The 乱伦社区鈥檚 Community College Research Initiatives (CCRI) has been awarded a $1.7 million grant from Ascendium Education Group to continue its STEM Transfer Partnerships (STP) program, which aims to increase equity in STEM education for low-income learners across Washington state. This funding extension builds on an earlier $1.17 million grant, continuing the work to improve outcomes for underserved students in STEM fields.
CCRI conducts research to promote equity in higher education, with a focus on the experiences of underserved student populations. Ascendium supports initiatives aimed at helping students from low-income backgrounds achieve postsecondary degree completion. With aligned goals of enhancing access and success for low-income learners, Ascendium is a natural and valuable partner in advancing CCRI鈥檚 efforts.
Alumnus Izaiha Ellis, 鈥�20, began his interdisciplinary journey at the 乱伦社区 with the Honors Program course, 鈥淟eadership, Democracy and a More Thoughtful Public.鈥� Each week, he read essays by global politicians and writers, exploring how individual actions shape community dynamics. The course challenged students to consider how their choices impact the support or neglect of others.
Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs Ed Taylor shares his talk, “Woke Up This Morning (With My Mind, Stayed on Freedom)” at the College of Education’s EduTalks: Thriving Generations on March 28, 2024. Taylor is also a professor in the College of Education.
David Bonderman encouraged students to go outside their comfort zones and their time zones through the Bonderman Fellowships. Photo by Web Summit , , via Wikimedia Commons.
We join friends, colleagues and the Bonderman Fellow community who are saddened to learn of David Bonderman鈥檚 recent passing. David earned his undergraduate degree in Russian from the 乱伦社区 in 1963. A proponent of the transformative power of travel, he created the Bonderman Fellowship in 1995 to provide opportunities for students to have life-changing, international experiences.
His influence in and talent for business, and his interests in sports and rock-and-roll music are . The are, arguably, the most individually-impactful of David鈥檚 visionary interests and gifts. David received a travel fellowship after graduating from Harvard Law School which inspired his vision for the Bonderman Fellowship at the UW.
Bonderman Fellowships offer undergraduate, graduate and professional students at the UW $26,000 for independent exploration and international travel. Bonderman Fellows travel on their own for eight months, to at least six countries in two regions of the world. Their 鈥渁ssignment鈥� is to seek out new experiences and learn about the world around them. While there is frequently a guiding interest that shapes their trip, fellows are not allowed to engage in formal study at a university, conduct research or travel with an organized group.
More than 300 students have been named Bonderman Fellows since 1995. Collectively, they have traveled from Algeria and Argentina to Vietnam and Zimbabwe and dozens of countries in between. Their interests are as wide-ranging as their flight paths and other modes of travel.
鈥淭hese journeys have created a sense of connection with all of humanity and trust in oneself that can鈥檛 be replicated by any other experience,鈥� said Brook Kelly, Bonderman alum and assistant director in the Honors Program who also supported the Fellowship for nearly two decades.
鈥淢y own Bonderman journey was 20 years ago, and I first met David just after I鈥檇 returned to Seattle from six months of traveling in east and southern Africa. I felt lucky to meet and thank him, and to get a little glimpse into the direct, funny and impact-minded person behind the gift that had changed my life. I feel so lucky to have known him, to have helped to bring his vision to life, and for the ripples my own Bonderman trip continues to create.鈥�
鈥� Brook Kelly
Upon learning of David Bonderman鈥檚 passing, Bonderman Fellow Drew Pierce-Street wrote that she 鈥渞eflected on how every nook and cranny of my present day have been touched by David Bonderman’s generosity, and how vastly different I am from one year ago (almost to the day) when I boarded a plane to discover the greatest internal adventure and period of growth in my life. 鈥� Perhaps there is more motivation for me now to keep surging forward with an added sparkle of gusto on the path that the fellowship laid down for me.鈥�
With gratitude, we remember the impact David Bonderman had on more than 300 Bonderman Fellows in providing them with life-changing experiences of international travel. Photo: Photo by Bryan Nakata
Bonderman Fellows talk about their gratitude in being able to travel the world; how prolonged, solo travel can be difficult but inspires courage and confidence; how they view the world differently and see the interconnectedness of people more readily; how they want to make a difference in the lives of others.
Bonderman Fellow Bryan Nakata reflected they were 鈥�inspired to push boundaries, challenge assumptions and find ways to connect with others across cultures and geographies. I grew immensely as a person, and it was undoubtedly one of the most important experiences of my life. The lessons I learned as a fellow will guide me for the rest of my life, and I am very proud to call myself a Bonderman alum. I believe his legacy will live on through the work we do and the next generations of fellows for years to come.鈥�
Bonderman Fellowships are administered by Undergraduate Academic Affairs and The Graduate School. In 2017, the UW Bonderman Fellowship expanded its impact with a $10 million endowment from David Bonderman. Prior to that he funded the Fellowships annually.
Learn more about the experiences of Bonderman Fellows through this audio slideshow, created in 2007 for the 15th anniversary of the Bonderman Fellowships.
Daniel Chen鈥檚 journey into research began with a fascination for ancient cultures and extinct creatures. As a middle schooler, he was captivated by archaeology and paleontology, dreaming of working at excavation sites, unearthing ancient bones and tracing the histories of lost civilizations.聽Over time, that early curiosity shifted toward biology, particularly as computational modeling emerged as a powerful tool.
Undergraduate Academic Affairs is recognizing Dr. Kristina Henry Collins for her leadership of the Robinson Center for Young Scholars. After much consideration, Dr. Collins has decided to resign from her position of executive director of the Robinson Center, effective Jan. 27, 2025. She intends to continue her research, teaching and leadership foci of broad-based advocacy for equity and access in STEM, gifted and accelerated programming for students from kindergarten through college.
During her time as executive director, Dr. Collins and the Robinson Center鈥檚 directors:
Updated the Center鈥檚 mission, vision and values to align with the UW鈥檚 Diversity Blueprint and addressed operational recommendations from an evaluation taskforce.
Made the Transition School application more accessible, leading to an increase in students, scholarships and student diversity.
Increased enrollment for all Robinson Center programs, which include Transition School, Academy and Enrichment.
Developed a new partnership with the Auburn School District to support student transportation needs and increase access to Robinson Center summer programs.
Enlivened community and donor outreach through a refreshed e-newsletter; saw record giving for the Center鈥檚 involvement in Husky Giving Day; and reinstated parent programming.
As a public scholar and expert in the field of gifted and talented education, Dr. Collins has advised the Seattle Public School District and Washington state鈥檚 Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction on matters related to equity in education for highly capable learners. She is co-author, with Javetta Jones Roberson, of the 2024 book 鈥淪parking Change to Promote Equity: Implementing Culturally Responsive Leadership Practices in Gifted and Advanced Programs鈥� and works with the national nonprofit Council for Exceptional Children to create standards for gifted education that can inform standards for different states.
For more than 40 years, the Robinson Center has offered accelerated learning opportunities to young learners who are highly capable and motivated. It is recognized as a national leader in this field.
As plans for the Robinson Center’s next steps take shape, LeAnne Wiles has been appointed to serve as interim executive director. This decision reflects Wiles鈥� outstanding leadership and extensive expertise, honed over 15 years of experience in organizational management and student success initiatives within UAA’s First-Year Programs and Student Academic Services. Wiles will continue to work under the leadership of Dr. Michaelann Jundt to ensure the Robinson Center鈥檚 continued success.
Undergraduate Academic Affairs is pleased to announce Sean Gehrke鈥檚 new role as assistant dean. Sean Gehrke has served over 20 years in higher education, holding a variety of administrative, research and assessment roles.
The 乱伦社区 is one of 471 colleges and universities recognized for outstanding efforts to increase nonpartisan student voter participation in the 2024 election.
The 乱伦社区 joins 471 campuses in being named a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting!
The UW has been recognized by the as a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting. The ALL IN Most Engaged Campuses for College Student Voting recognizes colleges and universities for outstanding efforts to increase nonpartisan student voter participation. The UW joins a cohort recognized by ALL IN for completing four core actions:
Participating in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge.
Sharing 2022 NSLVE Reports with campus voting data with ALL IN.
Developing and submitting a 2024 democratic engagement action plan with ALL IN.
Having a current signatory to ALL IN鈥檚 Higher Education Presidents鈥� Commitment to Full Student Voter Participation.
“This recognition not only celebrates the efforts of UW students, faculty and staff but also serves as a motivator to continue building sustainable programs that encourage lifelong civic involvement,” said Michael Soudmand, program manager of Student Civic Leadership Development at the Community Engagement & Leadership Education (CELE) Center. “Through collaborating with student organizations, gamifying civic engagement and leveraging the UW campus coalition with Democracy Dawgs to coordinate campus-wide voter engagement efforts, these strategies have created a dynamic, student-centered approach to nonpartisan democratic engagement, ensuring that students not only participate in the voting process but also develop the skills and mindset to become lifelong civic leaders,” Soudmand said.
“We are committed to our role as a public university to prepare engaged and educated citizens who are empowered to address and resolve critical societal issues,” said Fran Lo, executive director of the CELE Center. “This entails equipping students to develop their civic knowledge, skills and identities necessary to participate in civic life,” Lo said.
Huskies Vote
The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement. Campuses that join the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge complete a set of action items, with the support of ALL IN staff, to institutionalize nonpartisan civic learning and voter participation on their campus. The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge currently engages 10.8 million students from more than 1,075 institutions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The at the 乱伦社区 provides students with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to contribute to thriving communities; building authentic community and campus partnerships drive our work. is a coalition of students, staff, faculty, community members and civic leaders who are working to increase student voting rates and build an even stronger culture of civic and democratic engagement at the 乱伦社区.聽
These videos are designed to support students’ democratic engagement and cover such topics as how to vote, what other students think about voting and why it’s worth it.
Why vote?
This series of videos about why students, young people and all those eligible to vote should vote, features Eric Liu, American lawyer and CEO and co-founder of .
Get involved with civic engagement and voting resources at the .
Not Voting Is Voting
Voting Is a Path to Revolution
Responsibilities of a Citizen
Talking with students about voting
For this video, we asked students their thoughts on voter engagement and disengagement and why voting matters to them.
How to register to vote and vote
This video provides an overview of how to register to vote in Washington state and key things to know about how to vote at the UW. Links for students who are registered outside of Washington state are also included.
is a coalition of students, staff, faculty, community members and civic leaders who are working to increase student voting rates and build an even stronger culture of civic and democratic engagement at the 乱伦社区.聽
The at the 乱伦社区 provides students with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to contribute to thriving communities; building authentic community and campus partnerships drive our work.
