Supporting Student Spaces

Welcome to the spring 2023 issue of Viewpoint. This time of year, the campus transforms in many ways. The iconic landscape fills with flowers, the cherry trees bloom and graduating students are picking up their caps and gowns and preparing for commencement. Few things are as rewarding as receiving a hard-earned degree. As graduating students reflect on their time and experiences on campus, they often talk about the spaces where they felt seen, heard and valued. Current students and alumni tell us time and again about the importance of not just what they studied, but where they spent their time. This is particularly true for American Indian/Alaska Native, underrepresented, low-income and first-generation students and students formerly in foster care.

This issue of Viewpoint highlights some of the spaces at the UW where students can find a home away from home, be supported and find belonging. From the OMA&D Instructional Center, where students access academic support and community, to the Family Room at UW Tacoma, with its focus on space for Indigenous members of the campus community, to the new walkin location on the Seattle campus for the Brotherhood and Sisterhood Initiatives. In addition, we welcome new staff and faculty, honor exceptional MAP scholars and learn more about the celebrated work of local artist Preston Wadley.

Finally, I invite you to join OMA&D and the Friends of the Educational Opportunity Program on May 17 for our annual Celebration. We will recognize exceptional students and honor the 2023 Odegaard Award recipient Dr. Norma Zavala (’80, ’02, ‘07). Find out more about Dr. Zavala’s lifelong dedication to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in education, and how to register for OMA&D’s signature event on the back of the magazine. We hope to see you there.

Spring 2023

4333 Brooklyn Ave. NE, Box 359559 Seattle, WA 98195-9559

Phone: 206-543-0540

Fax: 206-685-0611

Email: vwpoint@ uw.edu

Viewpoint on the Web: UWalum.com/viewpoint

VIEWPOINT STAFF

Paul Rucker, ’95, ’02 PUBLISHER

Hannelore Sudermann, ’96 EDITOR

Ken Shafer

ART DIRECTOR

Caitlin Klask WRITER

Matt Hagen, April Hong CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Nancy Joseph, Eric Moss, Shamaar Thomas, ’22 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

VIEWPOINT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Rickey Hall

Vice President for Minority Affairs & Diversity University Diversity Officer

Tamara Leonard

Associate Director Center for Global Studies

Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies

Eric Moss Director of Communications

Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity