.鈥�
At the UW, Siu combined his informatics studies with leadership roles in entrepreneurship and technology communities. He was active in the Lavin Entrepreneurship Program, DubHacks Next, UW Blockchain Society, UW Consulting Association, and helped open undergraduate access to the Creative Destruction Lab during its inaugural year on campus.
Born in the United States and Chinese by ethnicity, Siu traces his passion for U.S.鈥揅hina exchange to a middle-school trip to Shanghai, where QR-code payments first showed him how technology could simplify everyday life.
With the incoming class, the Schwarzman Scholars network includes more than 1,300 members from 104 countries and 459 institutions. Alumni of the program are leading across industries and working together to address urgent global challenges. This year鈥檚 record-high number of applications demonstrates young leaders鈥� growing investment in understanding China and shaping the future of global cooperation.
About the Schwarzman Scholars Program
The is an elite scholarship program founded in 2013 by Blackstone Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO Stephen A. Schwarzman. The program was created to respond to the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century by preparing the next generation of global leaders.
Up to 200 scholars are selected annually from a broad range of backgrounds, including business, technology, science, politics, healthcare and more.聽
About the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards
The Schwarzman Scholars Program process is supported by the (OMSFA), a UAA program. OMSFA works with faculty, staff and students to identify and support promising students in developing the skills and personal insights necessary to become strong candidates for this and other prestigious awards.
Every fall, new 榴莲视频 arrive at the 榴莲视频 鈥� curious, driven and a little nervous. More than 25% of our first-year students are the first in their families to seek a four-year degree. Of the UW鈥檚 undergraduate population, 55% receive financial aid, 74% are Washington state residents, representing all 39 Washington counties. Throughout their undergraduate journey, thousands will plug into research and community engagement, gaining experience and developing character traits that prepare them for their future.
Why should you care? Because it鈥檚 not just about current students. What happens at the 榴莲视频 doesn鈥檛 stay on campus. In just a few fast years, undergraduates will leave with more than a diploma: They鈥檒l carry with them the persistence, empathy and civic responsibility our workplaces, communities and democracy demand.
Undergraduate experiences beyond the classroom, like research, community engagement and leadership education enliven and animate classroom experiences and bring students into the breadth and depth of the UW.
We readily see the ripple effects of undergraduate education, from the alum who teaches your child multiplication, to the nurse who cares for your parent, or the software engineer at your office who solves a thorny problem. However, undergraduate experiences beyond the classroom, like research, community engagement and leadership education have the potential to become difference-makers for students and the world they graduate into. They enliven and animate classroom experiences and bring students into the breadth and depth of the UW, one of America鈥檚 leading research universities. Teaching the next generation the foundations of research and service for the public good matters to Washington state residents personally, publicly, profoundly for decades to come.
Research, community engagement and leadership education 鈥� the areas we focus on in our work 鈥斅� are integral to students鈥� career preparation and teach skills, habits and mindsets that AI can鈥檛 generate. Undergraduate researchers learn persistence, flex the muscle that discerns fact from fiction, apply knowledge across a range of complex problems, and so much more. Students who learn to lead through communities wrangle with ethics, deepen their self-awareness, practice respectful dialogue, and develop a sustained commitment to our civic spaces.
One undergraduate researcher explored how people diagnosed with Alzheimer鈥檚 feel about different interventions and saw firsthand how those facing this disease have different opinions and approaches to the idea of memories. She was surprised to learn that some viewed forgetting as a gift. She plans on taking the lesson of being curious about different perspectives to her journalism career.
Another undergraduate volunteered in schools, helping students apply to post-secondary education. In this service and leadership work, he practiced public speaking and community-listening skills. He鈥檚 brought these skills to his law career representing victims of crime. He learned that listening and effective communication builds trust between communities and the justice system.
Sophie Pierszalowski, left, is the director of the UW鈥檚 Office of Undergraduate Research. Fran Lo, right, is the executive director of the Community Engagement and Leadership Education Center at the UW.
Let鈥檚 look at the big picture again. By 2031, an estimated 72% of jobs will require education beyond high school. Students who take part in research, community engagement and leadership education are more likely to persist to graduation. These opportunities help students articulate their why, which sets them apart in scholarship applications, job interviews, graduate school applications and more. More than two-thirds of UW graduates stay in Washington state. Undergraduate research, community engagement and leadership development teach the habits of heart and mind we should expect from our business community, politicians, civic leaders and the neighbors next door.
Summer鈥檚 over and fall is here. We are delighted to begin again 鈥� as we do at the start of every new school year 鈥� with this newest group of 榴莲视频. We can鈥檛 wait to see what inspires them within and beyond the classroom and, most importantly, how they will contribute to the world beyond them. There is no time like the present, for their future and ours.
Fran Lo is the executive director of the Community Engagement and Leadership Education Center at the UW. Sophie Pierszalowski is the director of the UW鈥檚 Office of Undergraduate Research.
Four 榴莲视频 undergraduates have been awarded Fulbright scholarships for the 2025鈥�26 academic year, joining three other UW students and alumni selected for the prestigious international program. They join about 2,000 recipients nationwide who will pursue graduate study, conduct research or teach English abroad.
This year鈥檚 undergraduate awardees will travel to Germany, Mexico, Tajikistan and the United Kingdom to engage in research, teaching assistantships and advanced study in the arts.
Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the is the nation鈥檚 flagship international exchange initiative, supporting students in building global connections through education, service and scholarship.
Seven UW students and recent alumni were selected for Fulbright exchange awards. Top row: Emily Bassett, Thomas Key, Vincent Da, Elana Skeers. Bottom row: Sabrina Prestes Oliveira, Jack Regala and Annabella Li. Photo: 榴莲视频
About the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards
The Fulbright application process is supported by the聽聽(OMSFA), a UAA program. OMSFA works with faculty, staff and students to identify and support promising students in developing the skills and personal insights necessary to become strong candidates for this and other prestigious awards. The聽聽(and other scholarships supporting graduate studies around the world) will get started this spring. Watch for updates about OMSFA鈥檚聽.
The 2025 Spring CELEbration produced by the 榴莲视频鈥檚 showcased the dedication and impact of Mary Gates Leadership Scholars and CELE Center program participants like Otoniel Velasquez-Paz, Braedyn Reed and Finn Guzman 鈥� all committed to leadership, community engagement and civic health. The annual event highlighted projects spanning educational equity and mentorship, civic participation and environmental justice.
Through table talks, poster presentations and lightning talks, students connected academic learning with real-world change and demonstrated a powerful truth: When supported in aligning their values with leadership, students鈥� impact extends far beyond the walls of campus.
鈥淭he Spring CELEbration highlights students鈥� deep engagement with community issues and their work to strengthen civic health and democracy,鈥� said Fran Lo, CELE Center executive director. Here鈥檚 how these graduating seniors are preparing to take the lessons, skills and relationships they鈥檝e cultivated through CELE Center programs into new chapters in policy, entrepreneurship, education and beyond.
Supported by CELE Center programming and Mary Gates Leadership Scholarships,聽 Velasquez-Paz, Reed and Guzman, along with all CELE Center graduating seniors, enter the next stage of their lives as community leaders. They will continue shaping neighborhoods, institutions and systems, demonstrating ethical leadership that sets the future of our communities and democracy in motion.
Programs: Dream Project, Mary Gates Leadership Scholar
Otoniel Velasquez-Paz is an advocate for community college pathways, citing their strong language support and affordability. Photo: Photo by Jayden Becles
Otoniel Velasquez-Paz works to expand college and career access for students in communities where a college-going culture is still developing. He is a Mary Gates Leadership Scholar and mentor at Evergreen High School, located in the Southwest Seattle neighborhood of White Center. There, he supports the school鈥檚 college and career center by providing guidance and resources tailored to students鈥� goals.
As a bilingual Spanish and English speaker, Velasquez-Paz understands the unique challenges many primarily Spanish-speaking students face in the college process. These students often have limited opportunities to explore the full range of postsecondary options and need more personalized support to plan for life after high school.
鈥淲e support students in achieving whatever dreams they have,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ur goal is not just to push them toward college; it鈥檚 to support any post-high-school plans they have.鈥�
Growing up in Moses Lake, a community with a large Hispanic population and many families involved in seasonal work, Velasquez-Paz was shaped by mentors who helped guide his path. 鈥淎s a student from this community myself, I saw the need for targeted support,鈥� he said. Velasquez-Paz launched a series of postsecondary panels focused on empowering students to take charge of their own futures.
A key feature of his project was a live document capturing panelists’ responses, translated into multiple languages including Spanish and Vietnamese. 鈥淢any students come to me wanting to speak Spanish,鈥� Velasquez-Paz said. 鈥淗aving written knowledge in their language makes a difference.鈥�
Velasquez-Paz is an advocate for community college pathways, citing their strong language support and affordability. He attended community college before transferring to the 榴莲视频, and his mother is currently studying English at the same college.
He sees his work as part of a broader effort to offer hope and access amidst recent changes in federal policy that have increased barriers for undocumented students. 鈥淭he goal of my project is to show students that despite these barriers, there are still people and resources they can rely on to succeed,鈥� he said.
Velasquez-Paz received a a $5,000 award that supports undergraduates developing their leadership skills through hands-on experience, reflection and mentorship. The funding eased his financial burden and allowed him to focus on outreach and coordination. 鈥淚鈥檝e developed skills in collaboration, public speaking and event planning, all of which are helping me grow as a leader,鈥� he said.
His academic and leadership experiences are deeply intertwined. 鈥淓nvironmental justice is closely linked to social justice,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his work has given me a better understanding of the real-world impacts of environmental decisions.鈥�
Velasquez-Paz plans to enter the private sector after graduation to gain experience, with the long-term goal of working in policy. 鈥淓ngineers can design great solutions,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut without government support, nothing happens. Civic engagement has to be part of the work.鈥�
Building more connected communities
Braedyn Reed, 鈥�25
Major: Community, Environment and Planning
Programs: Husky Leadership Certificate, Leadership minor, Mary Gates Leadership Scholar
Braedyn Reed connected her diverse experiences in mentoring, entrepreneurship and nonprofit work into a cohesive leadership philosophy and earned a Husky Leadership Certificate. Photo: Photo by Jayden Becles
Braedyn Reed, 鈥�25, believes leadership begins with curiosity and a deep love for humanity. As a participant in the program, a Husky 100 honoree, and co-founder of Tread, a student-led platform connecting consumers with local businesses that share their values, Reed shared insights on leading with intention, service and impact in her lightning talk.
The Husky Leadership Certificate guides students to reflect on their leadership journey throughout their undergraduate education. Each participant is paired with a UW faculty, staff or alumni mentor and creates an e-portfolio to articulate their growth, values and vision for continued impact.
For Reed, that reflection has been key to her leadership growth. 鈥淚 enjoy pushing myself to grow, but there鈥檚 no greater challenge or reward than inspiring positive change in the people and systems around me,鈥� Reed said. 鈥淪eeing the impact I can create is deeply fulfilling.鈥�
Reed鈥檚 drive to create meaningful impact led to the creation of Tread. One afternoon over coffee, Reed and her Tread co-founder began to ask why it was so hard to learn a local business鈥檚 moral values; like paying a living wage, practicing sustainability or fostering inclusion. That question sparked action.
鈥淭read is about putting your money where your heart is,鈥� Reed said. 鈥淵ou can shape your community by choosing who and what you support.鈥� Still in development, the platform has recruited volunteers and partners, built a website and begun testing its viability; a real-world experiment rooted in a year of community-building.
Over the past year, Reed has served on the U District Partnership鈥檚 Business Improvement Area Ratepayer Advisory Board. What started as an exploratory email turned into a seat at the table and deeper engagement with the neighborhood鈥檚 complex ecosystem.
鈥淚 found the behind-the-scenes look at how neighborhoods function incredibly interesting,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 learned about local businesses and municipal systems, and I shared those insights with my UW network. Any chance to get people involved is worth sharing.鈥�
The Husky Leadership Certificate helped Reed connect her diverse experiences in mentoring, entrepreneurship and nonprofit work into a cohesive leadership philosophy. 鈥淭he HLC pushed me to see my leadership as taking ownership. That it鈥檚 about stepping up to solve problems and building trust, not titles,鈥� she said.
That mindset has helped her navigate uncertainty. 鈥淥ne big lesson: Don鈥檛 think too many steps ahead. Focus on the present, trust your mentors and teammates, and take it one step at a time.鈥�
鈥淏raedyn鈥檚 motivation to effect change, along with her introspection on leadership, truly shines,鈥� shared mentor Sean Gehrke, assistant dean in Undergraduate Academic Affairs. 鈥淗er commitment to improving communities stands out.鈥�
Reed sees leadership programs as transformative. 鈥淭he power isn鈥檛 just in learning, it鈥檚 in the shift of seeing yourself as a leader. Confidence grows, skills build and ideas take root.鈥�
Her advice to her peers: 鈥淒on鈥檛 wait to lead. Whether or not you have a formal role, ask how you can contribute and build a better world.鈥�
After graduation, Reed plans to continue exploring community development strategies like Tread, apply her civic leadership skills during her internship and embrace opportunities. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 have all the answers yet, but I鈥檓 excited to keep learning and experimenting.鈥�
Finn Guzman will continue in the UW Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership master鈥檚 program, where he plans to make athletics and education more inclusive and accessible for all students. Photo: Photo by Jayden Becles
For Finn Guzman, 鈥�25, leadership means building trust, listening with intention and creating space for others. A first-generation Latino college student from Moses Lake, Washington, Guzman grew up in a community with limited access to sports and educational resources, an experience that shaped his commitment to service and advocacy in athletics.
During the evening鈥檚 table talk, Guzman shared how he explored authentic, inclusive leadership through the Husky Leadership Certificate and the Dream Project.
鈥淭he HLC gave me time to be introspective, to reflect on the person I was, who I am now and who I鈥檓 becoming,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t helped me understand that leadership isn鈥檛 about being in charge. It鈥檚 about showing up, creating space and leading with empathy.鈥�
Through the Dream Project, Guzman mentored high school students; many of whom, like him, were the first in their families to pursue higher education. That experience deepened his understanding of community-based education and helped him connect classroom theory to real-world impact.
鈥淚n class, we talk about equity and access,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut it becomes real when you鈥檙e sitting with a student trying to figure out college on their own. That鈥檚 when you see what equity looks like in action.鈥�
As an intern and squad leader with , Guzman continued to grow a leadership style rooted in relational care, flexibility and accountability.
鈥淔or me, coaching is more than sports,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about supporting the whole student-athlete and making sure they feel safe, can show up as themselves and have someone who believes in them. I try to be the person I didn鈥檛 have growing up.鈥�
After graduating this spring, Guzman will continue as a Double Dawg in the UW Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership master鈥檚 program, where he plans to make athletics and education more inclusive and accessible for all students.
鈥淪ports have always been a huge part of my life,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited for the growth, challenges and opportunities this next chapter will bring.鈥�
What you care about can change the world
When you support the Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) Center, you help 榴莲视频 create a more just, equitable and thriving world. Join us today in advancing the intelligent, compassionate and ethical leaders our communities and our democracy demand.
The U.S. Department of State has recognized the 榴莲视频 for producing 41 recipients of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship during the spring 2025 cycle. The Gilman Scholarship supports U.S. undergraduates with financial need in studying or interning abroad. The UW鈥檚 strong showing reflects the University鈥檚 commitment to expanding global learning opportunities for all students.
The 28th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium brought together more than 1,500 undergraduate scholars from the 榴莲视频 and regional colleges to present 1,138 projects in over 100 disciplines. For many undergraduates, research is more than an academic pursuit 鈥� it鈥檚 a way to connect classroom learning to urgent real-world issues.
