Dr. Ed Taylor is the vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. His new memoir is “The Power of the River.”
Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, professor in the College of Education, academic author, scholar, board member of several international and community-based organizations and former college basketball player, will soon add memoirist to his long list of accomplishments. His memoir, 鈥淭he Power of the River,鈥� will be released by Seattle-based on April 21.
Taylor has been part of the 91爆料 community since his days as a graduate student more than 30 years ago. In 鈥淭he Power of the River,鈥� readers learn about his journey from a childhood marked by loss in Lompoc, California, to his rise as an educator, scholar and leader. Along the way, he invites readers into a story grounded in community, shaped by pivotal relationships and sustained by a search for meaning in the face of adversity.
“The Power of the River” is Ed Taylor’s memoir.
In 鈥淭he Power of the River,鈥� Taylor writes in a way that is self-reflective and personal yet expansive and universal at the same time. It is a story about what it means to belong, to be guided and to grow. Through moments of doubt and determination, from navigating the pressures placed on young Black men in collegiate athletics at Gonzaga University to finding purpose in higher education, Taylor offers readers a deeply human story about becoming. His examination of mentorship, community, education and growth offer points of connection that can open pathways forward.
At a time when higher education is under fire, Taylor鈥檚 story demonstrates the purpose and potential universities can have in individuals鈥� lives and in the lives of our communities.
Several public events are scheduled to celebrate Taylor鈥檚 book.
Public events
Book Launch Celebration at the
April 29, 2026 // 7:00 p.m.
In conversation with Reggie Brown.
May 7, 2026 // 7:00 p.m.
Q&A with Taylor to follow his book talk.
May 22, 2026 // 7:00 p.m.
In conversation with Enrique Cerna.
June 2, 2026 // 6:00 p.m.
In conversation with Colleen Echohawk.
From the thousands of undergraduate students at the 91爆料, three are selected each year for the prestigious聽President鈥檚 Medalist Award. Kaytlin Rose Vanderhorst, Carilyn Brandt and Luna Crone-Bar贸n are the medalists for 2024鈥�25, selected by a committee for their high GPAs, rigor of classes and number of Honors courses.
91爆料 senior Parker Ritzmann, has been selected as a Schwarzman Scholar, one of the world鈥檚 most competitive graduate and fellowship programs. Schwarzman Scholars will pursue a one-year, fully-funded master鈥檚 degree in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing.
Since its founding, the 91爆料’s Robinson Center for Young Scholars has served academically advanced students across the region. Yet for many Auburn School District families, those opportunities remained out of reach. The barrier was never a lack of talent or curiosity. It was access.
For Bella Boulter, serving through Honors meant looking beyond the code to the people behind the 91爆料鈥檚 systems. Through her Honors experiential learning internship with the Office of the University Registrar, she examined how technology shapes the student journey 鈥� and helped lay the groundwork for a new innovation lab where students can build tools, test ideas and create a more accessible Husky Experience.
The name of First Year Programs has recently changed to . The updated name more accurately reflects the work of the unit and the full range of first-year and transfer students it serves at the 91爆料. The change aligns with a University-wide shift in language and provides clarity as the 91爆料 adopts more inclusive terminology around student populations.
New Student & Transfer Programs supports incoming Huskies through academic transitions and community-building programs.
For more than two decades, First Year Programs has played a central role in supporting new undergraduates as they transition into the 91爆料. Through orientation, first-year and transfer seminars, peer-led programs and other efforts that help students find community and connect with campus resources, First Year Programs has helped thousands of Huskies navigate their academic and social pathways. The move to New Student & Transfer Programs recognizes both the continued evolution of the unit鈥檚 work and its long-standing commitment to all new undergraduates.
鈥淥ur new name makes it clear that every student鈥檚 entry point into the 91爆料 matters,鈥� said LeAnne Jones Wiles, executive director of New Student & Transfer Programs. 鈥淲hether students are arriving straight from high school or transferring from another institution, we are here to ensure they feel seen, supported and connected from day one.鈥�
In August 2025, the Office of Admissions formally shifted from using freshman to first-year, bringing 91爆料 terminology in line with peer institutions across the country. The change reflects national trends in equitable and inclusive language and clarifies how the University defines first-year and transfer students. As a result, the name First Year Programs no longer accurately represented the broad population the unit serves, including students entering directly from high school and students transferring from other colleges and universities.
New Student & Transfer Programs facilitates Advising and Orientation, Dawg Daze, First Year Interest Groups (FIGS), Transfer Seminars, and the Commuter and Transfer Commons (located in the Husky Union Building). These programs help students build relationships, understand academic expectations and establish a strong foundation for their time at the 91爆料.
Transferring to the 91爆料 is a major milestone for thousands of Huskies who start at Washington鈥檚 community and technical colleges. 鈥嬧�婽his fall, the 91爆料 is opening the in Mary Gates Hall, uniting programs and partnerships under and providing transfer students with a centralized, welcoming home for advising, peer mentorship and campus connections. As a central space for connection, collaboration and celebration, the Center builds transfer community year-round.
Located in Mary Gates Hall 141, the 91爆料 Transfer Center offers drop-in advising with UAA and OMA&D advisers and also hosts small-group campus visits for Washington’s community and technical colleges.
鈥淓stablishing a Transfer Center is the critical next step,鈥� said Joslin Boroughs, director of advising initiatives and partnerships for Undergraduate Academic Affairs Advising. 鈥淐entralizing brings visibility to the transfer student experience and improves coordination so we can support student success. Think of the Transfer Center as your campus partner. It鈥檚 a single front door for referrals and a resource hub for best practices.鈥� A central point of contact, transfer guides and departmental connections streamline referrals for prospective and current students, as well as faculty and staff.
The Transfer Center unites long-standing partnerships between 91爆料 advisers and Washington鈥檚 community and technical colleges to remove barriers to timely transfer. It also connects existing initiatives such as Path to 91爆料, which gives prospective students early access to 91爆料 resources. The Center’s space is reservable for partner-hosted, transfer-supportive events.
鈥淭he Path to 91爆料 partnership with Seattle Colleges is re-writing the story of transfer to a flagship university,鈥� said Melody McMillan, senior executive director of Seattle Promise at Seattle Colleges. 鈥淏uilt with student access and success at the center, Path to 91爆料 was shaped by student and faculty feedback 鈥� and acting on that feedback works.鈥�
鈥淐oordinated advising through the Path to 91爆料 program meets students earlier and more consistently 鈥� expanding access to a world-class public research university,鈥� said Michaelann Jundt, senior associate dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.
Transfer students at a glance 鈥� 2025
Enrolled: 1,685 transfer students
From Washington community and technical colleges: 1,400 (83%)
Regions: Puget Sound, Olympic Peninsula, Southwest, Central and Eastern Washington (such as Seattle Colleges, Bellevue, Peninsula, Clark, Yakima Valley and Spokane)
Top majors: business, computer science, psychology, biology, nursing, communication, economics, informatics, engineering, design, English, sociology, environmental science and resource management
Students will also meet , a peer leadership team developed with 鈥� who host welcome events, offer one-on-one support and help students navigate their first year on campus.
鈥淎djusting to new teaching styles and the course load can be overwhelming,鈥� said Transfer Ambassador and psychology major, Iqra Mohamed, 鈥�26. 鈥淲hat helped me was introducing myself to people near me on day one and joining study groups. It can feel intimidating, but it sets you up for success and builds self-advocacy.鈥�
鈥淲ith a dedicated space, there鈥檚 a go-to for questions and drop-in support,鈥� Mohamed added. 鈥�It shows a place designed for transfer students, which can strengthen belonging. Transfer can feel like a short stop, but the Center will help students feel more connected and find accessible opportunities to create a memorable 91爆料 experience.” Kitchen access, study spaces and lockers remain available in the Commuter and Transfer Commons.
Ambassadors continue outreach at partner colleges, closing the loop from exploration to enrollment. 鈥淪eattle鈥檚 students are brilliant and driven,鈥� added McMillan. 鈥淲hen institutions align around them, applications turn into admissions, admissions into enrollment, and enrollment into graduation and career.鈥�
鈥淥ne year in, we expect growth in ambassador engagement, referrals and event participation 鈥� clear signals that students are reaching support sooner,鈥� said Boroughs.
鈥淥ver the past decade, the 91爆料 has become more vocal and intentional about transfer student success,鈥� said Jundt.
鈥淭he Transfer Center is that commitment made visible 鈥� a place where students can find their path, and their people, from day one.鈥�
About Undergraduate Academic Affairs Advising
Undergraduate Academic Affairs Advising supports undergraduates across all majors with academic planning, exploration and success 鈥� connecting students with advising, resources and opportunities that help them graduate on time and thrive at the 91爆料.
In the Honors Program, where interdisciplinarity and inquiry define the student experience, Professor Jon C. Herron exemplifies the kind of teaching that changes how students see the world 鈥� and themselves.
91爆料 alumnus Evan Siu, ’23, has been selected as a Schwarzman Scholar, one of the world鈥檚 most competitive graduate and fellowship programs.
Siu, who earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in informatics, joins the program鈥檚 10th class of 150 scholars chosen from nearly 5,000 applicants worldwide. will pursue a fully funded master鈥檚 degree in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing, where they will study China鈥檚 role in global trends alongside leaders in business, technology and policy.
鈥淲hether through software, policy, investment or classrooms, my goal is to widen access through technology to finance, information and trade networks so geography isn鈥檛 the limiting factor in human potential,鈥� Siu said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to walk that path with my classmates, giving as much as I learn from all of them.鈥�
In Beijing, Evan Siu, 鈥�23, plans to engage with China鈥檚 technology sector and explore the region鈥檚 design, consumer services and global economic connections.
Siu is an associate product manager at Visa in San Francisco, where he has supported products across AI-powered fraud and identity, cross-border payments, small-business tools and cryptocurrency. He now works with Visa Ventures, helping shape the firm鈥檚 strategy for investing in fintechs and startups worldwide.
鈥淢y professional experiences have shown me how financial technology can bank the unbanked, reduce barriers in commerce and make interactions between nations more seamless,鈥� Siu said. 鈥淚 hope to apply those lessons to deepen U.S.鈥揅hina collaboration.鈥�
At the 91爆料, Siu combined his informatics studies with leadership roles in entrepreneurship and technology communities. He was active in the Lavin Entrepreneurship Program, DubHacks Next, 91爆料 Blockchain Society, 91爆料 Consulting Association, and helped open undergraduate access to the Creative Destruction Lab during its inaugural year on campus.
Born in the United States and Chinese by ethnicity, Siu traces his passion for U.S.鈥揅hina exchange to a middle-school trip to Shanghai, where QR-code payments first showed him how technology could simplify everyday life.
With the incoming class, the Schwarzman Scholars network includes more than 1,300 members from 104 countries and 459 institutions. Alumni of the program are leading across industries and working together to address urgent global challenges. This year鈥檚 record-high number of applications demonstrates young leaders鈥� growing investment in understanding China and shaping the future of global cooperation.
About the Schwarzman Scholars Program
The is an elite scholarship program founded in 2013 by Blackstone Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO Stephen A. Schwarzman. The program was created to respond to the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century by preparing the next generation of global leaders.
Up to 200 scholars are selected annually from a broad range of backgrounds, including business, technology, science, politics, healthcare and more.聽
About the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards
The Schwarzman Scholars Program process is supported by the (OMSFA), a UAA program. OMSFA works with faculty, staff and students to identify and support promising students in developing the skills and personal insights necessary to become strong candidates for this and other prestigious awards.
