Telling the Story of Diversity at the University of Washington / Spring 2015
BE THE FIRST The story of five alumni trailblazers
SPRING 2015
viewpoint
:: Telling the Story of Diversity at the University of Washington
P U B L I S H E D B Y T H E U W A LU M N I A S S O C I AT I O N I N PA R T N E R S H I P W I T H T H E U W O F F I C E O F M I N O R I T Y A F FA I R S & D I V E R S I T Y
According to Rev. Jesse Jackson, the tech industry is the next frontier for the civil rights movement. During his week in the Seattle area in December discussing diversity in the tech workplace—including a meeting with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella—Jackson met with the UW community at a forum in Kane Hall. Jackson praised Microsoft’s efforts at addressing inequities in its workforce during his talk. Jackson also suggested that tech companies could use more resources to fund technology education initiatives in the U.S., instead of recruiting overseas employees by extending H-1 B visas. “There is no talent shortage,” said Jackson, “there is an opportunity shortage.”
In This Issue Give a HART 3 Homecoming Royalty 5 Be The First 6 Jim Clauss
[ The Viewpoint Interview ]
13
2015 Odegaard Award 16 ON THE COVER | Jeet Bindra arrived in the U.S. in 1969 from India with $8 in his pocket. But thanks to his experience as a UW graduate student and his drive to succeed, Bindra, ’70, went on to become the first Indian to hold a CEO position in the U.S. oil industry.
2
V I E W P O I N T : : U Wa l u m . c o m / v i e w p o i n t
R ON WU RZER
MAP Scholarship Recipients 14
Give a HART
AN IL KAPAHI
W
HEN SHWE ZIN was finishing at South-
ridge High School in Kennewick, she decided to apply to the UW. Given that Zin arrived in the U.S. at age 9 as a refugee from Thailand, getting a handle on the U.S. college application process was a challenge. In particular, the requirement for a personal statement stumped her. Meeting Nelson Robles, ’08, a volunteer in the Husky Alumni Recruitment Team (HART), transformed the requirement from a barrier to higher education to a manageable task. “He helped me narrow down the topics. He gave me specific directions for the essay,” recalls Zin, now a freshman living in McMahon Hall. “I am so glad I’ve taken the path I have. I am exploring my major options but I do know that I want to go to medical school.” Personal encounters with UW alumni can make all the difference, especially for prospective students who are first-generation, low-income or from culturally diverse backgrounds. That’s where HART comes in. Established in 2011, HART now has 39 volunteers serving throughout the state. HART is managed and operated by the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity Multicultural Recruitment and Outreach Unit. The program, which is enthusiastically supported by Dr. Sheila Edwards Lange, ’00, ’06, Vice President for Minority Affairs and Vice Provost for Diversity, is increasing the visibility of the UW and providing muchneeded information about higher education to prospective underrepresented students and their families in Washington state. The HART team, which is always seeking new alumni to participate, is helping increase the enrollment of resident underrepresented minorities. The students aren’t the only ones who benefit. Robles, ’08, who works at Energy Northwest as an engineer, decided when he moved to the TriCities area that he wanted to stay connected to the UW Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity. “HART has given me the opportunity to spread the word about the UW in Eastern Washington,” he says. Yuritzi Lozano, ’10, ’13, came to the UW from the Wenatchee area and now works as the director of the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) at Wenatchee Valley College. While working with the HART program dovetails with her work, Lozano would be volunteering anyway, whatever her profession. Robles and Lozano hold dear their experiences as UW students. They both appreciate the difficulties many underrepresented minority students experience getting into college and succeeding. One thing all HART participants have in common: The desire to give back to the community, to young people and to the university they love.
To find out how you can give a HART, email reach@uw.edu.
the story of diversity at the UW
3
WAS THE FIRST PERSON in my family to attend college and receive a Ph.D. Since then, and especially throughout my academic career, I have been very fortunate to follow in the footsteps of undaunted leaders who have been the first in their fields to achieve certain milestones. One of these leaders is Dr. Sam Kelly. When he was appointed the first vice president for what is now the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity over 40 years ago, he was also the first African American senior administrator at the UW. Not only did he develop innovative programs that con-
I
REMEMBER THE FIRST time I attended the Multicultural Alumni Partnership (MAP)’s Bridging the Gap Breakfast five years ago, which also happens to be the main reason I got involved with MAP. One of the scholarship recipients who had come from an economically disadvantaged background, as most MAP Scholarship recipients do, was the first in his family to go to college. I can still remember the proud look on his mother’s face as the student accepted the scholarship plaque on stage. It was priceless. Right next to his mother was a young man who must
4
V I E W P O I N T : : U Wa l u m . c o m / v i e w p o i n t
tinue to this day, the addition of his voice at the table when policy decisions were made set the stage for acknowledging the importance of diversity at our University. Today, we see several diverse senior leaders on campus who have achieved several other “firsts,” including Dr. Ana Mari Cauce who is the first Latina to serve as UW president since her recent appointment to the interim role. Being the first means breaking down barriers so those who follow have access to opportunities that did not previously exist. UW faculty and administrators are not the only ones blazing new
trails. Our alumni of color are also leading the way in their chosen endeavors. Among them is this year’s Odegaard Award recipient, Colleen Fukui-Sketchley, ’94. She is the youngest woman to receive the award, and was the youngest and first Asian American woman to serve as president of the UW Alumni Association in 2010-2011. At the University of Washington, our boundless mindset is inspired by the students, faculty, staff and alumni who choose to open new doors and in doing so, show us that anything is possible.
have been his younger brother, or someone very close to him. I remember looking at him and wondering how he was impacted by the recipient’s extraordinary accomplishment? What new hopes and aspirations sprung up, now that attending college is not just a dream, but a reality? Being the first person to attend college not only transformed the scholar’s life—it also changed the perspectives of those around him. The remarkable stories of UW alumni who were first to achieve a milestone, as highlighted in this issue of Viewpoint, serve as an impor-
tant inspiration to all of us, especially for underrepresented communities. The successes of our alumni trailblazers allow us to believe that we too can succeed. We can achieve something we didn’t dare dream was possible, because they paved the way for others to follow suit. MAP just celebrated its 20th anniversary last fall, and we need alumni like you to help us continue our mission to provide scholarships for students, and help the University continue to be an institution that produces many diverse, trailblazing “firsts.”
Sheila Edwards Lange Ph.D., ’00, ’06 / Vice President for Minority Affairs Vice Provost for Diversity
AN IL KAPaHI
I
MA RY LEVIN
points of view
Carmela Lim ’05 / MAP President, 2014-2016
KA REN ORDERS ( 2)
A Dream Realized A VISION four decades in the making was realized with the March 12 opening of — Intellectual House, a longhouse-style building on the UW campus. The 8,400 square-foot building features a main gathering area that seats 500 and a kitchen suitable for preparing Native foods
and medicines. It will serve as a hub for Native American students, and will offer a community space open to all. The building was filled to capacity at the housewarming reception— which allowed for informal touring of the space and included live drumming—and served as a prelude to the Tribal Leadership Summit, which was initiated by a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Fundraising is currently underway for an adjacent building that will offer additional space for learning and instruction.
EOP students make up half of Homecoming royalty
Katherine B . Turner
THREE of the six members on this past fall’s Homecoming
Homecoming Queen Bailey Warrior (with crown), Kainen Bell (far right), Tay Boyd (back row, 3rd from left)
Royalty Court are Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) students and work as Student Ambassadors for the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity’s Recruitment and Outreach team. Homecoming Queen Bailey Warrior, a senior majoring in Psychology and Spanish, has also helped lead the UW Shades of Purple Conference, which convenes underrepresented minority high school students interested in attending the UW. Kainen Bell is a senior majoring in Business Administration and Social Welfare. Tay Boyd, a junior majoring in Neurobiology, is currently president of the UW Minority Association of Pre-Health Students.
the story of diversity at the UW
5
BE THE FIRST COVER STORY
For decades, the University of Washington has launched students from underrepresented minority backgrounds to great success as leaders and trailblazers. In many cases, these students are the first to achieve milestones in business, law, politics, athletics and the community. In this cover story, five alumni describe how they—with the UW’s help—became trailblazers in their own right. INTERVIEWS BY
PHOTOS BY
6
V I E W P O I N T : : U Wa l u m . c o m / v i e w p o i n t
JULIE GARNER
A N I L K A PA H I
and
JOSHUA VELDSTRA
Nadia Jackinsky-Sethi Ph.D., Art History, ’12
J OSHUA VE LD STR A
First Alutiiq and first Alaskan Native to earn a Ph.D. in art history from the UW
Nadia Jackinsky-Sethi headed to Paris to teach English after she graduated from college. Ironically, it was at the Louvre where she was transformed by a huge collection of Native Alaskan art. “I stumbled into it and realized there was a part of the world where I am from [Alaska] and the art isn’t in the textbooks. I wanted to learn more about my own culture and the place I come from,” she says. JackinskySethi, who is the first Alutiiq and first Alaskan Native to earn a doctorate in art history from the UW, came to the University because Robin Wright, one of the nation’s top art historians focusing on indigenous people and curator of the Burke Museum’s collection of Native American art, works here. “The Art History department was willing to be flexible about the degree’s requirements. I used Alutiiq as a language for art history instead of French or German,” she says. Jackinsky-Sethi is now overseeing a grant program at The CIRI Foundation to support the continuation of Alaska Native artistic traditions in Alaska’s communities. She also teaches Alaska Native art history at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
the story of diversity at the UW
7
Dara Norman M.S., Astronomy, ’96; Ph.D., Astronomy, ’99 First African American woman to earn a doctorate in astronomy from the UW
AN IL KAPAHI
Dara Norman became the first African American woman to earn a doctorate in astronomy from the UW despite growing up in Chicago, where the city’s bright lights eclipsed the dark sky and its wonders. Norman didn’t look into a telescope until her second year of college. She attributes her vocation to her mother, who was deeply interested in space. When Norman came to the UW for graduate school, there were only a few professional African American astronomers in the U.S. and two of them had graduated from the UW. Norman has worked at the Goddard Space Flight Center as part of a team focused on the Hubble Space Telescope. She also spent five years in Chile working at the Cerro Tololo InterAmerican Observatory. Currently, she is an associate scientist for the National Optical Astronomy Observatory in Tucson, studying the bright centers of galaxies to understand why some accrete gas and stars, and some do not. She says that some of the barriers for women of color in astronomy are internal. “Imposter syndrome, the idea that I don’t really deserve to be here, is an example,” she says. Fortunately, the chair of her UW department championed her for a fellowship and supported her academic goals. Finding great mentors, notes Norman, is a key to success in astronomy.
8
V I E W P O I N T : : U Wa l u m . c o m / v i e w p o i n t
Salvador Mendoza B.A., Philosophy, ’94
ANI L KAPAHI
First Latino federal judge in Eastern Washington
Salvador Mendoza, who grew up as a migrant farmworker in the Yakima Valley, has reached a pinnacle of the U.S. judicial system: He is the first Latino federal district court judge in Eastern Washington. After the Senate confirmed him in June 2014, Sen. Maria Cantwell told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, “This is a major step forward and one that is long overdue. One in every nine residents of Washington State is Hispanic and yet we have not had a Hispanic federal judge in the eastern part of our state.” Mendoza missed a lot of high school following the crops, and his absences affected his grades. Mendoza credits the UW Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity’s Educational Opportunity Program for seeing his potential despite his high school record. He was also surprised to find that farm work was great preparation for college work. “I was used to working hard all day,” he recalls, “and at the UW I took classes, had a work-study job and thought, ‘Wow, I still have all this time.’” Mendoza says that being the first person to achieve something places a special burden and opportunity on a person. “There is this pressure to be the voice of that community. You mustn’t shy away from it,” he says.
the story of diversity at the UW
9
A NIL KA PA H I
Jeet Bindra M.S., Chemical Engineering, ’70 First Indian to hold a CEO position in the U.S. oil industry
10
V I E W P O I N T : : U Wa l u m . c o m / v i e w p o i n t
When Jeet Bindra came to this country in 1969 from India, he had $8 in his pocket. Within a few days, he hunkered down in a house near the Ave with eight roommates in four rooms and two burners to cook on. There he relied upon a whopping $45 per month to pay rent and all of his utility bills. Fifteen months later, he had earned his master’s degree in chemical engineering. The hard-charging Bindra is the first Indian to hold a CEO position in the U.S. oil industry. Despite his storied rise in the industry, Bindra faced more than a few obstacles to success. Midway through his career, a white
male executive took him aside. “He told me that because I looked different, dressed different and spoke with an accent, I would be lucky if I made it into middle management before I retired. I am a Sikh, so I was wearing a turban at the time,” he recalls. Undaunted, Bindra took language classes at night and worked on his accent. He also developed five-year plans to work his way up at Chevron, where he rose to president of Chevron Global Manufacturing. His recipe for success? “If you want to succeed in this society, you must contribute your fair share. Broaden your network.”
Cindy Ryu B.S., Microbiology, ’80; MBA, ’83
eryone’s auntie.” Ryu says she worked to overcome these hurdles while she was in the Foster School of Business MBA program. She went to Toastmasters to conquer her shyness in public speaking. And she made business decisions as she saw others doing— by networking and speaking up. Her key to success? Challenges can be educational and offer opportunities for growth. Sometimes they even provide a different path from what you may have planned for your life. “Don’t be afraid to face them, tackle them,” she says, “and once you have overcome them—enjoy the victory.”
ANI L KAPAHI
First Korean American woman mayor of a U.S. city (Shoreline), now serving in the Washington state Legislature as Representative for the 32nd District
Many barriers to achievement are internal. Cindy Ryu, the first Korean American woman to serve as mayor of a U.S. city (Shoreline) and now a Washington state legislator, had to tackle these before she reached her goals. “The first barrier was that I’m a natural introvert. I even chose microbiology at the UW as my major because I could work in a lab, alone,” she says. “The second barrier was perfectly fitting the description of a model minority: someone who studied and worked hard but did not speak up. I was also expected to be the typical Korean married woman—an Ajumma—ev-
the story of diversity at the UW
11
[ BE THE FIRST ] Continued C. Benjamin Graham Jr. M.D., ’58, Residency/Radiology, ’62 Graham was the first student in a wheelchair to graduate from medical school at the University of Washington. Graham was denied entrance by numerous medical schools because he was in a wheelchair. The UW School of Medicine—then in its infancy in the 1950s—was the only school to admit him. He was appointed to the UW medical school faculty in 1963, and was named professor of radiology and pediatrics in 1974, and became director of radiology at Seattle Children’s. He helped organize the first wheelchair basketball team in Seattle and was the 15th player in the nation inducted into the Wheelchair Basketball Hall of Fame. Graham died in 2011.
Wing Luke B.A., Political Science, ’52; J.D., ’54 Bullied by his classmates for being Asian, Wing Luke won them over by drawing funny comic strips. His popularity continued to rise and he was elected class president at Seattle’s Roosevelt High School. After earning a Bronze Star for his service during World War II, Luke graduated with a law degree from UW and was appointed Assistant State Attorney General. He made history in 1962 by becoming the first person of color on the Seattle City Council and the first Asian American elected to office in the Pacific Northwest. A plane crash in 1965 ended his promising career. His legacy is preserved by the museum bearing his name in Seattle’s International District.
Norm Rice, B.A., Communications, ’72; Master’s of Public Administration, ’74—Seattle’s first African American mayor Marilyn Strickland, B.A., Sociology, ’84—She is mayor of Tacoma—first woman of color in the position Charles Z. Smith, J.D., ’55—First African American on Washington state Supreme Court Warren Moon, B.A., ’78—First African American quarterback in Pro Football Hall of Fame David Kopay, B.A., History, ’64— First U.S. professional athlete in team sports to come out as gay Jenny Durkan, J.D., ’85—First openly gay U.S. Attorney Gary Gayton, B.A., Political Science, ’55—First African American captain of a varsity sport (track) at the UW and first African American student body president at Seattle’s Garfield High School Gordon Hirabayashi, B.A., Sociology, ’46; M.A., Sociology, ’49; Ph.D., Sociology, ’52—First
Japanese American to rebel against Presidential Order 9066 imprisoning Japanese and Japanese Americans during World War II. Deceased. Shirley Mahaley Malcom, B.S. Zoology, ’57—Among the first African Americans to earn a UW zoology degree. Now is head of Education and Human Resources for the American Association for the Advancement of Science Bryan Monroe, B.A., Communications, ’87—Conducted first interview with president-elect Barack Obama after his historic win in 2008 Johsel Namkung, M.A., Music, ’50 —First photographer to have a solo show at the Seattle Art Museum Rick Welts, Communications, ’75 —First openly gay senior sports executive. Currently president and chief operating officer of the Golden State Warriors
Architecture–Seattle. Sharon E. Sutton, professor of architecture and urban design & planning, received the Medal of Honor for her work promoting inclusivity in the profession. Rico Quirindongo, ’99, received the Young Architects Award. He is a founding member of the National Organization of Minority Architects Northwest Chapter and is a board member for Pike Place Market PDA.
Two alumni and one UW administrator were honored at the “Diversity at the Top / Honoring Asian Americans who have broken the glass ceiling” banquet in October: Mary Knell, ’82, CEO, Washington and Western Canada, Wells Fargo Bank; Vikram Jandhyala, UW vice provost for innovation; and Brad Miyake, ’79, city manager, City of Bellevue.
in the news Nate Miles, ’82, was inducted into the UW Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame. He is vice president of strategic initiatives for Eli Lilly and Co., chairman of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle and a member of the UW Foundation Board. The Seattle American Diabetes Association also named Miles Father of the Year in 2014. Priya Frank, ’04, ’11, has been named to the Seattle Arts Commission. She was assistant director for advancement in the UW Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity before taking her current position as associate director for advancement for the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences at UW Bothell. Albert Shen, ’91, was named deputy director of the Minority Business Development Agency,
12
aStephanie division ofM.H. the Camp, U.S. Dept. of profesCommerce. Hedied is the son2 of two sor of history, April canTaiwanese immigrants. cer. Her book Closer to Freedom; Enslaved Women and Everyday Two alums and one UW staff Resistance in the Plantation member were honored at the South is now in its second print“Women in Male-Dominated ing. She was 46. in February: Careers” banquet LutherJimale, James ’82, Carrpresident Jr., ’69, a and Tanya Husky footba CEO, Jimale Technical Services; Cheryl Paston, ’89, deputy director of public works for the City of Sammamish; and Joyce Yen, program/research manager for the UW ADVANCE Center for Institutional Change. Honored at the “Amazing Women Mentors: Volunteering as a Way of Life” banquet in September: Deborah Guerrero, ’97, ’08, social worker, Muckleshoot Child & Family Services; Kirstan Arestad, ’06, director, Seattle City Council’s Central Staff; Patricia Lally, ’98, director, Seattle Office for
V I E W P O I N T : : U Wa l u m . c o m / v i e w p o i n t
Civil Rights; Bonnie Glenn, ’87, director, Department of Social and Health Services; and Grace Kim, ’06, architect, Schemata Workshop, Inc. Bob Hasegawa, ’09, has been appointed to three committees in the Washington state Senate: Commerce and Labor, Rules, and Ways and Means. He previously served two years as the ranking Democrat on the Governmental Operations committee. Janice Deguchi, ’88, is the new chief operating officer of Nikkei Concerns. Before that, she served as executive director of the Denise Louie Education Center and director of development at the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging. A UW professor and an alumnus of color were honored by the American Institute of
Diane Sugimura, ’68, ’07, who as director of the City of Seattle Department of Planning and Development leads a staff of 300, was honored for her 35 years working for the city. Tomio Moriguchi, ’61, cofounder of Nikkei Concerns and chairman of Uwajimaya, received a Founder’s Award from the Seattle-based Japanese organization.
Two alumni of color and one UW staff member were honored at the Top Contributors to the Asian Community banquet in December: Fred Yee, ’73, ’74, ’86, community volunteer; Frieda Takamura, ’91, community activist; and Leny Valerio-Buford, director of the Upward Bound program in the UW Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity.
2014 MAP SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS A primary goal of the Multicultural Alumni Partnership (MAP) Bridging the Gap Breakfast is to raise money for student scholarships. At the 20th annual MAP Breakfast on Oct. 25, seven students from underrepresented minority communities received MAP scholarships that will help them achieve their dreams of a college education. MAP Scholarship recipients (from left) Mariama Suwaneh, George Eli Kaufman, Claudette Sambat, Zoraida Arias, Sarah Teng, Leander Yazzi and Mark Bennett. Photo by Anil Kapahi
➺ Zoraida Arias Italian; Law, Societies & Justice, 2015 Zoraida, the first in her family to attend college, has been a scholar in the College Assistance Migrant Program and was among four students across the U.S. selected to intern for the U.S. House of Representatives through the National High School Equivalency Program Camp Association. She studied abroad in Italy last summer and interned for the Italian Society for International Organization. Zoraida is a scholar in UW’s Early Identification and McNair programs that prepare students for graduate studies. She plans to earn her doctorate in social work or international relations.
➺ Mariama Suwaneh American Ethnic Studies; Political Science, 2017 Poverty and adversity have not kept Mariama from academic success. Her activism includes writing and reciting poetry. Mariama attributes her success and resilience to her mother, a single parent with a disability. Mariama works with underprivileged preschoolers at Jumpstart, a program on campus to help build language, literacy and social skills. After graduation Mariama plans to pursue a graduate degree in public policy.
➺ Claudette Sambat International Business, 2017 C A B AT I T A N D TA J O N M E M O R I A L S C H O L A R S H I P Claudette immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines when she was eight and is one of the first generation in her family to enter college. At Cleveland High School, she participated in the UW’s Upward Bound Program. She is cultural chairperson of the UW Filipino American Student Association. Claudette plans a career in international business and is studying Asian languages and cultures.
Green River Community College and has been involved with the the Student Veteran’s Organization at UW Tacoma. His goal is to increase college enrollment among students from tribal communities. Leander plans to become an educational leader at one of the nation’s tribal colleges.
➺ Mark Syd Bennett Comprehensive Mathematics, 2015 ALFREDO ARREGUIN SCHOLARSHIP Once homeless and addicted, Mark is now a scholar in the UW’s McNair program that prepares undergraduates for doctoral studies. Mark has been conducting research in the Mathematics Research Experience for Undergraduates program. Being a community volunteer helping others who have faced similar difficulties is a priority for Mark. He plans to do graduate work in mathematics and provide a healthy, stable and loving home for his young son.
➺ George Eli Kaufman, ’97 Prosthetics and Orthotics, 2015 D R . LO I S P R I C E S P R AT L E N A N D T H A D D E U S S P R AT L E N S C H O L A R S H I P A graduate student in the Prosthetic and Orthotic Division in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, George contributes his skills as a musician, instrument repair technician, and art and music teacher to many organizations: Washington Middle School, King County Juvenile Center, Roots of Empathy, Seattle Amputee Social Group and Lifelong Aids Alliance, to name just a few. He plans to provide services for people with physical disabilities.
➺ Sarah Teng Social Work, 2015 H O N O R A B L E K I P T O K U D A M E M OR I AL SC H OLAR SH I P
➺
Leander Yazzie
Educational Leadership, 2016 OWEN G. LEE SCHOLARSHIP Born and raised on the Navajo reservation, Leander served in the U.S. Army, receiving a Campaign Star and an Army Commendation Medal. He works for the Work Force Education Department at
14
V I E W P O I N T : : U Wa l u m . c o m / v i e w p o i n t
In addition to being a first-generation student at the UW, Sarah is deeply involved in the community. She has volunteered at Wellspring Family Services, the Girl Scouts of Western Washington, and Asian Counseling and Referral Services. Sarah has also worked with low-income students in local schools. Her degree in social work will provide the foundation for a professional life of service in the community empowering individuals.
4333 Brooklyn Avenue N.E. Box 359508 Seattle, WA 98195-9508 Phone: 206-543-0540 Fax: 206-685-0611 Email: Viewpoint@ uw.edu Viewpoint on the Web UWalum.com/viewpoint
Cauce Takes Top Post UW PROVOST and Executive Vice President Ana Mari Cauce was named interim president by the Board of Regents in February, succeeding Michael K. Young, who left to become president of Texas A&M University. Cauce was born in Cuba, where her father was the minister of educa-
A N IL K A PA H I
FOUNDED 2004 Published by the UW Alumni Association in partnership with the UW Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity
Roy Diaz, UWAA President
viewpoint STA F F Paul Rucker P U B LIS HE R
Jon Marmor E D ITOR
Paul Fontana A SS OCIATE E D ITOR WE B E D ITOR
Julie Garner STA FF WRITE R
Ken Shafer A R T D IRE CTOR
Erin Rowley L IA IS ON TO OFFICE OF M IN ORITY A FFA IR S & D IVE R S ITY
viewpoint ADVISORY COMMITTEE Paul Rucker, ’95, ’02 Associate Vice President Alumni and Constituent Relations, Chair
From the UWAA President ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE MOST ABOUT the University of Washington is how it provides boundless opportunities—especially to students who are the first in their family to attend college. It’s no coincidence that our students, especially those from underrepresented minority communities, continue to be trailblazers in a wide range of fields, as you have read about in this issue of Viewpoint. That is due in large part to the incredible support they get at the UW—and from alumni like you. Only by continuing to educate leaders who are the first in their fields or the first in their family to attend college will we be able to provide the opportunities our communities need for the next generation.
Sheila Edwards Lange, ’00, ’06 Vice President for Minority Affairs Vice Provost for Diversity
Tamara Leonard Associate Director Center for Global Studies Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies
ROY DIAZ, ’94, ’96, ’02 U W A A P R E S I D E N T, 2 0 1 4 – 2 0 1 5
tion, and left the country with her family during the revolution, when she was 3 years old. She grew up in Miami and earned degrees in English and psychology from the University of Miami in 1977. She then earned a Ph.D. in psychology, with a concentration in Child Clinical and Community Psychology, from Yale University in 1984. Cauce, who joined the UW faculty in 1986, is professor of psychology and American Ethnic Studies. She holds adjunct professor appointments in the Department of Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies, and the College of Education. She has held numerous leadership positions at the UW, including director of the UW Honors Program, chair of American Ethnic Studies, chair of Psychology, executive vice provost, and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. For the past three years, she has served as the University’s chief academic officer, responsible for overseeing the education, research, and service missions in the University’s schools, colleges and other academic units, including Academic and Student Affairs. As the UW’s chief budgetary officer, she has also been responsible for resource allocations and has worked closely with the president on strategic planning and longterm decision-making.
Carmela Lim, ’05 President, Multicultural Alumni Partnership
Erin Rowley Director for Communications Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity
Rhonda Smith, ’02 Assistant Director of Advancement UW Graduate School
Eleanor J. Lee, ’00, ’05 Communications Specialist UW Graduate School
Stephen H. Sumida, ’82 Professor, American Ethnic Studies Past President, Multicultural Alumni Partnership
EVENT CALENDAR April 16 Samuel E. Kelly Distinguished Faculty Lecture “Tourist to Traveler: The Transforming Experience of Study Abroad” Featuring English Professor Shawn Wong Alder Hall Commons & Auditorium 5 p.m. Reception; 6 p.m. Lecture RSVP to cpromad@uw.edu
May 7 45th Annual EOP Celebration, Fête and Honors Husky Union Building Ballroom, UW Seattle campus 5 p.m. Reception; 6 p.m. Call to Dinner; 6:30 p.m. Program Register by April 16 at washington.edu/omad/celebration
May 28 GO-MAP’s Spring Soirée The Landing Banquet & Lounge 6:30 p.m. RSVP to gomap@uw.edu
the story of diversity at the UW
15
Telling the Story of Diversity at the University of Washington
2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974
Denny Hurtado Rogelio Riojas Gertrude Peoples Assunta Ng Nelson Del Rio W. Ron Allen 1968 Black Student Union Alan T. Sugiyama Charles Mitchell Mike McGavick Jeff and Susan Brotman Herman McKinney Constance L. Proctor Ernest Dunston Vivian Lee Albert Black Bill Hillard Andy Reynolds Hubert G. Locke Ron Moore Bernie Whitebear Ron Sims Sandra Madrid Ken Jacobson Herman D. Lujan J. Ray Bowen Frank Byrdwell Andrew V. Smith Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney Norm Rice Nancy Weber William Irmscher Mark Cooper Millie Russell Minoru Masuda Toby Burton Vivian Kelly Sam and Joyce Kelly Leonie Piternick Larry Gossett Dalwyn Knight
A NIL KA PA H I
CHARLES E. ODEGAARD AWARD RECIPIENTS
Fukui-Sketchley to receive Charles Odegaard Award By Erin Rowley COLLEEN FUKUI-SKETCHLEY , diversity affairs director for Nordstrom, is the 2015 recipient of the University of Washington Charles E. Odegaard Award. Established in 1973, the Odegaard award honors individuals whose leadership in the community exemplifies the former UW president’s work on behalf of diversity. It is the only University and community-selected award, and is regarded as the highest achievement in diversity at the UW. The award will be presented at the 45th annual EOP Celebration, Fête and Honors hosted by UW Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity (OMA&D) and the Friends of the Educational Opportunity Program (FEOP) on Thursday, May 7. “Through her leadership role in the private sector and dedicated service on UW volunteer boards, Colleen’s advocacy for diversity has made a tremendous impact both on campus and in the community,” said Sheila Edwards Lange, UW vice president for minority affairs and vice provost for diversity. “We are proud to celebrate her selfless commitment to social equity and education.” Fukui-Sketchley has been employed by Nordstrom since graduating from the University of Washington in 1994 with a
4333 Brooklyn Avenue N.E. Box 359508 Seattle, WA 98195–9508
bachelor’s degree in speech communication. Her tenure began with a part-time sales position while she was attending the UW and after gaining experience in a variety of departments, found her calling in diversity affairs. For 16 years, Fukui-Sketchley served as Nordstrom’s corporate diversity affairs specialist until being promoted to her current role in 2012. Her work focuses on developing and executing a comprehensive approach to diversity and inclusion through initiatives that support the entire company. She enhances Nordstrom’s commitment to diversity by weaving strategic elements into people, product and service initiatives. For over 12 years, she was a member of the Friends of the Educational Opportunity Program (FEOP) Board of Trustees which promotes academic excellence for underrepresented minority and economically disadvantaged students at the UW. Her FEOP tenure included terms as its president and vice president. For six years, Fukui-Sketchley served on the UW Alumni Association (UWAA) Board of Trustees and was the youngest and first Asian American woman appointed UWAA president in 2010-2011. She helped launch UW Impact, UWAA’s legislative advocacy program, and continues to serve on its legislative advocacy committee. “My number one goal is to ‘leave it better than I found it,’’ said Fukui-Sketchley, the youngest woman to receive the Odegaard Award. “This means elevating the topic of diversity at every opportunity and leveraging the power of leadership positions I’ve held to further the cause. I am incredibly honored to receive this award and will remain steadfast in my commitment to the UW for decades to come.” —Erin Rowley is director for communications in the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity.
45th Annual EOP Celebration, Fête and Honors DATE:
May 7, 2015 Husky Union Building Ballroom, UW Seattle campus TIME: 5 p.m. Reception; 6 p.m. Call to Dinner; 6:30 p.m. Program PRICE: $125 CONTACT: Roxanne Christian / 206-221-0680 or rchristi@uw.edu WEBSITE: washington.edu/omad/celebration WHERE: