91爆料 undergrad Lorenzo Roel Flores McCleese, 鈥�27, was recently named a Udall Scholar. Lorenzo is pursuing bachelor鈥檚 degrees in environmental science and terrestrial resource management as well as informatics, with a focus on data science. He is also minoring in diversity.
Category: Features
Typically longer in length and relevancy than content in the news category. Features content is more likely to be republished over time.
New opportunity for early-career undergraduates to engage in research
Undergraduate Academic Affairs is delighted to announce the Undergraduate Research Collective, a new paid opportunity for undergraduates with no prior research experience to connect to research in their first and second years at the 91爆料. Leaders in the Office of Undergraduate Research are the program鈥檚 visionaries, architects and builders. Startup funding is provided in part by the Ana Mari Cauce Fund for Undergraduate Research, a new giving opportunity to honor President Cauce for her leadership in and support of undergraduate research.
Undergraduate research is one of the most impactful experiences available to students, benefiting students during their time at the 91爆料 and well beyond graduation. Students who participate in research often report it reinforced what they are learning in the classroom; increased their ability to think critically; engendered a sense of pride and purpose in being involved in work that contributes to the public good; and built a foundation for their future careers. As one of America鈥檚 leading public research institutions, the 91爆料 offers first-in-class opportunities for undergraduate research.
鈥淲e see the way students light up when they connect with research 鈥� many share that their experiences were transformative,鈥� says Sophie Pierszalowski, director of the Office of Undergraduate Research. 鈥淭hat said, research opportunities can be competitive and challenging to access for early career students without prior experience. These students are the future of research 鈥� our legacy of research excellence starts with them.鈥�
The Undergraduate Research Collective is a cohort-based, two-year program designed for first- and second-year students and first-year transfer students with no prior research experience. It aims to improve systems and increase access to research for early-career undergraduates. Additionally, students in the Collective receive an $8,000 scholarship over the two years of the program.
In the first year, students develop relationships with their cohort; receive advising from the Office of Undergraduate Research; participate in a weekly seminar focused on research preparation and community-building; and are matched with and develop an onboarding plan with their faculty mentor. More than 20 faculty mentors from across disciplines have signed on to support undergraduates through the Undergraduate Research Collective.
In the second year of the program, students work on a research project with their faculty mentor for five to 10 hours per week; participate in cohort-based professional development workshops and events; and present their project at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.
Startup funding is key and is provided by the and the . The Mary Gates Endowment is one of the University鈥檚 largest endowments for undergraduates. The Ana Mari Cauce Fund was established by friends, colleagues and admirers of the outgoing 91爆料 president to honor and recognize her long-standing commitment to undergraduate research. Throughout her decades-long career at the 91爆料, President Cauce has mentored and been influenced by undergraduate researchers and is a stalwart champion of broadening access to undergraduate research opportunities.
鈥淯ndergraduate students involved in research have the opportunity to consider questions and problems that matter,鈥� said Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. 鈥淭he experience begins with finding their passion, thinking critically about important issues, then applying those insights toward resolving real problems. Guided by mentors and inspired by the legacy of President Cauce, 91爆料 students involved in research push the boundaries of knowledge and contribute directly to improving the lives of individuals, communities and our society writ large.鈥�
The pilot phase of the program will support 20 students. According to Pierszalowski, 鈥淭he Office of Undergraduate Research envisions a future where capacity and infrastructure for early career undergraduate research programming at the 91爆料 continues to grow. We hope to partner with departments, research centers, individual donors and other research organizations who understand the value of this work and want to help grow this interdisciplinary effort to engage early career students in research through supportive and accessible pathways.”
Applications for students to participate in this first cohort are open through July 21. Visit the Office of Undergraduate Research鈥檚 website to learn more and apply.
The Undergraduate Research Collective two-year pilot is largely funded by donations made to celebrate President Cauce鈥檚 leadership and legacy. to learn more about how you can support this program.
Impact of recent funding cuts on community engagement programs in UAA
UAA鈥檚 Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) Center is among the programs and organizations impacted by the federal government鈥檚 April 25 termination of $400M in AmeriCorps grants. The grant termination led to the abrupt cessation of CELE Center鈥檚 AmeriCorps K-12 Community-Engaged Learning Coordinator position. The impact of these grant terminations on the 40 CELE Center students currently enrolled in an AmeriCorps-affiliated program is not yet known.
This came about on April 25, when one of the CELE Center鈥檚 partners for AmeriCorps volunteers, the Washington Campus Coalition for the Public Good (WACC), had its AmeriCorps grant terminated, effective immediately, along with . WACC provides funding and support for AmeriCorps positions on more than 30 campuses across Washington state, including all three 91爆料 campuses. As AmeriCorps members, students and volunteers contributed to the success of our state and nation by supporting K-12 academic engagement, housing and food security and other critical social issues. AmeriCorps members receive modest education grants or stipends for living expenses, depending on their type of service.
As the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, AmeriCorps has provided opportunities for more than 1.3 million individuals to serve their country, providing billions of hours of service to meet basic needs, improve communities and positively impact young people.
Additionally, the CELE Center recently received notification from National Jumpstart, the umbrella nonprofit the 91爆料 Jumpstart program is under, that all 31 of their university-affiliated partner sites will close by this summer. This includes the 91爆料 Jumpstart program. The national organization cited financial constraints, a shift in their operational model, and uncertainty about the future of AmeriCorps funding as factors leading to this outcome.
Over the last 20+ years of Jumpstart at the 91爆料, more than 1,200 91爆料 undergraduates worked with over 5,000 Seattle preschool children from low-income families across Seattle to promote quality early learning so all children can be prepared for kindergarten. The lifelong impact of early childhood education is well-documented, and we are proud to contribute to that work. In the last several years, Jumpstart at the 91爆料 鈥� which launched in 2003 as a collaboration between Undergraduate Academic Affairs, the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity, the College of Education, and the Work Study Office 鈥� enrolled dozens of 91爆料 students annually to serve as AmeriCorps members to work with preschoolers. Read one student鈥檚 experiences here.
These programs make our communities, state and country stronger, safer and more compassionate. Community-engagement opportunities help student AmeriCorps members develop interpersonal, critical thinking and leadership skills that benefit them in their future communities and careers. CELE Center staff are exploring ways to support affected 91爆料 students, staff, AmeriCorps members and community partners.
Discovery unfolds at the 28th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium
On Friday, May 16, more than 1,500 undergraduates will present innovative research, scholarship and creative work as they converge at the 28th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. The all-day celebration features undergraduates actively plugging into and contributing to the 91爆料鈥檚 strengths as an engine of discovery, public good and progress. Presenters represent all three 91爆料 campuses, as well as local community and regional colleges, highlighting the breadth of undergraduate research across the region.
Celebrating student leadership in action at the CELE Center鈥檚 2025 Spring CELEbration
On May 7, the 91爆料鈥檚 Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) Center will present the 2025 Spring CELEbration, an inspiring undergraduate showcase of student service, leadership and community-engaged work.
The annual event features students in CELE Center programs and Mary Gates Endowment Leadership Scholars, presenting work focused on service, leadership and social change 鈥� from mentorship and educational equity to civic engagement and environmental justice.
Tristan Jafari, biochemistry undergrad, selected as Truman Scholar
Tristan Jafari, a third-year student at the 91爆料 majoring in biochemistry, has been selected for the prestigious Truman Scholarship. Set to graduate early, Jafari will pursue a master鈥檚 degree in philosophy of population health sciences at the University of Cambridge in England this fall.
A highly competitive award, only 54 students were selected nationwide this year from more than 743 nominations. The Truman Scholarship recognizes aspiring leaders driven to make change at the systems level. Students are selected on the basis of leadership skills, demonstrated civic engagement, academic potential and a desire to pursue a career in public service. Scholars receive up to $30,000 for graduate school, mentoring and additional benefits to help prepare them for careers where they can make an impact.
Four 91爆料 undergraduates named 2025 Goldwater Scholars
Four 91爆料 students have been named Goldwater Scholars by the Goldwater Foundation, advancing the University鈥檚 tradition of undergraduate academic excellence and recognition.
“The Goldwater Scholarship is the preeminent undergraduate award for students pursuing research careers in the sciences, engineering and mathematics,”鈥� says Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. The 91爆料 awardees were selected from over 5,000 students nominated by 445 institutions. A total of 441 scholars were named for 2025.
The 2025 91爆料 Goldwater Scholars are Sofia Dahlgren, Shivani Kottantharayil, Keming Qiu and Sahana Subramanian. “These scholars exemplify the excellence fostered by our public research institution, emerging as future leaders in the evolving research landscape and underscoring the vital role of researchers in shaping our collective future,鈥� says Taylor.
Becoming boundless
Undergraduate Salma Rashwan writes about embracing the impossible during Alternative Spring Break teaching kids in Forks, Washington, about science, technology, engineering and math.
91爆料 undergraduate with interdisciplinary AI focus earns fellowship of up to $90,000 for graduate study
91爆料 Honors student Andre Ye, pursuing bachelors鈥� degrees in philosophy and computer science with minors in math and history, has been selected for the esteemed Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans.
The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans is a merit-based fellowship supporting immigrants and children of immigrants pursuing graduate education in the U.S. This year, 30 Fellows were selected out of more than 2,600 applicants for their past achievements and future promise to make significant contributions to American society. Fellows will receive up to $90,000 to fund graduate studies for two years.
Progress report on the 91爆料 Dialogue Initiative
In this video, Megan Kennedy, director of the 91爆料 Resilience Lab and project lead for the 91爆料 Dialogue Initiative, provides some background and a progress report on the first year of the Initiative.