Andrew Meltzoff elected to National Academy of Education

, professor of psychology at the 91探花and co-director of the , has been elected to the National Academy of Education. Members are selected based on outstanding scholarship or leadership related to education.

Members serve on expert study panels that address pressing issues in education. They also engage in the Academy鈥檚 professional development fellowship programs.

Meltzoff is a highly lauded researcher and internationally renowned expert on infant and child development. His research reaches beyond the bounds of psychology and investigates how role models and cultural stereotypes of different kinds impact child development, with implications for education.

鈥淎dults have a drive to teach others, and young children have a drive to learn,鈥� Meltzoff said. 鈥淵et education in schools often misfires. Scientific advances in psychological and brain science should help us do a better job. Our children can鈥檛 wait, and our future literally depends on how well we feed, foster and embolden our children鈥檚 natural proclivity to learn. Social justice and equity issues can and should be addressed through education.鈥�

Meltzoff鈥檚 election to the National Academy of Education adds to his long list of distinctions, including the 2020 William James Fellow Award from the Association for Psychological Science, given to honor a lifetime of significant intellectual contributions to the basic science of psychology.

Dean Edwina Uehara selected for 2023 lifetime achievement award

, dean of the 91探花 , received the 2023 lifetime achievement award from the . The award recognizes her contributions to the social work profession in Washington state and across the country.

鈥淩eceiving NASW-Washington鈥檚 Lifetime Achievement Award is an incredible honor, and one that is doubly meaningful to me,鈥� Uehara said. 鈥淔irst, because it recognizes the proudest professional title I hold as a 鈥榮ocial worker,鈥� and second, because it鈥檚 an NASW-Washington state award. I am a Washingtonian though and through.鈥�

Uehara鈥檚 career reflects a lifelong commitment to antiracism, civil rights and the development of culturally grounded mental health services. During her tenure, the School of Social Work became widely recognized as an innovative leader in advancing social and economic justice and enhancing quality of life through education, research and community engagement.

Citing her transformative leadership, the nomination letter spotlights how Uehara鈥檚 social work initiatives, including the , the , the and more. The letter praised Uehara as 鈥渁 positive champion for the social work profession.鈥�

Uehara will step down as dean on June 30 after 17 years of leadership and service, becoming the longest-serving dean in the School鈥檚 history. She will rejoin the faculty to pursue her research, teaching and leadership in the field of behavioral health.

Ed Kolodziej selected as finalist for Frontiers Planet Prize

, professor of at UW, represented the United States as national champion for the inaugural . The selection from 65 U.S. applicants elevated him into consideration for the international prize at the Frontiers Forum Live in Switzerland in April 2023. The prize competition recognizes scientists whose research contributes to the sustainable future of the planet.

Kolodziej led a team of researchers at 91探花Tacoma, Washington State University-Puyallup, and elsewhere who discovered 6PPD-quinone, a highly toxic and previously unidentified compound that was killing coho salmon in urbanized Puget Sound streams. The discovery and the shockwave it sent through the tire industry, which uses the compound in all tire rubber, ultimately earned Kolodziej鈥檚 team the nomination.

鈥淲e believe that our work on understanding the contributions of tire rubber to environmental pollution is important,鈥� said Kolodziej. 鈥淚 look forward to the day when we have 鈥榮almon safe tires鈥� made from chemicals that are safe for both people and the environment.鈥�

Kolodziej recently travelled to Switzerland for the announcement of the prize鈥檚 international awards, which come with $1.1 million to put toward future research. Kolodziej was not selected, but said he was grateful for the global interest in his research.

鈥淚t was an honor to represent the United States for the Frontier Planet Prize,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd I was thankful that our wonderful research team and many collaborators were recognized in this fashion.鈥�

Spencer, who has been serving as interim dean since Jan. 1, succeeds Edwina Uehara, who has served as dean for 17 years and will return to the faculty.

Richards highlighted Spencer鈥檚 ongoing commitment to the school鈥檚 support of justice and equity to achieve lasting and meaningful change.

鈥淭he 91探花School of Social Work plays a critical 鈥� and growing 鈥� role in supporting the behavioral health and human services workforce in our state. President Ana Mari Cauce and I are grateful to Dean Uehara for her outstanding leadership, and we are confident that Dr. Spencer will propel this work forward in a collaborative and thoughtful manner,鈥� Richards said. 鈥淲e look forward to his leadership and vision, especially in the areas of inclusion and social justice.鈥�

Spencer joined the School of Social Work faculty in 2018 where he was associate dean of academic affairs and Presidential Term Professor as well as the director of Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and Oceania Affairs at the .

鈥淚 am extremely grateful for the confidence and support from Provost Richards and President Cauce, and the faculty and staff at the School of Social Work,鈥� Spencer said. 鈥淚 will work tirelessly to build upon the legacy of Dean Uehara and to promote the values of social justice and anti-oppressive social work practice through innovation and impact.鈥�

Spencer, a Native Hawaiian or K膩naka Maoli, has focused his research, teaching and service on health equity, including physical and mental health, access to services, the role of racism and discrimination, and culturally centered, community-based, participatory research. His current research examines the added benefit of integrating Native Hawaiian healers into primary care. He also works with colleagues at the University of Hawai鈥檌 to promote food security and well-being through the use of backyard aquaponics systems among Native Hawaiians.

Before joining the UW, Spencer was professor and associate dean at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. He earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree from the University of Hawai鈥檌 at M膩noa, a master鈥檚 in social work from the University of Texas, Austin, and a doctorate in social welfare from the 91探花. He did a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan in the National Institute of Mental Health鈥檚 Center on Poverty, Risk and Mental Health.

The future of our health and the health of the communities we live in relies, in many ways, on students in the health sciences. The education and experiences that future doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, social workers and public health experts receive will to a large degree shape how those professionals work and work together when solving problems affecting our health.

And while the 91探花鈥檚 highly ranked health sciences schools have long focused on interdisciplinary education and training students to be part of seamlessly integrated teams, the space where much of that training takes place on UW鈥檚 Seattle campus has been in need of a serious upgrade.

That upgrade is now 鈥渙fficially鈥� underway as deans of the 91探花Health Sciences schools 鈥� Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health and Social Work 鈥� and Washington State legislators celebrated construction of the on the UW鈥檚 Seattle campus with a small, physically distanced groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 27.

鈥淭his new facility will enable our students across the full range of health sciences to work in a setting that better mirrors the way they鈥檒l be engaging in patient care as professionals,鈥� said 91探花President Ana Mari Cauce. 鈥淭his will result in better care for the patients they serve, because we鈥檝e seen the benefits that come from coordinating various health disciplines, rather than keeping them siloed.鈥�

The Health Sciences Education Building will be where students learn integrated patient care聽in an integrated training facility. The 100,000 square-foot, four-story, $100 million, fully modern facility received $70 million from the Washington state Legislature. The University is seeking an additional $30 million in private support from community members through and donations to complete funding for the building.

鈥淚 am proud to have worked with my legislative colleagues to support this project with nearly $70 million in state capital funds. Ensuring that 91探花health sciences students have access to state-of-the-art interdisciplinary training facilities is critical to our state鈥檚 health care workforce pipeline,鈥� said Sen. David Frockt (D-46th District).

The new building is designed around flexible spaces that allow for 21st-century teaching techniques, including high-tech learning facilities used for computer simulation, mock treatment labs and an ultra-modern Anatomy Lab Suite with virtual anatomy capabilities. The facility will also enable robust remote learning access for students and professionals who are part of the UW鈥檚 multi-state medical education program 鈥� WWAMI, which stands for the states served by the School of Medicine: Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho.

In addition, the health sciences deans envision a building with the capacity for students to immediately share ideas, images and projects in classrooms and in their working teams.聽The finished building will also have a library extension that is integrated into the main classroom floor to help students immediately engage evidence in their learning, gain skills in navigating resources and benefit from coaching about how to use library tools, resources and in their project work.

Fifty years ago, the average person was under the care of three health-care professionals. Now, the average healthy person relies on 16 professionals for their overall health care. Consequently, integrated patient care is increasingly necessary for the future of health sciences. The building will be a hub that fosters interaction, collaboration and cutting-edge learning necessary for recruiting and retaining talented students and faculty 鈥� critical to maintaining the UW鈥檚 top-ranked programs.

鈥淭he Health Sciences Education Building is a state-of-the-art facility that will prepare the next generation of professionals for a more collaborative, more collegial role as part of interprofessional teams to address today鈥檚 health care needs. From pandemics to health equity, the nation鈥檚 first integrated health sciences training facility will provide students with a high-tech learning space to develop solutions to global issues affecting population health,鈥� said School of Nursing Executive Dean Azita Emami, who is also chair of the Board of Health Sciences Deans.

The building will be completed in May 2022.

For more information contact Jake Ellison at Jbe3@UW.edu.

The two are among 14 new fellows to be inducted by the organization, which honors scholarship, leadership and high-impact work in the field. Uehara, dean since 2006 and the inaugural holder of the Ballmer Endowed Deanship in Social Work, was named an academy honorary fellow earlier this year for her contributions to the academy’s Grand Challenges for Social Work initiative. She is the first person to hold both fellow and honorary fellow status in the academy.

The Grand Challenges initiative promotes science-based efforts to achieve social progress on 12 fronts, from health equity to family violence. Uehara proposed the initiative in 2012 and has been a leader in its implementation; the initiative has spurred research across the field. During her tenure as dean, the School of Social Work has forged important strategic partnerships with other departments at the 91探花and with the public and private sectors to advance cross-disciplinary learning, prevention science and innovative solutions.

A member of the 91探花faculty since 1990, Uehara was the School of Social Work’s first dean of color, following years as acting dean and associate dean for educational initiatives. Under her leadership, the School鈥檚 advanced social work program聽was ranked third in the nation in 2017 by U.S. News and World Report, and No. 1 in the world for its scholarship and impact by the Center for World University Rankings.

“I鈥檓 thrilled and honored by this recognition,” Uehara said. “I stand with the Academy and my distinguished colleagues in supporting the very best scholarship to solve the daunting social challenges we face today.”

Fredriksen Goldsen has been recognized internationally for her research on health, aging and longevity. She currently leads 鈥溾�濃�� the first national longitudinal project to explore how life experiences relate to changes in aging, health and well-being among LGBTQ adults aged 50 and older. The study is funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Aging.

Fredriksen Goldsen has devoted much of her career to investigating the health and well-being of historically disadvantaged communities, which led to a number of national and international studies. This fall, she was awarded $3.7聽million over five years by the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Aging to investigate LGBTQ older adults living with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease and their caregivers. It is the first federally funded study to develop and test interventions targeting this community.

“The 91探花School of Social Work鈥檚 spirit of innovation and collaboration has provided rich support for my work,” Fredriksen Goldsen said. 鈥淚t is an honor, both for me as well as the courageous lives of those historically disadvantaged individuals and families who 鈥媋re such a vital part of my research, to receive this recognition by the Academy.鈥�

New fellows will be inducted at the Society for Social Work and Research annual conference in Washington, D.C., in January.

is giving $100,000 for suicide prevention in six underserved rural communities. The foundation announced the grant Wednesday at its annual award celebration.

“Receiving the award is a dream come true,” said , Forefront co-founder and faculty director. “We have always known that if we want to reduce the suicide rate in Washington, there needs to be a strong focus on rural communities. This award allows Forefront the opportunity to significantly expand its outreach.”

The grant will enable Forefront, an interdisciplinary organization based in the 91探花’s School of Social Work, to bring suicide prevention聽training to professionals and lay people in six underserved聽rural聽communities and expand its grassroots network to offer greater assistance through bereavement support, and policy and media outreach.

Forefront will reach out to 10 sparsely populated counties — in some cases combining adjoining counties — in all four corners of the state. It hopes to hold three trainings on the state’s coast and Olympic Peninsula, and three more in southeast, northeast and north central Washington.

Its multi-pronged approach will address a number of the factors that contribute to , including isolation, stigma and lack of access to mental health care.

Reaching professionals like doctors, nurses and teachers will make a critical difference, especially in rural areas that are far from mental health facilities, supporters say.

“If people on the frontlines know the risk signs and how to respond, there will be more opportunities for people to reach out and find help,” said retired state Rep. Lynn Kessler of Hoquiam and a Forefront advisory board member.

Over the two-year life of the grant, Forefront plans to train about 1,260 individuals, including policy advocates, grief-support volunteers, school staff and health care professionals. The grant also allows communities to receive technical assistance and support from Forefront.

“Forefront submitted a compelling proposal to our membership. Their comprehensive and sustainable approach to suicide prevention will certainly have a positive impact on rural communities in Washington state. We are proud to support their work,” said Washington Women’s Foundation President Beth McCaw.

Forefront advances innovative approaches in suicide prevention through policy change, professional training, campus and school-based interventions, media outreach, research and program evaluation in Washington state. The organization to provide online resources and support to help suicidal people.

“I am thrilled to see Forefront’s innovative work recognized and advanced,” said , dean of the 91探花School of Social Work who helped represent Forefront at the ceremony. “This generous grant will enable one of the school’s outstanding research and innovation centers to reach the rural areas of our state with its powerful evidence-based suicide-prevention programs.”

The Washington Women’s Foundation Pooled Fund Grant Awards are determined annually by a vote of the foundation’s full membership. Its 500-plus women members have invested $15 million of their own resources in nonprofit organizations over the last 20 years. Membership is open to all women interested in philanthropy.

###

For more information:

Matt Taylor
Forefront executive director
taylor15@uw.edu, 206-543-1016 (office) or 406-5440-7305 (mobile)

Sue Lockett John
Forefront communications
suej@uw.edu or 206-919-9677

Megan Davies
Washington Women’s Foundation director of programs and communications
megan@wawomensfoundation.org, 206-407-2174

Lynn Kessler
Retired state representative (24th Legislative District) and former executive director of the United Way of Grays Harbor
kessler24@aol.com, 360-533-1944