News – Page 14 – Undergraduate Academic Affairs

UW undergrad presents her research to senators in the “other Washington”

Jasmine Graham (bioengineering, ’18) represented the UW and state of Washington at this year’s Posters on the Hill.听 Joining 46 other undergraduate researchers from around the country, Graham, along with her peers, presented their research to congress and advocated for continued funding of undergraduate research. Jasmine takes us through her preparation and whirlwind two days in the nation’s capital.

Jasmine Graham presents her research to congress members at Posters on the Hill.

Getting ready to present my research to congress

Jasmine Graham discusses the importance of undergraduate research with Senator Maria Cantwell.

February-April: I鈥檓 accepted to 鈥� a conference in Washington D.C. hosted by the (CUR) 鈥� where I鈥檒l be the sole representative from the 榴莲视频 and Washington state. Delighted, I tell my mentors and parents about this amazing opportunity and register for the conference. With the help of a travel agent, I book my UW-sponsored flights and hotel.

The conference鈥檚 purpose is to show that undergraduate research is important and should continue to be funded. I tune in to CUR鈥檚 advocacy webinar to learn how to discuss the impact of undergraduate research with congress members and their staff. I plan my elevator pitch to include a mention of the NSF funding I received for my capstone and the ways research helped me define and pursue my career goals. I practice my poster and pitch for with mentor, who helps me to frame my research developing a dental acidity indicator. The conference鈥檚 attendees include government staff from a variety of non-science backgrounds, so I take out technical jargon. To establish common ground between my research and their dental experiences, I will discuss how my research aims to help prevent cavities by identifying at-risk teeth earlier and allowing targeted preventive treatment.

Arriving in Washington D.C.

April 17: I arrive in Washington D.C. at 7 a.m. and check into my hotel early to take a nap. At the CUR office, I meet the other student presenters and connect with Amber, a presenter from Mississippi. As we walk through the National Museum of American History, we chat about our shared goals of pursuing graduate school and becoming leaders in our field. We agree it鈥檚 inspiring to be at a conference with so many like-minded young scientists. After more sight-seeing, the evening formally wraps up with an orientation dinner at the American Chemical Society, who is a sponsor of Posters on the Hill. After appreciating the lit-up monuments on the National Mall, I head to the hotel to prepare for tomorrow鈥檚 meetings.

Meeting Washington鈥檚 state senators

Jasmine Graham shared her research with Senator Patty Murray.

April 18: My morning starts with coffee 鈥� and senators! Both Senators and hold weekly coffees with their constituents 鈥� a.k.a. voters. To sign up, you just need to email the senators鈥� offices in advance. The coffees are informal discussions in which the senator and their staff chat with each visitor, answer questions and give updates on Senate debates.

Senator Patty Murray is a ranking member of the education committee and wrote the Higher Education Act, which sets standards for the accessibility, affordability and accountability of colleges. Several faculty members from Washington colleges are at Senator Murray鈥檚 coffee to advocate for undergraduate research funding. I jump into the discussion to share how undergraduate research helped make me competitive for grad school and solidified my career goals. The faculty agree and add that their students also learn skills not taught in classrooms, prepare for their careers and build support networks through research. Senator Murray comments that it鈥檚 great to hear about students benefiting from undergraduate research, and these stories will give her fuel for when she supports research funding. Senator Cantwell鈥檚 coffee proceeds similarly, with the senator responding to people鈥檚 concerns in a lively and insightful manner.

Getting the V.I.P. treatment

April 18: One perk of visiting your senator鈥檚 office is touring the U.S. Capitol with an intern, which includes riding an underground train to the Capitol building, giving you a behind-the-scenes peek of capitol history. Another perk is a Senate Gallery ticket, where I watch the senators popping into the chamber to vote for the NASA administrator nominee. I get a sense of the incredible amount of American history in the past and in the making.

I am paired with the UW鈥檚 Federal Relations Associate McKinzie Strait, who’s based in Washington D.C. Before this conference, I didn鈥檛 know that the UW has full-time staff in D.C., and am thankful that we do. McKinzie helped schedule all the day鈥檚 meetings, accompanies me to my one-on-one talks with US representatives鈥� staff, and easily navigates our way through the maze of representatives鈥� offices. I reiterate the importance of funding undergraduate research to Rep. Rick Larsen鈥檚 legislative assistant and Rep. Pramila Jayapal鈥檚 congressional fellow. I especially connect with Rep. Pramila Jayapal鈥檚 congressional fellow over our research experiences. Her additional roles as a research mentor and STEM outreach leader are special to me, since I want to take on the same roles in my career.

Advocating to congress for undergraduate research

April 18: It is finally time to see all 47 students and their posters at the evening CUR reception. Though I don鈥檛 get any technical questions from the congressional and funding agency staff attending, I do appreciate the enthusiasm they show about my research after I share my poster鈥檚 story with them. With a variety of compelling projects in areas from biotech to the social sciences, the poster session fosters continued support on Capitol Hill for undergraduate research. Undergraduate research has been such an impactful part of my time at UW, and I鈥檓 proud to advocate for future undergraduates to have similar experiences.

April 19: I catch my flights back to Seattle and get right back into classes and lab work. The photos taken at the senators鈥� constituent coffees arrive by email, and I send thank you notes to the congressional offices.

Jasmine Graham visits the National Museum of American History.

About Jasmine Y. Graham
An experienced undergraduate researcher, Jasmine Graham published a first-author paper on her dental research in 鈥淟asers in Dentistry鈥� earlier this year. In addition to her experience at Posters on the Hill, she has presented at conferences in San Francisco and Seattle. Her exceptional promise as a researcher has earned her a Levinson Emerging Scholars Award, a Mary Gates Research Award and a National Science Foundation award for a summer research experience for undergraduates. In addition to her lab work, Graham is an active member of the UW community, serving as a Dawg Daze leader welcoming first-year students to campus, outreach leader for the UW鈥檚 Biomedical Engineering Society and an听Undergraduate Research Leader听for the UW Undergraduate Research Program.听Next fall, she will start a Ph.D. program in bioengineering at U.C. Berkeley.

Learn more about Undergraduate Research at the UW.

The Undergraduate Research Program facilitates research experiences for undergraduates with UW faculty members across the disciplines. URP maintains a听listing of current UW research opportunities听and national programs.听The Undergraduate Research Program works to ensure that all UW students have access to undergraduate research opportunities by creating initiatives that expand research opportunities; providing a public forum for students to present their work; and helping听faculty integrate undergraduates into the knowledge-making process.

UAA鈥檚 Associate Dean Janice DeCosmo elected to president of national Council on Undergraduate Research

Janice DeCosmo, associate vice provost and associate dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs Photo: Photo by Bryan Nakata

Janice DeCosmo, associate vice provost for undergraduate research, associate dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, and affiliate faculty member in the has been elected president of the national nonprofit听听(颁鲍搁).

A longtime proponent of undergraduate research, DeCosmo was the first director of the UW鈥檚 and has been involved in or running the Undergraduate Research Symposium since its inception in 1997. Her work has been instrumental in developing a national model in undergraduate research at the UW. In 2016-17, more than 8,400 undergraduates participated in undergraduate research. In the recent 2018 Undergraduate Research Symposium, more than 1,250 students presented their work.

鈥淥ur Undergraduate Research Program 鈥� its size, breadth and excellence,” says UW President Ana Mari Cauce, “is one of the crown jewels of our Husky Experience.鈥�

鈥淢y early experiences with undergraduate research were as a graduate student,鈥� says DeCosmo, 鈥渨here myself and my peers found ourselves mentoring first-generation college students who were struggling with coursework and finding their way at a large university. As the students learned our protocols and became part of our teams, we saw them blossom and gain new confidence; their grades also improved. That experience stayed with me, and later I jumped at the chance to develop a grant-funded undergraduate research initiative.鈥�

DeCosmo says the community and network of CUR members helped bring ideas and collegial support as the UW鈥檚 Undergraduate Research Program developed and matured.

For nearly two decades, DeCosmo has been an active CUR member. Her diverse volunteer experiences within CUR include service on program review and nominations vetting committees, undergraduate research programs division chair, two terms on the governing board for the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, and a term on CUR鈥檚 executive board. A prolific writer and presenter on undergraduate research scholarship, DeCosmo serves as issue editor for CUR鈥檚 flagship journal,听听(SPUR).

鈥淚 am humbled to be president-elect of [CUR],鈥� says DeComo, 鈥渁nd I look forward to advancing opportunity for students in all disciplines and types of institutions to have the chance to develop their creativity, critical thinking, and communications skills 鈥� so essential to their future success in work and life 鈥� through research.鈥�

DeCosmo earned a BS in physics from the University of Iowa in 1979 and a Ph.D. in atmospheric sciences from the 榴莲视频 in 1991, specializing in atmosphere-ocean interaction. She oversees the UW鈥檚 Center for Experiential Learning and Diversity, which includes undergraduate research, service learning, leadership, and scholarship programs. She represents the UW on statewide higher education policy groups that oversee new academic programs and the transfer process for students from Washington鈥檚 two-year colleges to four-year institutions. DeCosmo was director for 10听years of the Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium, a NASA-funded effort to support innovative education and research initiatives across the state.

榴莲视频 Undergraduate Research Program

The facilitates research experiences for undergraduates with UW faculty members across the disciplines. Its signature event is the annual , which happens each May. This year, more than 1,250 students presented their research. The Undergraduate Research Program is an Undergraduate Academic Affairs program, housed in the Center for Experiential Learning and Diversity.

榴莲视频

The is one of the world鈥檚 preeminent public universities. Our impact on individuals, our region and the world is profound 鈥� whether we are launching young people into a boundless future or confronting the grand challenges of our time through undaunted research and scholarship. Ranked No. 13 in the world on the听, the UW educates more than 54,000 students annually.

Council on Undergraduate Research

The听听supports faculty development for high-quality undergraduate student-faculty collaborative research and scholarship. More than 700 institutions and nearly 13,000 individuals belong to CUR. CUR believes that the best way to capture student interest and create enthusiasm for a discipline is through research in close collaboration with faculty members.

This announcement draws upon and is based on .

Two UW undergrads receive the Udall Award

Udall scholars Ashley Lewis (left) and Alishia Orloff (right).

Juniors Ashley Lewis and Alishia Orloff will join 50 students from around the country as Udall Scholars. A competitive award, the review committee selected this year鈥檚 scholars from 437 nominees based on the student鈥檚 commitment to careers in the environment, Native health care or tribal policy, as well as their leadership potential, public service and academic achievement.

The scholarship provides each student with up to $7,000 for use on tuition, room, board or supplies. The Udall Foundation also hosts a five-day orientation in Tucson, Arizona. There, scholars will meet each other and program alumni, complete a case study and interact with community leaders in environmental fields, tribal health care and governance.

For both Lewis and Orloff, this scholarship aligns closely with their career goals.

Ashley Lewis

Udall Scholar Ashley Lewis

Hometown: Elma, WA
Graduation: 2019 (projected)
Major: Aquatic and Fishery Sciences; Communications

“Being named a Udall scholar for the second time provides more opportunity to strengthen tribal nations and to protect resources of the Pacific Northwest, I couldn’t be more proud to be among a group of people that are committed to changing our world.”

Business owner and outdoor enthusiast Ashley Lewis is eager to protect the outdoors she loves so much. As a female Native American fishing guide, she is eager to show the world that leaders come in all forms. Through her fishing business, she has become a leading voice in the community: as a brand ambassador for Shimano, and as a contributor to ESPN鈥檚 show 鈥淭he Outdoor Line.鈥� Connections to her community are strong. As an active member of the Quinault Indian Nation, Lewis is dedicated to working with her tribe to advocate for our natural resources. She also volunteers with The Fallen Outdoors, where she supports American Army Veterans鈥� rehabilitation through connecting with nature.

The combination of her passion for the outdoors, with her drive to protect our Northwest environments, prompted her to return to college. She is currently pursuing her bachelor鈥檚 degree, with the long-term goal of earning a master鈥檚 in aquatic and fishery sciences. Professionally, she plans to work in public policy, where she can help strengthen Pacific Northwest fisheries, and show that investing in outdoor spaces benefits the larger community. 听听听

Alishia Orloff

Udall Scholar Alishia Orloff

Hometown: Tacoma, WA
Graduation: 2019 (projected)
Major: Environmental Science and Resource Management

An active researcher, Alishia Orloff has a strong interest in terrestrial and riparian environments. Fascinated by the interdisciplinary processes that drive our environments, Orloff is dedicated to continuously learning more about these complex ecosystems. Throughout her research, Orloff has partnered with the University of Minnesota Duluth, Ojibwe Resource Management and the Tulalip Tribes. Orloff believes the management of natural resources affects each person鈥檚 daily life. She views helping people understand the source of these resources is crucial to protecting the environment. Recognizing the importance of community involvement, she currently volunteers as a Students Expressing Environmental Dedication (SEED) executive, where she promotes sustainability on campus, and as a native plant nursery volunteer, where she cultivates native plants.

In the future, Orloff aspires to earn a doctoral degree and become a leading researcher at an organization that proactively engages the community to preserve our natural resources.

鈥淭he Udall award serves as a recognition of my stewardship in the environment with a specific focus in traditional ecological knowledge thus far. Through this award, I can more vigorously develop a stronger connection to protecting our natural resources and serving the communities that are impacted. I am greatly appreciative of this opportunity to collaborate with other great stewards from around the nation and work together to broaden our understanding and exposure of environmental and social issues.鈥�

Learn more about scholarship opportunities at UW

The Udall Scholarship application 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.

Spring Celebration honors 榴莲视频’ commitment to service and leadership

榴莲视频 students鈥� dedication to community-based service and activism will be recognized at the on May 23 from 1:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Husky Union Building (HUB) on the UW Seattle campus. The annual event showcases UW undergraduate and graduate students who develop their leadership skills while committing their time and talent to serving their communities. On campus and off, UW students are expanding definitions of service and leadership and blurring the boundaries between classroom and community. This year鈥檚 theme 鈥� Explore. Ignite. Impact. 鈥� encapsulates how UW undergraduates are engaged with leadership, service and activism. In 2016-17, more than 5,500 students engaged in academic service-learning, volunteering an astounding 495,152 hours.

This year鈥檚 Spring Celebration features culminating presentations from nearly 200 participants, including students in the and Undergraduate Community Based Internship (UCBI), , Jumpstart, and Ellis Civic Fellowship programs; as well as breakout sessions from students in the , social sciences and . To cap off the celebration, we鈥檒l hear from members of and about their community-based work. The entire UW community and network of community partners are welcome to attend.

In offering their valuable skills and time, students support the work of numerous organizations while simultaneously growing their own capacity for leadership and reflecting on the value of service.

Heaven Tesfamarium, a junior in medical anthropology and political science, stays connected to her Eritrean roots by organizing young people in the region and across the country through the Young People鈥檚 Front for Democracy and Justice (YPFDJ). Heaven is leading her peers in YPFDJ to listen to the needs of youth serving organizations in Eritrea, and mobilize resources from the U.S. to address the community鈥檚 articulated needs. Ultimately interested in a global health career, she also volunteers as a nurse鈥檚 assistant at the Bryant Elementary health room. Through her service and leadership activities, she is finding ways to address global and local health concerns.

A service-learning class during her first year at the UW introduced Jessica Lo, a senior in biochemistry and neurobiology, to a community member with traumatic brain injury (TBI). That interpersonal connection ignited her academic curiosity about the condition, and inspired her to find ways to help individuals with TBI. Over the last two years, Jessica founded the UW chapter of 鈥� a national organization connecting those with TBI to university students and community resources. In addition to her work with Synapse, and her research studying how to regrow brain cells, Jessica supports folks with TBI and other chronic illnesses through a Undergraduate Community Based Internship with Full Life Care.

Public health and neurobiology double major Ruweida Ahmed鈥檚 project focuses on youth tutoring in Rainier Vista. Her focus is to increase parents鈥� engagement with their child鈥檚 education. Through her work, she helps her students increase their reading level, strengthen their math skills and grow their confidence. Over the course of the year, she鈥檚 proudly watched her students continually push themselves to better understand their classwork.

and Ruby Linsao Scholar Eya Lazaro is passionate about education for all. As an immigrant to the U.S., education didn鈥檛 feel like a realistic option for her. Yet, she persevered and is now a junior at the UW majoring in early childhood and family studies. Grateful for the opportunities given to her, she is dedicated to giving back to her community and inspiring the next generation of Pacific Islanders to attend college. Through her involvement with the and Jumpstart, Lazaro is reaching out to marginalized communities to help them find paths to higher education. Along with the Sisterhood of Pi Nu Lota, she is organizing an event to highlight the Pasifika culture and its values through early literacy.

The Spring Celebration of Service and Leadership is planned and coordinated by programs in , , and the .

Schedule overview

All events take place on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 and are in the HUB Ballroom, unless otherwise noted.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Digital Storytelling and Global Citizenship
1:30-3:20 p.m. in HUB 250

Ellis Civic Fellowship Capstone
2:00-3:00 p.m. in HUB 214

Exploring Internships in the Social Sciences: Story Share and Panel Discussion
2:00-5:00 p.m. in HUB 145

School of Medicine Service-Learning and Advocacy Groups
6:00-7:30 p.m. in HUB 250

POSTER SESSIONS
3:30-5:00 p.m.

PROGRAM AND AWARDS
5:00-5:30 p.m.

CELEBRATION AND RECEPTION
5:30-6:30 p.m.
Celebration! Food, photo booth with Dubs, networking

Undergraduates to present research spanning academic disciplines on May 18, 2018

On Friday, May 18, more than 1,200 榴莲视频 undergraduates and visiting undrgraduates student scholars will participate in the 21st Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium 鈥� an event that is one of the largest of its kind in the nation.

The Symposium runs from 11 a.m.鈥�6 p.m. on the UW Seattle campus. Students will present their research in poster, oral and performing arts sessions in Mary Gates Hall and Johnson Hall, and in a visual arts and design showcase in Odegaard Undergraduate Library (see event details below). UW President Ana Mari Cauce is scheduled to provide opening remarks at 11 a.m. in Mary Gates Hall.

Through undergraduate research, students contribute to groundbreaking work and gain the experience necessary to one day lead innovative research themselves. UW undergraduates are getting involved in research in increasing numbers 鈥� more than 8,400 students participated in research in 2016鈥�17.听More than 1,000 faculty, post-doc, research staff and graduate student mentors supported this year鈥檚 Symposium presenters through their research, helping students develop subject area knowledge, transferable skills and an entrepreneurial perspective that will prepare them for future employment, education and civic engagement.

Students will share their research on topics as diverse and broad as better diagnosis of pediatric concussions; improving regional climate prediction; innovations in pain management; predicting tooth decay; gratitude in relation to adolescent mental health; the complexity of the canoe in Samoan culture; forensic anthropology; and much, much more.

The titles of students鈥� presentations gives more detail about the range and complexity of their projects. A small sampling of titles include:

BrainNet: First Three-Person Brain-to-Brain Communication System
Star Formation in Low Metallicity Environments
Curation: A Performance
My Work as an Artist and Designer on the DFL鈥檚 3D Game, Hug the Line
Forensic Anthropology and Human Rights in Latin America

The Symposium is open to selected undergraduates from other institutions, and we are thrilled to welcome presenters from听22 other institutions in addition to听, the Seattle Colleges, Montana State University, Washington State University and the University of Victoria听(complete list below).

The Symposium is organized by Undergraduate Academic Affairs鈥櫶�Undergraduate Research Program.

Event Details

What: The 21st Annual Research Symposium at the 榴莲视频

Who: More than 1,200 inspiring undergraduates at UW presenting ground-breaking research and selected undergraduates from other institutions

When: Friday, May 18, 2018, 11:00 a.m.颅鈥�6:00 p.m.

Where: Mary Gates Hall, select rooms in Johnson Hall, and Odegaard Undergraduate Library
Plan ahead: See event schedule and search the Online Proceedings at听

Institutions Represented

Bellevue College
Boise State University
California State University San Marcos
College of St. Scholastica
Edmonds Community College
Everett Community College
Grays Harbor College
Heritage University
North Seattle College
Pacific Lutheran University
Pierce College
Portland State University
Shoreline Community College
Seattle Pacific University
South Seattle College
Seattle Central College
University of Nevada Las Vegas
Wenatchee Valley College
Western Washington University
University of Puget Sound
University of Wyoming
Whitman College

Photos by David Ryder.

Three UW undergrads earn competitive Goldwater scholarships

The Goldwater Foundation honored four 榴莲视频 students this year. Selected from 1,280 nominees from across the country, Nelson Lui, Kimberly Ruth and Tyler Valentine were named Goldwater Scholars. Andrew Luo earned an honorable mention.

Goldwater Scholarships are granted to sophomores and juniors who show exceptional promise and plan to pursue research careers in math, engineering or the natural sciences.听 .

Nelson Liu, scholarship recipient

Major: Computer Science; Statistics; Linguistics
Expected graduation: 2019

Andrew Luo, honorable mention

Major: Computer Science; Bioengineering
Expected graduation: 2019

Kimberly Ruth, scholarship recipient

Major: Computer Engineering; Mathematics
Expected graduation: 2020

Tyler Valentine, scholarship recipient

Major: Earth and Space Sciences
Expected graduation: 2019

Learn more about scholarship opportunities at UW
The听Goldwater Scholarship听application process is supported by the听听(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.

UW seniors Tobi Du and Caleb Huffman selected as China鈥檚 Yenching Academy scholars

榴莲视频 seniors Tobi Du and Caleb Huffman will join approximately 125 scholars from around the world as part of the Yenching Academy of Peking University鈥檚 2018-19 cohort. A U.S. News & World Report poll ranked Peking University the fifth best global university in Asia, and second-best university in China. The opportunity to join is highly competitive. In 2017, only 4 out of 124 Yenching Academy Scholars from the states studied at public research universities in the United States.

Launched by China鈥檚 Peking University in 2014, the Academy aims to build bridges between China and the rest of the world by educating the next generation of leaders and innovators. As Yenching Scholars, students design their own research in humanities or social sciences, take language classes and study China鈥檚 past, present and future. The 1-2 year program culminates with students earning a master鈥檚 degree in China studies. In addition to covering the costs of tuition, the award includes round trip air travel from the student鈥檚 home country, housing on campus and living costs.

“Undergraduate education at the UW aspires to prepare students for cross-cultural leadership, scholarship and impact in the world,鈥� explains Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. 鈥淲e are so proud of Tobi and Caleb for this recognition of their accomplishments-to-date as well as the promise of their future work and impact in the world.鈥�

This opportunity for a focused look into China鈥檚 role in the world closely aligns with both Du鈥檚 and Huffman鈥檚 academic interests and future career goals.

Tobi Du

Major: Political science (departmental honors)
Expected graduation: June 鈥�18

A Taiwanese-American student studying political science with a focus on international security, Du plans to pursue a career in diplomacy and policymaking as a foreign service officer with the U.S. Department of State. While at Yenching Academy, Du seeks to study the role of China in global politics, envisioning a close diplomatic relationship between the U.S. and China as critical to the international community. 鈥淸The Yenching Academy] will strengthen my personal and professional development by honing my cultural adaptability and personal resilience, and provide a basis for future intensive international assignments,鈥� says Du. 鈥淭he regional expertise that I will gain from this program is invaluable to my potential career as a diplomat.鈥�

To deepen her knowledge about East Asia, the Sammamish native served as a project leader in her Korean Peninsula and World Politics course and studied the construction of Japanese identity in Tokyo via an Honors Program study abroad class. She is currently writing her honors research thesis about how North Korean domestic political changes and Kim Jong-un鈥檚 external and internal threat perceptions have affected the country鈥檚 accelerating nuclear and ballistic missile agenda.

Beyond her studies, Du is focused on giving back to the community. She serves as volunteer director for the UW Foundation鈥檚 Senior Class Gift Council and is a lead of a local Family Readiness Group, connecting families of soldiers with information from their commanders.

Caleb Huffman

Majors: Political science, communication (college honors)
Expected graduation: June 2018

Originally from Onalaska, WA, Huffman鈥檚 eagerness to build bridges between cultures prompted him to take advantage of any and all foreign-service-related opportunities. As a freshman, he was selected as a Gilman Scholar to study human migration in Rome and Amsterdam. He next served as a Husky Presidential Ambassador, traveling to Tsinghua University in Beijing and went on to earn a fellowship with the U.S.-China Initiative Student Fellows program at Georgetown. There, he attended conferences with senior U.S. and Chinese diplomats in Washington D.C. and Beijing. Most recently, he served as a delegate as part of the Forum for American/Chinese Exchange at Stanford, attending conferences at Stanford and Peking University. Huffman believes that the U.S.-China relationship will be a critical, and perhaps, the most important bilateral relationship of his lifetime. He is eager to improve his Mandarin skills and gain a better understanding of Chinese law, history and culture.

鈥淪tudying China鈥檚 legal system at Yenching Academy will be my foundational study of a legal system (my master鈥檚 degree will be in Chinese law and society), the first of many ventures examining legal systems around the world. I aim to be a leader, one who sees a vision of what could be with an ability to understand what is, while always working to persuade others to change what is because of what could be.鈥�

Huffman鈥檚 interest in cross-cultural leadership and international policy led him to double major in political science and communication. His future plans include pursuing a degree in international law, with the aim of holding an influential role in American foreign relation鈥檚 peace-building efforts.

Learn more about scholarship opportunities at UW
The Yenching Academy application process is supported by the听听(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听听(and other scholarships supporting graduate studies around the world) will get started this spring for 2019-20 awards. Watch for updates about OMSFA鈥檚 Global Fellowships Prep program.

Find inspiration through audio from the 2018 Leadership Firesides

Husky Leadership Initiative Leadership Firesides offer ongoing opportunities for students to engage in meaningful dialogue with a diverse range of civic, corporate and campus leaders in an informal setting. These leaders share their personal journeys and perspectives on leadership and become momentary mentors for students attending the event. The Firesides are a way for students to learn more about and reflect on leadership and build their leadership competencies and confidence.

The Husky Leadership Initiative is pleased to be a partner of the UW (OMA&D) 50^th anniversary festivities in 2018. To recognize this milestone, the winter quarter Fireside series showcased five influential alumni who were impacted by OMA&D programs and/or served as champions of diversity, equity and inclusion during their time at the UW. Mentioned here are three of these alumni, whose unique stories of leadership captured the attention of students in attendance. We were also fortunate enough to host Attorney General Bob Ferguson, another 榴莲视频 alumnus, who shared stories ranging from being a chess master to filing a lawsuit against the federal government.

The audio recordings, photographs and biographies of these speakers can be found below.

Franklin Donahoe

Franklin Donahoe is chief information security officer at Mylan Pharmaceuticals. He has more than 25 years of experience in cyber and physical security, as well as military service in the United States Marine Corps. He is the former director of information security architecture and design and risk management at T鈥揗obile USA and manager with Deliotte and Protiviti consulting firms and also the former chief information security officer of Costco Wholesale. Franklin has experience developing and executing strategy, operations and budgets for the protection of enterprise information assets and managing security programs.

He is the principal and founder of Donahoe Advisory Group, a cybersecurity consulting firm offering executive level consulting, as well as deep technical security penetration testing for IT, industrial and IOT systems.

Franklin is the commissioner for Washington State African Affairs, and holds a bachelor’s degree from the 榴莲视频 and two masters’ degrees from Carnegie Mellon University.

Franklin Donahoe speaks during one of the 2018 Leadership Firesides.

Magdalena Fonseca

Magdelena Fonseca is the interim director for the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity鈥檚 (OMA&D) Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center.

Fonseca has been particularly instrumental in leading OMA&D鈥檚 efforts to better serve and support undocumented students on the UW campus. Her early work in this area started quietly, but as time passed and laws changed, she helped bring greater visibility to both the needs of undocumented students and the ways in which faculty and staff can serve as allies. Her efforts have been led by the creation of the Kelly ECC鈥檚 Leadership Without Borders Center, which offers a space for connecting undocumented students to campus and community resources, as well as leadership development resources and peer advising.

Fonseca鈥檚 contributions extend into the community as well. She is co-chair of the UW Latino/a Faculty Staff Association, and through a partnership with a Seattle organization called YouthCare, has volunteered at a transitional home center where undocumented, unattended youth stayed until being united with family.

Magdalena Fonseca speaks during one of the 2018 Leadership Firesides.

A student listens during one of the 2018 Leadership Firesides.

Anita Johnson-Connell

Dr. Connell completed her undergraduate degree, medical school and residency program at the UW, and has given back to her community both professionally and philanthropically. Since 1982, Dr. Connell has run her own private OB/GYN practice in Seattle鈥檚 First Hill neighborhood. She delivered babies until 2004 and now focuses primarily on surgery and office gynecology at her Johnson Connell Clinic for Women in the Nordstrom Tower. Among the highlights of her very successful career was delivering the youngest son and grandson of one of her UW mentors and friends, Dr. Samuel E. Kelly.

While she was an undergraduate student at the UW in the late 1960s, Dr. Connell was among a group of African-American and minority students who chartered the first Black Student Union and, in doing so, helped build a springboard for the development of what is now OMA&D. When she began her studies at the UW Medical School, she was part of the largest class of women to have ever been accepted to the program, but was just one of three African-American females. She overcame the challenges of opening up her own practice during a time when few female doctors even practiced in the Seattle area.

On top of juggling a solo practice and raising her family, Dr. Connell makes sure to always remain accessible to the community. She has been a keynote speaker for various events, raising awareness of women鈥檚 health issues and education. In addition to serving as a member of various professional associations, her most recent community involvement has focused on working with the Seattle chapter of Links, Inc., a predominantly African-American women鈥檚 organization that gives back to the community in many ways.

Anita Johnson Connell speaks during one of the 2018 Leadership Firesides.

A student listens during a Leader Fireside event in 2018

Bob Ferguson

Bob Ferguson is Washington state鈥檚 18th attorney general. As the state鈥檚 chief legal officer, Ferguson is committed to protecting the people of Washington against powerful interests that don鈥檛 play by the rules. He is a fourth-generation Washingtonian, a graduate of the 榴莲视频 and the New York University law school. Ferguson began his legal career in Spokane. He clerked for two federal judges before returning to Seattle to join Preston, Gates, and Ellis (now K&L Gates) where his civil litigation practice included work on behalf of taxpayers, corporations and small businesses. In addition, Ferguson is an internationally rated chess master and twice won the Washington State Chess Championship.

Videos and photos from MLK Week 2018

The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.听continues with demonstrations of strength, resiliency and compassion. During MLK week, 榴莲视频 students, faculty and staff partnered with surrounding communities to serve and lead together. From prepping food at meal centers and cleaning up neighborhood centers to sharing their stories through the creativity of hip hop and performance poetry, see the different ways they worked toward creating a more beloved community.

Video highlights from MLK Week

Video by Bryan Nakata, UAA Digital Media Producer

Photo highlights from MLK Week

Enjoy these photos of the students, community members and others in events designed to honor the memory of MLK through service.

Birthday Kickoff and Mobile Museum

A celebration of听King’s birthday helped kickoff the week, along with the return of the mobile museum. The听museum, which exhibits more than 150 rare artifacts,听had a specific focus on 1968, the year of King’s death.

A student gets cake from the MLK birthday event at the Samuel Kelly Cultural Center.

A student eats birthday cake from 2018 MLK Week.

Students look at items during the MLK Mobile Museum event.

Day of Service

Each year, the 榴莲视频 and the United Way of King County host the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. Through this event, nearly听2,000 volunteers provide vital people-power to organizations that support our county鈥檚 most vulnerable populations.

Students from the honors program organize paintings during MLK Week 2018.

Students pose while preparing food during MLK week 2018.

A student cleans a wall during MLK Week 2018.

A Student shreds onions during MLK Week 2018.

Students from the honors program pose during MLK Week 2018

A worker takes out food during MLK Week 2018.

Joe Carolus from OSL speaks to students during MLK Week 2018.

A student washes dishes at OSL food preparation center during MLK Week 2018.

Students and a volunteer pose at Fremont Arts Center during MLK Week 2018.

Hip Hop Show

To close , the produced the “Still Dreaming” showcase to honor the messages that King presented to the world in his “I听Have a听Dream” speech.

Davon White speaks at the Hip Hop show during MLK Week 2018.

A woman sings at the Hip Hop show during MLK Week 2018.

A student reads a poem at the Hip Hop show during MLK Week 2018.

A student DJs at the Hip Hop show during MLK Week 2018.

Troy Osaki speaks at the Hip Hop show during MLK Week 2018.

All photos by听Bryan Nakata, UAA Digital Media Producer

UW senior Timothy Welsh selected to be 1 of 15 Churchill Scholars nationally

Timothy Welsh is the 榴莲视频’s most recent Churchill Scholar. Photo: Bryan Nakata

A Pacific Northwest native, Timothy Welsh grew up fascinated by the natural world. Over the years, his career goals transitioned from geology to forestry, until he discovered chemistry.

鈥淲hat made me finally decide on chemistry as the path for me is an appreciation for the remarkable microscopic and biochemical functions that are crucial to every aspect of interactions between the biotic and abiotic environment.鈥�

A triple-major in chemistry, biochemistry, and applied and computational mathematical sciences, and Honors student, Welsh’s research endeavors seek to better understand some of the biochemical mechanisms underlying these processes. 鈥淓lucidating these mechanisms will not only deepen our understanding of nature, but I believe will help provide solutions to some of the biggest problems facing the human race,鈥� he says. Welsh鈥檚 drive to discover led to his selection as a Churchill Scholar.

鈥斕齏elsh is one of only 15 in the country 鈥� are selected for their proven talent in research and ability to make significant contributions in the sciences, engineering or mathematics. Welsh was selected from 101 applicants for this scholarship, which covers full tuition for one year of master’s study at Churchill College in the University of Cambridge; a stipend; travel costs; and a chance to apply for a $2,000 special research grant.

“Receiving the Churchill is truly a great honor. I am ecstatic to have the opportunity to pursue research at Cambridge, and I believe that the academic environment at Cambridge will teach me what it means to be a global research collaborator and will set me up to be successful for the rest of my academic career.”

鈥擳imothy Welsh

Welsh first worked in a lab as a high school student during a summer internship at the Oregon Health & Sciences University, and has been researching ever since, working in labs from the UW to Switzerland. In 2017, Welsh published a first-author paper, sharing the results of his summertime work in Dr. Walter Loveland鈥檚 nuclear chemistry lab at Oregon State University. Currently a member of Professor Stefan Stoll鈥檚 lab, Welsh鈥檚 research now focuses on developing techniques to determine the structure and changing shapes of proteins.

鈥淭he Churchill scholarship,鈥� says Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, 鈥渋s a prestigious opportunity for Timothy to continue working toward understanding our world in critical ways. It reflects his ambition and capabilities and also reflects well on the mentorship he鈥檚 experienced as an undergraduate researcher. The UW鈥檚 research community and campus-at-large are proud of Timothy and encourage him as he continues to live out UW鈥檚 mission at Cambridge.鈥�

As a Churchill scholar, Welsh will complete a master鈥檚 degree in chemistry at Cambridge. There, Welsh will join the lab of Professor Tuomas Knowles 鈥� a leader in the field of microfluidic techniques within biophysics 鈥� to study properties of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granule formation and propagation. Building on his past research experiences, Welsh plans to use microfluidic techniques to better understand how granules function within the cell, both when healthy and when mutated. The long-term goal of this research is to better understand how these mutations are related to neurodegenerative diseases, such as ALS and Huntington鈥檚.

After earning his master鈥檚 at Cambridge, he plans to return to the U.S. to pursue a Ph.D. with an emphasis in chemical biology. He hopes to one day educate the public about the importance of the microscopic biochemical world and act as a liaison between scientists and policy makers.

The Churchill Scholarship application process is supported by the听听(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听听(and other scholarships supporting studies in the UK) is open for 2019-20 awards.