The ad – entitled “” – will air alongside the fan-favorite “” spot. The new spot focuses on how the 91̽�� and other Big Ten universities make America healthier, safer and more prosperous in a variety of ways, from discovering new medical treatments to developing healthier foods to driving economic growth.

“The 91̽�� is proud to join our Big Ten peers in showcasing the power of education, research and innovation through this collaborative campaign. Leveraging one of the most visible stages in college sports, these ads highlight to a broad audience how student-athlete competition unites people, while also amplifying the value of each Conference university’s impact,” said 91̽�� President Robert J. Jones, who was previously chair of the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors and, along with President Emerita Ana Mari Cauce, was a champion of the project.

“Through our Big Ten membership, the 91̽��gains visibility for its role—locally, nationally and beyond—in driving progress and fostering stronger communities nationwide,” Jones said.

Collectively, the 18 members of the Big Ten Conference educate more than 817,000 students and conduct $19.6 billion in research each year. The vast majority of that research is conducted thanks to the American people and their support for federal investments in the nation’s global leadership in health and innovation.

“The Big Ten Conference is an association of 18 world-class universities sharing a common mission of research, teaching and public service, alongside shared practices and policies that reinforce the priority of academics in the lives of its student-athletes,” said Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti. “We look forward to highlighting the impact our member institutions make every day in their communities and across the nation.”

“We Are Here” will air on linear and digital platforms during sporting events featuring Big Ten universities, utilizing airtime allocated to the Conference as part of its media agreements, including the Big Ten Network (BTN). From concept to completion, Valentina Gomez Bravo, executive creative director in (UMAC), led a multidisciplinary team of creative staff from Big Ten member universities in developing the ad under the auspices of the .

This new initiative builds on other Conference efforts, including research vignettes highlighting the impact of university research that air during select BTN sporting event broadcasts. That included vignettes about the 91̽��last season featuring the and .

“We Are Here” is the first in a planned series of three ads, which over the course of the series will feature footage from all 18 universities.

###

To download a broadcast-quality file of “We Are Here” please

About Big Ten Conference

The Big Ten Conference is an association of world-class universities whose member institutions share a common mission of research, graduate, professional and undergraduate teaching and public service. Founded in 1896, the Big Ten has sustained a comprehensive set of shared practices and policies that enforce the priority of academics in the lives of students competing in intercollegiate athletics and emphasize the values of integrity, fairness and competitiveness. The Big Ten Conference sponsors 28 official sports, 14 for men and 14 for women, and the broad-based programs of the 18 Big Ten institutions provide direct financial support for more than 14,000 student-athletes. For more information, visit .

About Big Ten Academic Alliance

The Big Ten Academic Alliance is the nation’s preeminent��model for effective collaboration among research universities. For more than half a century, these world-class institutions have advanced their academic missions, generated unique opportunities for students and faculty, and served the common good by sharing expertise, leveraging campus resources, and collaborating on innovative programs. Governed and funded by the Provosts of the member universities, Big Ten Academic Alliance programs and initiatives are coordinated by a staff from its Champaign, Illinois headquarters.

Big Ten member universities

• Indiana University
• Michigan State University
• Northwestern University
• The Ohio State University
• Pennsylvania State University
• Purdue University
• Rutgers University-New Brunswick
• University of California Los Angeles
• University of Illinois
• University of Iowa
• University of Maryland
• University of Michigan
• University of Minnesota
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• University of Oregon
• University of Southern California
• 91̽��
• University of Wisconsin-Madison

The 91̽�� is No. 8 on the 2025-26 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Global Universities rankings, ��on Tuesday. The 91̽��maintained its No. 2 ranking among U.S. public institutions.

The 91̽��also placed in the top 10 in eight subject areas ranked by U.S. News.

Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University topped the list in that order. The University of Oxford is No. 4, followed by University of Cambridge, the University of California, Berkeley, University College London and the UW. Yale University and Columbia University rounded out the top 10.

“Unquestionably, the 91̽��is advancing discovery that saves and improves lives, promotes prosperity, makes our nation stronger and expands human knowledge for the good of all,” said 91̽��President Ana Mari Cauce. “I’m very proud to see this extraordinary impact recognized through this latest ranking.”

The U.S. News ranking����—��based on data and metrics provided by Clarivate — weighs factors that measure a university’s global and regional research reputation and academic research performance. For the overall rankings, this includes bibliometric indicators such as the number of publications, citations and international collaboration.

The overall Best Global Universities ranking encompasses 2,250 institutions spread across 105 countries, according to U.S. News.

Here are the 91̽��fields of study that are in the top 10 in U.S. News’ subject rankings:

Molecular biology and genetics — No. 6

Clinical medicine — No. 6

Public, environmental and occupational health — No. 6

Microbiology — No. 7

Biology and biochemistry — No. 8 (up from 9)

Infectious diseases — No. 9

Marine and freshwater biology — No. 9

Social sciences and public health – No. 9

91̽�� President Ana Mari Cauce inspired graduates at the UW’s 150th Commencement ceremony on Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium on Saturday.

Cauce delivered her final address before ending her 10-year run as president and returning to the faculty.

“Graduates — right here, right now you stand on the edge of possibility, and you will be confronted with choices, challenges and opportunities that none of us can begin to imagine,” Cauce said. “That’s why all of us on this stage and in the audience are not only proud of your achievements, we are grateful — because the world urgently needs your voices and efforts.”

More than 7,400 91̽��graduates of the Class of 2025 — the most ever to pre-register — participated. About 50,000 family members and friends cheered the graduates from the Husky Stadium grandstands.

91̽��Tacoma held its commencement June 13 at the Tacoma Dome. 91̽��Bothell’s graduation ceremonies are scheduled for June 15 at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

See highlights from Husky Stadium, Hec Edmundson Pavilion and the Tacoma Dome in the photo gallery below.

President Cauce presented nearly 18,833 degrees to the Class of 2025 across all three 91̽��campuses’ ceremonies. Members of the 91̽��Board of Regents, deans and other representatives of the University’s 24 colleges and schools across all three campuses also will participate in the ceremonies.

The following data, drawn from preliminary information broken down by campus and prepared by the Office of the University Registrar, was presented at the Board of Regents’ June 12 meeting:��

• For work completed at the��Seattle��campus, about 15,412 degrees will be conferred, specifically: 8,712 bachelor’s degrees, 5,161 master’s degrees, 589 professional degrees, 17 Educational Specialist degrees, and 933 doctoral degrees.��
• ������ 91̽��Bothell, about 1,663 degrees will be conferred, including 1,425 bachelor’s degrees and 238 master’s degrees.��
• And at�� 91̽��Tacoma,��students will receive about 1,758 degrees, including 1,393 bachelor’s degrees, 350 master’s degrees, 12 Educational Specialist degrees and three doctoral degrees.��

Degrees are awarded to those who have completed academic requirements during the 2024-2025 academic year. Many colleges and schools also hold separate graduation programs and investiture ceremonies.��

The 91̽�� today announced that a planned welcome center on the Seattle campus will be named in honor of President Ana Mari Cauce, who will step down this summer after 10 years in the position and return to the faculty.����

The 30,000-square-foot Ana Mari Cauce Welcome Center will serve as a gateway for prospective and current students and families, alumni, visitors, and the public to learn about the University’s mission and impact. The building, to be located next to the Burke Museum, will be a starting place and gathering space for the thousands of people who visit the 91̽��each year, for the campus community to hold public events and lectures, and serve as a bridge to the University District, the city of Seattle and the entire state of Washington.��

“President Cauce has a long history of welcoming students, faculty and the community to the 91̽��. In naming the Welcome Center in her honor, we continue her spirit of uplifting the public mission of the UW,” said 91̽��Board of Regents Chair Blaine Tamaki. “We also are thanking President Cauce for the enormous impact she has had on the entire University.”��

For nearly 40 years, Cauce has been a respected 91̽��faculty member and leader. From her arrival in 1986 as an assistant professor of psychology, to the last decade serving as the UW’s 33rd president, she has put her talent and passion to work creating access to excellence for Washington’s students and advancing discovery and innovation with a global public impact. As president, Cauce championed the creation of the Welcome Center, and in naming the building for her, the 91̽��will connect her name with her legacy.����

“This Welcome Center means so much to me. When I first came to the 91̽��nearly 40 years ago, I was welcomed into this generous community with open arms. This center will carry that message to everyone — that we are the University for Washington, for the nation, and for the world,” Cauce said.����

“It is as simple as it is profound,” she continued. “Whoever you are and wherever you are from — the 91̽��welcomes you. I am deeply honored to be a part of that ongoing story.” ��

The Ana Mari Cauce Welcome Center will serve as a centralized starting point for information, campus tours and much more. More than 73,000 students applied to undergraduate programs at UW’s Seattle campus in 2025 and thousands of prospective students and their families visit campus each year. The building also will be a home base for the UW’s 600,000 living alumni, providing a gathering space and launching point for community events, public lectures, and more.����

Inside the Welcome Center, interactive exhibits will tell the story of the UW’s impact on the Puget Sound region, the state of Washington and the world. Drawing from all three campuses and 91̽��Medicine clinics and hospitals, it will share the UW’s history, the school’s values and the UW’s economic, cultural and societal contributions to the region, across the nation and around the world. New auditorium and collaborative event spaces will host new student orientations, alumni events, town halls, author readings, career networking and more.����

��Construction of the $61 million project will be primarily funded by philanthropic support, and $35 million already has been raised.��

“Over her long career at the UW, I’ve seen Ana Mari work tirelessly to build bridges, to share credit and elevate everyone around her, while rallying a global community to believe in the University’s collective purpose,” said Lisa Simonyi, vice chair of the 91̽��Foundation Board, who has been a key volunteer in the Welcome Center effort. “She’s done her work ethically and with humility. Charles and I are so privileged to know Ana Mari, count her as a friend and participate in this fitting tribute.”��

Lease Crutcher Lewis has been selected as general contractor and architect selection is underway. Construction is expected to begin in late 2026 and be completed in 2028.��

For more information, contact Victor Balta at balta@uw.edu or 206-543-2580.��

The 91̽�� on Tuesday announced a transformational gift from the estate of Stan and Alta Barer to the School of Law, expanding the couple’s namesake institute: The Barer Institute for Leadership in Law & Global Development. The gift will support the recruitment of additional international fellows, increase scholarships, endow faculty positions and create more global impact.

The $45 million gift, one of the largest bequests in 91̽��history, will cement the 91̽��School of Law’s reputation and impact as an internationally known center for excellence in global sustainable development. The gift will allow the Barer Institute to expand its work with mid-career attorneys from developing countries, enabling them to come to Washington state and then return to their homes to improve health outcomes, advocate for law and justice, boost education and spur economic development. Building on previous gifts the Barers made to the School of Law, the total endowment for the Institute is more than $50 million. The gift also renames the Institute, formerly known as the Barer Institute for Law & Global Human Services.

“We are honored to extend Stan and Alta’s inspiring legacy of global leadership development with the help of this transformative investment,” said 91̽��President Ana Mari Cauce. “The work of the Barer Institute to cultivate talented mid-career attorneys for the benefit of their home countries and the world is one of our law school’s most innovative and effective programs, and we are delighted to be able to expand its reach.”

Since its founding in 2010, the Barer Institute has contributed to the UW’s commitment to global engagement and impact, and upheld the University’s core value of educating a diverse student body to become responsible global citizens and future leaders.

In 2008, the Barers gave $4 million to establish an institute that would improve outcomes in governance and multi-dimensional development in low and lower-middle income countries and countries in political transition. Each year, the Institute brings three to four fellows to the 91̽��— there have been nearly 50 fellows since inception — where they earn a Master of Laws degree in Sustainable International Development.

“Receiving this gift during the School of Law’s 125th anniversary is special as we celebrate the transformative power of our graduates,” said Tamara Lawson, the Toni Rembe Dean of the School of Law. “Thanks to Stan and Alta’s generosity, the Institute will continue robust engagement and meaningful collaboration. 91̽��Law is furthering the life’s work of Stan Barer and his aim to impact law around the world.”

The new gift will build upon the Barer Institute’s original mission in several ways, including:

• Increasing support for fellowships and scholarships to recruit more students to the Institute and hire post-doctoral research fellows focused on human rights, global business and climate issues.��The gift also will help pay for international travel to support the fellows and other Institute participants.
• Funding to recruit Juris Doctor students to the Barer Fellows Program.
• Reinforcing 91̽��School of Law’s impact on sustainable development while expanding its work on the rule of law, the global climate challenge and sustainable business in a changing world.
• Endowing a faculty appointment for a Barer Chair to lead the Institute and participate in cross-disciplinary and global conferences, symposia and networking events. Anita Ramasastry will be the inaugural chair.
• Providing critical program and operating support to develop the Institute into a robust and renowned hub known internationally for promoting global leadership and the rule of law. This will include hiring an executive director to develop and implement programming, as well as an assistant director to help manage programming, and recruit and provide support to the students interested in careers focused on global issues in government, public service and sustainable business.��Jennifer Lenga-Long was tapped to serve in the inaugural executive director role.

“Stan’s impact on our state, region and the world cannot be overstated. One of his significant contributions as a leader was his work re-opening trade between the U.S. and China, and his dedication to finding shared values and connection in our global world. Stan’s lifelong work will continue to be felt around the world as this generous gift will empower global leaders and citizens to find innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing problems,” said former U.S. Ambassador to China and former Washington Gov. Gary Locke, a friend and colleague of Barer’s.

Stanley H. Barer, who went by Stan, was a world-renowned Seattle attorney, 91̽��Regent and 91̽��alumnus (Class of 1963), who died in 2021. He received the 2021 Gates Volunteer Service Award, the University’s highest honor for volunteer service, prior to his passing. His wife, Alta, preceded him in death in 2019.

The son of immigrants, Stan Barer grew up in Walla Walla before attending the UW, where he earned his undergraduate degree and then his Juris Doctor. Barer experienced bigotry, antisemitism and discrimination growing up and in the workplace when law firms wouldn’t hire Jews. He went to Washington, D.C., to work for Washington Sen. Warren G. Magnuson, eventually becoming his chief of staff. Barer learned that he could combat prejudice using the power of the law and he served as the U.S. Senate lawyer for the enactment the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act, helping to write the legislation. He also discovered that he needn’t be constrained by national borders, and that he could craft policy that supported global development. Barer was instrumental in re-establishing trade with China in 1979 and securing Seattle as a significant port-of-call.

Barer brought his years of experience to the UW’s highest levels of volunteer leadership, serving as a Regent from 2004 to 2012 and as a member of the 91̽��Foundation Board. He also held volunteer roles with 91̽��Law, 91̽��Medicine and the Burke Museum. Alta Barer also advocated for the transformative power of education and research. At the UW, she served on the Law Committee during a 91̽��fundraising campaign and, together with her husband, hosted numerous events at their home.

“This bequest exemplifies Stan and Alta’s belief in the power of education, the rule of law, and in the critical importance of focusing on what we have in common across cultures instead of what separates us,” said their daughter Leigh K. Barer. “We look forward to seeing the Institute expand and flourish because of their visionary gift.”

Together, Stan and Alta Barer left a decades-long legacy of philanthropy at the UW. They played central roles in the construction of William H. Gates Hall, the School of Law’s home. Across campus, the couple also endowed faculty positions in the College of the Environment, sponsored cancer research at 91̽��Medicine and supported graduate education in the sciences.

“The expanded Barer Institute will serve as a hub for graduate students interested in international careers in service of the global common good, including the advancement of human rights, global justice and the rule of law, and indigenous people’s rights. True to Stan’s vision, it will recognize and build upon multidisciplinary approaches to tackling the world’s greatest challenges by engaging with scholars and practitioners within and beyond the UW,” said Anita Ramasastry, director of the Barer Institute and the Henry M. Jackson Endowed Professor of Law.

For more information about The Barer Institute for Leadership in Law & Global Development, click .

91̽�� President Ana Mari Cauce delivered her final annual address of her term on Oct. 15. The audience was invited to attend at the Henry Art Galley and remotely via livestream.

President Cauce reflected on her presidency and outlined her priorities for the year ahead, saying her work as president has been “the honor of a lifetime.”

A recording of the speech and a transcript is available here.

When 91̽�� President Ana Mari Cauce launched the Population Health Initiative in 2016, she spoke in soaring, ambitious terms. “We have an unprecedented opportunity to help people live longer, healthier, more productive lives – here and around the world,” she said. 91̽��researchers have leapt at that opportunity, forging connections across the university, working side by side with community partners and breaking down traditional barriers to improving public health. ��

In just eight years, the Initiative has funded 227 innovative, interdisciplinary projects. Many are focused right here in Western Washington, where projects have helped in South Seattle, identified soil contaminants in community gardens in the Duwamish Valley, and improved how community leaders along the Okanogan River . Other projects have reached across the globe, targeting health disparities in Somalia, Peru, Brazil and more.����

“In this relatively short period of time, we’ve demonstrated the power that accrues when faculty and staff across the various areas of our campuses are working together and also exposing students to the cutting-edge work of tackling grand challenges,” Cauce said in her most recent .��

And they’re just getting started. Many PHI-funded projects are still in their earliest stages, leveraging initial funding to show proof-of-concept for their ideas and setting the stage for future work. Fourteen projects so far have received much larger grants to empower researchers and community partners to expand successful projects and scale up for greater impact.��

With the Initiative now a third of the way into its 25-year vision, 91̽��News checked in with three projects that recently received funding to scale their efforts.��

Spotting potential memory health issues in rural Washington

Diagnosing memory health issues in the best of circumstances is extraordinarily difficult. Patients typically make multiple visits to their doctor and take a many of which can produce flawed results — people who take the same test more than once, for example, will often score higher, potentially masking memory loss. ��

It’s even harder in rural America, which has a Patients seeking memory care might have to make a long, expensive trip to a major city, which leads many people to wait until a problem becomes apparent. By then, it’s often too late — modern treatments can slow the progress of memory loss, but there’s no way to regain what’s been lost.��

“So, how do you catch it early?” said , a 91̽��associate professor of psychology. “We give people an app to have them check for themselves.”����

Stocco and , director of the 91̽��Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, together with Hedderik van Rijn of the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, led the development of an online program that can measure a person’s memory and predict their risk of memory disorders. Like a flash-card app that helps students cram for a test, the program shows pictures and asks the user to recall what they saw a few minutes earlier. The app records how quickly and accurately the user responds to each question and makes the next one a little easier or more difficult.����

Researchers have long understood that a person’s ability to recall a specific memory tends to fade over time. This is called the “.” In�� Stocco and van Rijn found that they could measure individual differences in the slopes of such curves.�� The app works by comparing a person’s responses to an internal model of forgetting and adjusting the slope of the model until it matches the responses. The resulting slope can be used to estimate the likelihood that their memory is fading faster than normal.����

By taking the test regularly, a person can track their memory’s decline over time. But preliminary tests, Stocco said, have shown that even a single use can spot a potential problem.��

“Just by looking at a single lesson, based on the result, there’s almost a perfect correspondence between the speed of forgetting and your probability of being diagnosed by a doctor,” Stocco said. “It can be as accurate as the best clinical tests but, instead of taking two or three hours, this can be done in eight minutes, and you don’t need a doctor.”��

A Tier 3 grant from the Population Health Initiative and a collaboration with the will allow the researchers to share the app with up to 500 people in rural and counties. Participants can take the test on their own time, and the results will be shared with researchers. If a potential problem emerges, the researchers plan to invite participants to Seattle for an in-person evaluation.����

“It’s a solution that seems to solve these problems of early access and diagnostic bottlenecks,” Stocco said. “If this works, there’s no problem giving it to everybody in the state. We’re really interested in expanding and adding people from underrepresented populations and underrepresented areas, and the grant will allow us to do that.”��

Nancy Spurgeon of the Central Washington Area Health Education Center is also a collaborator on the project to test the prototype app, which is not yet available to the public.��

Revamping the Point-In-Time Count to better understand King County’s unhoused population��

For years, volunteers fanned across King County on a cold night each January, flashlights and clipboards in hand, searching for people sleeping outside. They’d also gather the shelter head counts for that night. Officially called the , this effort attempted to tally the number of people who lacked stable housing. This endeavor was replicated in cities across the country, and the results were combined to create a national count that influences how the federal government allocates funding.��

There’s just one problem – the count is Volunteers can’t possibly find everybody. It captures only a single moment in time, and collects only limited data on people’s circumstances or personal needs. A person sleeping in their car might need different services than a person who sleeps in a tent, and the count didn’t fully capture that distinction.��

So, a team of 91̽��researchers designed a better way to count. Their method, detailed in a published Sept. 4 in in the American Journal of Epidemiology, taps into people’s social networks to generate a more representative sample, which the researchers then ran through a series of calculations to estimate the total unhoused population.������

Called “respondent-driven sampling,” the method stations volunteers in common “hubs,” like libraries or community centers, and offers cash gift cards for in-person interviews and peer referrals. Volunteers collect detailed information on people’s circumstances and needs, giving each person three tickets to share with their unhoused peers. When those peers come in for an interview and show the ticket, the person who referred them receives another small reward. The new person gets a gift card and another three tickets.��

“This method gives people a more active voice in being counted. It’s a more humane way to count people, and it’s also voluntary,” said , a 91̽��associate professor of sociology and co-lead on the project. “The regular PIT (Point-In-Time) count just counted people. Now we can collect all sorts of information from people on their circumstances and their needs. Should policymakers want to, they could leverage that data to change service offerings.”��

The researchers received a Tier 2 grant to develop the system. They launched it in partnership with King County in 2022 and 2024, and were recently awarded a Tier 3 grant to test out the feasibility of running it quarterly.����

“Running the count quarterly allows us to estimate how many people move in and out of homelessness and whether there are seasonal changes, which are rarely measured,” Almquist said. “Also, people’s needs change depending on the time of year, and this method will help us better understand those rhythms.”����

Other cities and counties have expressed interest, the researchers said. The team has also begun to expand the effort, aiming to improve data across the broad spectrum of housing and homelessness services.����

“A very important byproduct of this work across schools and departments at 91̽��is that we can create an ecosystem of people and projects,” said , a 91̽��professor emeritus of health systems and population health and co-lead on the project. “We’ve spun off projects on sleep assessments, relationships with organizations that collect data on homelessness, and we’re mapping the sweeps of encampments in relationship to where people choose to be located. We have a whole network of homelessness-related research now.��

“These PHI grants gave us the fuel to ignite these projects.”��

Other collaborators are of the 91̽��Department of Health Systems and Population Health and of the VA Health Services Research and Development; of the 91̽��Departments of Sociology and Statistics; of the Center for Studies in Demography & Ecology and the eScience Institute; and Owen Kajfasz, Janelle Rothfolk and Cathea Carey of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority.��

Engaging community to mitigate flood risk in the Duwamish Valley��

More than a century ago, Seattle leaders set out to control and redirect the Duwamish River. They dredged the riverbed and dug out its twists and turns. Wetlands were filled in, the valley was paved over and a system of hydrology was severed. What had been a wild, winding river valley with regular flooding became an angular straightaway built for industry. But when 91̽��postdoctoral scholar looks out at the Duwamish, she sees the river fighting back.����

“The water was always there,” Jeranko said, “and now it’s fighting to come back up.”����

The river returned with devastating effect in December 2022, when a king tide and heavy rainfall , submerging homes and shuttering local businesses. The underserved neighborhood faces a significant risk of future floods.��

To mitigate that risk, the City of Seattle has updated the neighborhood’s stormwater drainage system and launched a new flood-warning system. But the , a nonprofit focused on river pollution and environmental health, saw an opportunity for something greater. The DRCC asked a team of 91̽��researchers to help develop flood adaptation plans that are community-based, culturally responsive and that enrich the local environment.����

“In the community, people don’t think there’s been enough engagement. There’s all this talk about flood mitigation, but all they see are sandbags,” Jeranko said. “So DRCC was like, ‘Look, we really need the people who live in the flood zone to understand the solutions.’ Because we have this long-lasting relationship with them, they see us as someone who’s able to provide a list of solutions, not favor one over the others, and do it in an informative way.”��

Boosted by a Tier 3 grant from the PHI, Jeranko and a team representing five 91̽��departments, the Burke Museum and the DRCC are engaging with the community. This fall, the team will present the neighborhood with an expansive list of flood mitigation options and encourage city leaders to consider people’s preferences. Early work shows the community would favor nature-based solutions, Jeranko said. Floodable parks, for example, would provide ecological, recreational and public health benefits to the entire community, while storing flood water during storms.����

“It has been wonderful to collaborate with the 91̽��team on this to make sure we are centering community voices in every single step of the planning for climate resilience,” said Paulina López, executive director of the DRCC. “Community leadership and representation is indispensable to bring climate justice to the Duwamish Valley.”��

Jeranko hopes their community-based model will be replicated by communities across the country facing similar risks from climate change and sea level rise.��

“Even though 91̽��and a lot of other universities really support and invest in community-engaged work, a lot of times it’s fundamentally hard to make that research happen,” Jeranko said. “But the Population Health Initiative grant was about supporting all those things.”��

Other collaborators on the project are , and of the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences; of the Department of Landscape Architecture; of the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, of the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences; of the Quaternary Research Center and the Burke Museum; and López and Robin Schwartz of the DRCC.��

For more information on any of the projects mentioned, or to learn more about the 91̽��Population Health Initiative, visit the Initiative’s website or contact Alden Woods at acwoods@uw.edu.����

91̽�� President Ana Mari Cauce announced Wednesday that she will step down from her leadership role at the conclusion of her second five-year term in June 2025 — a transition that has been planned for several years with the 91̽��Board of Regents — and return to her faculty position. In her upcoming final year in office, Cauce said she is committed to advancing the work of the 91̽��and ensuring a smooth transition.

Cauce’s career at the 91̽��began in 1986, when she was hired as an assistant professor of psychology. Her rise through the university shattered one glass ceiling after another: from department chair —��first in American Ethnic Studies and later in Psychology —��to dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, then provost before being selected as interim president and named the UW’s 33rd president in 2015. She became the first woman, first Latina, and first openly gay person to serve as president.

Beyond these historic firsts, the impact of her presidency touched all corners of campus life, enhancing access to higher education for students, advancing research and patient care, uniting disciplines to address global challenges, and fostering the UW’s relationships with communities near and far. Cauce also championed the Husky Promise, expanding access to higher education for all eligible students in Washington, leading to record increases in enrollment along with increasingly diverse classes.

“Ana Mari Cauce is an outstanding president, who has led the 91̽��through some of the most tumultuous times in its history. She has advanced the University’s public mission through partnerships with legislators, civic leaders, and the philanthropic community,” David Zeeck, Chair of the 91̽��Board of Regents said in a statement on behalf of the Board. “Few university presidents now serve 10 years. The University has been fortunate to have Ana Mari in this position since 2015.”

The Regents will share details about the search for a successor in the weeks to come.

While president, Cauce led the university during the COVID-19 pandemic, switching to remote learning to ensure continuous, high-quality instruction, and she maintained a laser focus on the student experience at the 91̽��while navigating tense challenges that often reflected the national mood around race, social justice and global events. As provost, she introduced the Husky Promise, which covers tuition at the 91̽��for Washington residents who need it most, and she partnered with leaders at the state’s other universities and colleges to advocate for the Washington College Grant, one of the most generous financial aid programs in the nation.

Under her leadership, the 91̽��has seen massive growth in its work toward advancing research and patient care, including the opening of the Center for Behavioral Health & Learning, joining the Weill Neurohub, opening the Brotman Baty Institute and the Garvey Institute for Brain Health Solutions, and expanding the Institute for Protein Design. She oversaw the establishment of the 91̽��School of Medicine-Gonzaga University Regional Health Partnership, and the formalizing of the UW’s partnership with Fred Hutch Cancer Center.

And Cauce took decisive action in the ever-changing world of college athletics, including moving to the Big Ten Conference to create more opportunity for 91̽��student-athletes to continue to compete in and win national championships.

“While I never imagined that my path would lead me here when I arrived as an assistant professor almost 40 years ago, the chance to lead this great public university has been an immense honor and a wonderful experience. I’m deeply grateful to be part of this incredible community that creates so much positive impact in the world,” Cauce said.

Raised in Miami after emigrating with her family from Cuba at the age of 3, Cauce earned a bachelor’s degree in English and psychology from the University of Miami and a Ph.D. in psychology, with a concentration in child clinical and community psychology, from Yale University.

She’s been widely recognized for her teaching and scholarship, earning the UW’s 1999 Distinguished Teaching Award, being elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in 2020 and the National Academy of Medicine in 2022.

Cauce said she plans to use the next year to shore up support for higher education in the Legislature, work to encourage civil discourse and learning across differences, advance interdisciplinary research and teaching, break down traditional academic silos, and ensure a smooth transition to the Big Ten.

“The 91̽��is a world leader in providing access to excellence for students and discovery and innovation that serves communities around the world,” Cauce said. “My focus now and in the year ahead is to ensure that we continue to serve that public mission and create positive change for future generations.”

For more information, contact Dana Robinson Slote at drslote@uw.edu or 206-457-6058.

What others are saying:

“I am deeply grateful for Ana Mari’s leadership and friendship during her tenure as 91̽��president. Ana Mari will depart with a long list of accomplishments that have strengthened our world-class university. Among the many, I especially appreciate her work to grow our Clean Energy Institute which has provided such an economic boost to our state and is helping new businesses take root all over the state, and her support for our incredible new, first-of-its-kind Center for Behavioral Health and Learning. She brought a refreshing change from the days when I was cut from the 91̽��basketball team. I wish Ana Mari the best of luck in all her upcoming endeavors.” — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee

“President Ana Mari Cauce’s staunch advocacy for women and underrepresented communities in STEM will have lasting impacts on future generations of alumni to come. Under her leadership, the 91̽�� doubled the Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science & Engineering and secured massive federal, state, and private investment to support the next generation of innovators in semiconductor manufacturing and quantum computing. We owe Dr. Cauce a debt of gratitude for all she has done for 91̽��to continue its legacy in producing world-class problem solvers.” — U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.)

“Ana Mari Cauce’s record at the 91̽�� is that of a champion for the university, its students, and its home city, continuously growing as a leader from faculty to administrator to a nationally recognized and respected university president. For me, as mayor, and for my wife, as a former regent, it has been an honor to work with someone who is so passionate about the 91̽��, someone who is such an effective advocate for our cherished alma mater, and someone we are also lucky to call a friend.” — Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell

“From day one of her presidency of the 91̽��, Ana Mari Cauce asked a vitally important question — ‘What can the 91̽��do to help the people and places you represent?’�� Over the years, on project after project, in community after community, Ana Mari and her team stepped up to make a difference — not only for 91̽��students but for the entire state. She consistently showed the profound impact of higher education and innovation. I’m grateful for her leadership and partnership, and I look forward to what she will continue to do for the 91̽��during her final year as President.” — Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.)

“Thank you to President Ana Mari Cauce for her years of service to the 91̽�� and our entire state. Her tremendous leadership has made a lasting impact both on and off campus. And she has helped make important progress on expanding access to higher education and advancing research and innovation.” — Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.)

“I have always appreciated that Ana Mari is transparent, clear minded and principled in ensuring the 91̽��is serving the state of Washington and that she believes 100% in our public university working for the people and the common good. She believes diversity is necessary for everyone to achieve academic excellence and for the UW’s public engagement, and her authentic connections with students, faculty, staff and the broader community have been vital in helping the university navigate its most difficult challenges.” — Alexes Harris, 91̽��sociology professor and Faculty Regent

“Throughout her tenure, President Cauce has been a skilled relationship-builder, a champion for student success, and a strong advocate for the importance of public universities like the 91̽��. On behalf of the 91̽��Foundation Board, we are grateful for her exemplary leadership these past 10 years. The 91̽�� has reached august levels under President Cauce’s leadership, and while we continue to strive, we must acknowledge that this university has never been viewed so highly worldwide. We are all looking forward to walking alongside her as we continue to advocate for the 91̽��in the year ahead.” — Ken Denman, 91̽��Foundation Board chair

“As a proud 91̽��Tacoma alumnus and veteran, it has been a privilege to work alongside President Cauce and witness her commitment to engaging students and alumni from all three campuses. Under her leadership, she has prioritized listening to alumni voices here in Washington, as well as around the world. We appreciate all she has done to build a strong 91̽��community, bringing us closer to the university and to one another.” — Joe M. Davis II, ‘16, 91̽�� Alumni Association Board President

“It is a privilege to work with President Ana Mari Cauce. During her presidency, which will span a decade when she completes her term next year, she has led the 91̽�� through several years of unprecedented challenges for higher education. The hallmark of her leadership is her profound commitment to the students, faculty, staff and alumni of the UW, where she has served 38 years as a faculty member and in various leadership roles, including department chair, dean, provost and president. Her remarkable legacy is apparent in the university’s tremendous success in research, education and service and also in the lives of thousands of the 91̽��community members she touched.” — Barbara R. Snyder, President of the Association of American Universities

The 91̽�� is at the forefront of an international effort to innovate the semiconductor industry while building a skilled U.S.-based workforce to design and manufacture chip technology. UPWARDS for the Future will support work already underway in the UW’s Washington Nanofabrication Faciliity. Video credit: Kiyomi Taguchi, 91̽��News

The 91̽�� is at the forefront of an international effort to innovate the semiconductor industry while building a skilled U.S.-based workforce to design and manufacture chip technology.

Part of a landmark education partnership that was in May 2023 at the G7 meeting in Japan, the effort brings together researchers and faculty from the U.S. and Japan to support the University Partnership for Workforce Advancement and Research & Development in Semiconductors (UPWARDS) for the Future project. Micron Technology and Tokyo Electron Limited, as founding industry partners, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and universities together are investing over $60 million for the five-year project. Many of the participants are attending kick-off activities at the 91̽��this week.

“With our University’s proven track record of using public research investment to spur economic and technological growth, the 91̽��is excited to be taking the lead in expanding our capacity to educate professionals and drive discovery in the critical field of semiconductors,” said 91̽��President Ana Mari Cauce. “We’re grateful to Senator Cantwell for her leadership and for the collaboration of our partners.”

Modern technology — including household appliances, automobiles, computers and defense systems — relies on semiconductors. The semiconductor was invented in the U.S., yet today the U.S. produces about only 10% of the world’s supply. Recognizing the economic and national security risks this poses, U.S. policymakers passed the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) & Science Act in 2022 to strengthen the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem.

“Our nation’s success in advanced technologies depends on having a skilled workforce. The 91̽�� will help establish the Pacific Northwest as a leader by training the more than 90,000 students, faculty, and skilled professionals needed to build the most advanced chips right here in the United States,” said Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., who was instrumental in passing the landmark CHIPS & Science bill. “If we want to lead the world tomorrow, we must invest in worker training today.”

Boise, Ida.-based Micron and the partner universities will jointly recruit new faculty members, named as UPWARDS Professors, who will work on high-impact research projects with the industry partners. In addition to their research responsibilities, UPWARDS Professors will also contribute to curriculum development and other UPWARDS for the Future activities, including advising exchange students and graduate fellows. The first cohort of UPWARDS professors, all women, will also participate in industry-led mentoring programs to help gain valuable insights supporting in the advancement of their own careers. The grants will also support graduate fellowships and provide research experiences for undergraduate students.

Initiatives like UPWARDS for the Future prioritize expanding the STEM talent pipeline to reach groups that are underrepresented in the semiconductor industry today. This vision for UPWARDS for the Future aligns with 91̽��efforts to close the STEM gender gap, establish pathways into higher education and facilitate new programs dedicated to attracting and retaining historically underrepresented groups. President Cauce and College of Engineering Dean Nancy Albritton are members of the national Education Group for Diversification and Growth in Engineering Consortium, or EDGE. And, last summer, the 91̽��joined the Northwest University Semiconductor Network, led by Micron, to grow the next generation of semiconductor experts, by enhancing experiential learning opportunities in the semiconductor industry, and prioritizing access for underrepresented students, particularly in rural and tribal communities.

“We are proud to be part of this innovation partnership and to lead the NSF grant for UPWARDS. As Washington state’s leading educator of engineers and as a leader in chip engineering and workforce development for the global innovation economy, it is an honor to work collaboratively with academic and industry partners to drive advancements in this crucial scientific field,” Albritton said.

In addition to the UW, the UPWARDS for the Future partnership includes five U.S. institutions: Boise State, Purdue, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology and Virginia Tech; and five Japanese universities: Hiroshima University, Kyushu University, Nagoya University, Tohoku University and Tokyo Institute of Technology. The 91̽��will share the $10 million NSF grant with the five U.S. institutions, while Micron’s and Tokyo Electron’s $20 million gifts will be shared among the 11 U.S. and Japanese institutions.

“The UPWARDS for the Future program sets a prime model of government-industry-academia partnership, propelling the development of the U.S. semiconductor technology workforce. This initiative stands out with an emphasis on international collaboration, providing students with invaluable insights and experience into the industry’s international supply chain dynamics,” said , 91̽��professor of both electrical and computer engineering and physics, as well as a faculty member of the 91̽��Institute for Nano-Engineered Systems. Li will lead UW’s efforts supporting UPWARDS for the Future.

The UPWARDS program includes five pillar activities, including: Semiconductor Curriculum Design and Implementation; Expanding Women Workforces in Semiconductors; Experiential Learning; US-Japan International Student Faculty Exchange; and Memory-centric Research Projects. At this week’s workshop, the 11 institutions aim to establish across-the-board plans on student exchange, curriculum sharing and standardization, and research collaboration.

Semiconductor engineering is the second 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 Fumio Kishida made a commitment to advance U.S.-Japan science and technology cooperation. The 91̽��also is the lead partner on the Cross Pacific AI Hub partnership announced on April 10, to lead innovation and technological breakthroughs in artificial intelligence. Both UPWARDS for the Future and the Cross Pacific AI Hub are cornerstones of the UW’s global impact, building lasting relationships with peer institutions and industry on both sides of the Pacific to support 91̽��students, faculty and staff on work to address critical issues.

For more information, contact Li at upwards@uw.edu.

Here’s what other leaders said about UPWARDS for the Future:

“Economic security depends on the ‘3 M’s’: machines, minerals, and minds. The UPWARDS network is developing the workforce that we need to secure semiconductor supply chains and delivering on the promise made by President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida to elevate U.S.-Japan cooperation in advanced science and technology. This innovative university-corporate partnership has become the model for long-term collaboration in transformative technologies.” — U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel

“This past year we have accelerated our collaboration with our ecosystem partners. Collaboration between the UPWARDS universities will cultivate the next generation of the high-tech workforce, ushering in an exciting new era of semiconductor research and manufacturing in the United States and Japan. Micron has made it a priority to increase opportunities for all students, making sure that women, students from underrepresented populations and those from rural or economically disadvantaged communities have equitable access to engineering and science degrees. The impacts of UPWARDS will be far-reaching as we work to meet the demand for semiconductor industry talent over the next two decades.” — April Arnzen, executive vice president and chief people officer, Micron Technology

“Tokyo Electron (TEL) is proud to participate in the U.S.-Japan University Partnership for Workforce Advancement and Research & Development in Semiconductors (UPWARDS) for the Future Program. The objectives of the program are in line with TEL’s vision to leverage our expertise as an industry-leading semiconductor equipment manufacturer and pursue technological innovation in semiconductors, thereby contributing to the development of a dream-inspiring society. Through participation in this program, we aim to help develop a diverse set of skilled individuals capable of leading future innovation in semiconductor technology. The UPWARDS Program is also part of our ongoing efforts in the US to collaborate with industry partners and help grow the talent pipeline for technicians, engineers, computer scientists, and other professionals who will be in high demand as the domestic semiconductor industry, its manufacturing base, and associated R&D activities grow.” —��Alex Oscilowski, president, TEL Technology Center of America

The 91̽�� has appointed Pat Chun to serve as its 17th Director of Athletics, 91̽��President Ana Mari Cauce announced today. Chun has served in the same role at Washington State University since 2018, during which time he was named the Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year, 10 different WSU sports programs made NCAA tournament appearances and the school won six Pac-12 Championships.��

Chun will begin his duties at the 91̽��on Wednesday, March 27, and will be introduced at a news conference on Thursday, March 28.����

“Pat has a track record of success and a wealth of experience — from 15 years in the Big Ten and service on national groups guiding the future of college sports, to securing community support and a commitment to the well-being of student-athletes. He knows our state, is highly respected in national athletics circles and has an eye for talent. I’m so happy he’ll be joining us to lead 91̽��Athletics into the future,” said 91̽��President Ana Mari Cauce.��

“It is truly an honor for my family and I to join the 91̽�� family, and I look forward to doing my part to help elevate the athletics program and the University,” said Chun. “I am grateful to President Cauce for the opportunity and will work closely with our campus partners, our coaches and our staff to help our student-athletes have an incredible experience at UW. Our transition to the Big Ten is a critical step in our journey and great things lie ahead for the Huskies!”��

Earlier this year, Chun was appointed to the College Football Playoff Selection Committee and also serves on the NCAA Division I Council. He previously served on the NCAA Division I Transformation Committee and is a co-founder of the Asian American & Pacific Islander Athletics Alliance. Pat is currently the president of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and co-chairs the Pac-12 ImPACt Leadership Council, which focuses on college sports as a vehicle for positive social change.����

At Washington State, Chun oversaw successes in competition and the classroom, and secured record levels of donor support during this time. His appointment at WSU made him the first Asian American athletics director to lead a Power Five program.��

Chun began his career in a series of roles at The Ohio State University lasting from 1997 to 2012, ultimately serving as Executive Associate Athletics Director. During his time at OSU overseeing external relations, he led three consecutive record fundraising years and led negotiations of what was at the time the largest multimedia rights deal in intercollegiate athletics history.��

After OSU, Chun led the Florida Atlantic University athletics program for five-and-a-half years, during which time the Owls won multiple individual and team championships, many national and conference awards, and raised the department-wide GPA to a new high.��

“I am excited about forming an elite partnership and special relationship with Pat Chun. It was critical for us to hire an extraordinary leader who is all about the W.  Pat is about work, winning and the state of Washington. He is someone who is extremely knowledgeable and on the cutting edge of the new frontier of college football. Most of all, he is a proven winner. He knows what it takes to compete and win consistently at the highest levels. And he brings intimate knowledge of the Big Ten from his time at Ohio State. I look forward to sharing ideas together, to learning together, to winning together and to bringing multiple championship trophies to Montlake together,” said 91̽��Head Football Coach Jedd Fisch.��

“I’m excited to have Pat Chun as our new Director of Athletics. He truly centers student-athletes’ well-being, academic and athletic pursuits. From his engagement on the D1 Transformation Committee to chairing the Pac-12 ImPACt Leadership Council, he has shown his thoughtfulness for the future of college sports. He is a perfect fit for our 91̽��culture and values and will move us forward into the Big Ten,” said Alexes Harris, a professor of sociology at the 91̽��who serves as 91̽��Faculty Regent and Faculty Athletics Representative.��

“Pat is an outstanding leader and administrator who possesses exceptional knowledge of the turbulent landscape of college athletics. He is an excellent team builder who has a keen eye for recognizing and hiring top-notch coaches and administrators. Not only does Pat have extensive knowledge and experience in the Big Ten, but he also has deep ties to the Pacific Northwest and Seattle. With so many changes occurring, Pat is the perfect person to help navigate and take 91̽��to new heights as we enter the Big Ten this fall,” said Chris Petersen, former 91̽��head football coach.��

Chun grew up in Strongsville, Ohio, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State and a master’s degree from Duquesne University. His wife, Natalie, is also an Ohio State alumnus and they have three daughters — Vanna, Kennedy and Gretta.��

For more information, contact David Rey at drey94@uw.edu.��