91爆料 junior and Honors student Melinda Whalen was recently named a Beinecke Scholar! Melinda is pursuing majors in history with a concentration in war and society and Russian language, literature and culture. Each year, only 20 undergraduates from across the country are awarded the selective Beinecke Scholarship of $34,000 to go toward a master鈥檚 or doctoral program in the arts, humanities or social sciences. Melinda intends to earn a Ph.D. in history with a focus on Soviet Russia.
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91爆料 sophomore Alex Mallen and junior Sharlene Shirali selected for the Goldwater Scholarship
Congratulations to 91爆料 sophomore Alex Mallen, a computer science major, and junior Sharlene Shirali, a neuroscience major, whom the Goldwater Foundation honored with its undergraduate scholarship for students studying the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering. Mallen and Shirali join 417 undergraduate students selected for the award from a pool of 1,242 students nominated by 433 institutions across the country.
Celebrating the 2020鈥�21 Undergraduate Medalists
From the thousands of undergraduate students at the 91爆料, three are selected each year for the prestigious President鈥檚 Medalist Award.
Piper Coyner, Olivia Brandon and Catherine Chia are the medalists for 2020鈥�21, selected by a committee for their high GPAs, rigor of classes and numbers of Honors courses. All three are students in the University , completing the Interdisciplinary Honors track.
Each medalist has carved a unique path at the 91爆料, but they鈥檙e united in their passion for their chosen areas of study, ranging from neuroscience to anthropology to film studies. They鈥檙e also dedicated to giving back to the community, in both their extracurricular activities and their post-graduation career plans.
The students will be recognized by University President Ana Mari Cauce and Provost Mark Richards at a special reception, where each recipient will receive their medal in front of family, friends and mentors.
Read on to learn how these exceptional students embody the Husky Spirit.
Piper Coyner, junior medalist
Majors: Near Eastern studies鈥搇anguages and cultures; cinema and media studies
Hometown: Olalla, WA
The moment Piper Coyner learned that the 91爆料 had a Near Eastern studies major, she knew she wanted to become a Husky. Since childhood, her dream had been to study the Middle East 鈥� and she was thrilled she could do it so close to home.
At the 91爆料, Coyner has been able to dive into many aspects of Middle Eastern culture, history and language, studying Persian and Arabic. She has also discovered a second major in cinema and media studies, thanks to her involvement with the 91爆料 Film Club, where she leads a team of 20 writers. When she鈥檚 not exploring a canon of classic films or writing reviews, she鈥檚 an avid reader who enjoys contemporary fiction and history.
Whether focused on the screen or the pages of a book, Coyner takes inspiration from 鈥渟tories of perseverance and self-sacrifice, of people caring deeply for others and making change in the world.鈥� It鈥檚 with this model of making a difference that she hopes to attend law school after graduation.
For Coyner, who was also recognized in 2020 as a freshman medalist, this award is an important validation of her passion for and pursuit of the humanities.
鈥淚 often compare myself unfavorably to those in STEM and buy into the narrative that my work is not as important,鈥� Coyner says. 鈥淭his award shows me that鈥檚 not true 鈥� that students who study arts, cultures and languages are just as valued.鈥�
Olivia Brandon, sophomore medalist
Majors: Neuroscience and public health鈥揼lobal health
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Olivia Brandon became fascinated with the study of human physiology during an introductory survey class 鈥� and that has shaped her 91爆料 journey.
Realizing her true passion, she packed her schedule with chemistry, biology and global health classes. She landed on neuroscience after learning about brain pathology as a research assistant in 91爆料 Medicine鈥檚 Neonatal Neuroscience Lab.
In her research role, Brandon works closely with 91爆料 faculty to help develop treatments for babies at risk for encephalopathy. 鈥淏eing able to ask a scientific and medical question, create the database, extract the necessary variables, analyze the data and convey the information has sparked the scientist in me,鈥� she says. Later this spring at the 2022 Pediatric Academic Societies medical conference, she plans to present a research project she spearheaded.
Inspired by her lab mentors and her physician parents, Brandon plans to attend medical school after graduation.
鈥淚 hope to become a physician who has an impact on improving people鈥檚 health, but I also want to be an advocate for improving equity in global and public health systems,鈥� says Brandon, who is also majoring in public health鈥揼lobal health. During her first year at the 91爆料, Brandon gave a TedX talk about the importance of addressing global issues like climate change.
As an animal lover, Brandon is also president of the 91爆料 equestrian team and has raised funds and volunteered for an equine rescue and rehabilitation center.
Catherine Chia, freshman medalist
Hometown: Redmond, WA
Majors: Biochemistry, neuroscience and anthropology
Catherine Chia got a firsthand look at the 91爆料鈥檚 Seattle campus 鈥� and its many opportunities 鈥� when her older brother became a Husky. That glimpse helped shape her decision to attend the 91爆料.
With a goal of attending medical school, she found herself naturally drawn to studying biochemistry and neuroscience.
鈥淚 love the mechanistic nature of both subjects, where I can learn to look for sources of a disease from the tiniest mechanisms of the body,鈥� explains Chia, who is balancing her two science majors with anthropology. That subject serves as 鈥渁n important reminder that innovation and development should always be aimed at helping others.鈥�
Outside the classroom, she鈥檚 an undergraduate research assistant in Prof. Jonathan Posner鈥檚 lab, which is developing a diagnostic test for hepatitis C. The supportive community of the lab has built Chia鈥檚 confidence as a scientist and made her feel more at home at the 91爆料.
Chia鈥檚 volunteer work includes helping elementary school students develop reading skills, leading summertime science activities at the Pacific Science Center and mentoring her fellow students in the 91爆料 Honors Program. As a future physician, Chia hopes to improve people鈥檚 lives in a holistic way. She鈥檚 passionate about rectifying education disparities and plans to continue volunteering in learning spaces.
鈥淩eceiving this honor is not just for me,鈥� Chia says, 鈥渂ut also for everyone who has been there for me along the way.鈥�
Connecting, belonging, being well: Across UAA, programs welcome back students
The pack is back! For the first time since the transition to mostly virtual learning in March 2020, Huskies are crossing Red Square on their way to class. These Dawgs include two classes who are completely new to campus: incoming first-year students and second-year students, in addition to upperclassmen who鈥檝e spent more than 18 months away from campus.
Student well-being is top of mind as programs across Undergraduate Academic Affairs are welcoming back our students. This work involves building community so students feel connected and a sense of belonging. It鈥檚 recognizing and addressing the increased stresses students may be experiencing as a result of the pandemic and the transition back to in-person learning. It鈥檚 programs incorporating resilience and mindfulness work to give students the tools to care for their mental health. It鈥檚 the dedication to meeting students where they are at. Programs are also maintaining some virtual programmatic offerings this year to increase students鈥� access to services. Read on to learn more about how programs throughout Undergraduate Academic Affairs are orienting and supporting students this autumn.
Academic Support Programs: An academic home away from home
Academic Support Programs are free and available for all students. See the CLUE tutoring schedule, , online academic resources, and schedule a meeting with an academic success coach .
Academic Support Programs runs CLUE, the largest late night, multidisciplinary tutoring center at the 91爆料, and Academic Success Coaching, individualized meetings with a peer coach to develop skills for academic success.This year they are expanding these programs to reach more students in new and innovative ways.
CLUE: Tutoring center creates a sense of community
When Academic Support Programs Director Ryan Burt asked this year鈥檚 CLUE tutors why they were interested in becoming tutors, many shared that last year鈥檚 virtual CLUE was a space where they came to be together to navigate all that was happening around them. CLUE remains focused on creating a similar sense of community to the tutoring space for the 2021-22 school year. Student tutors play a big role in setting a welcoming tone, which starts with their own self-reflection.
In the autumn quarter training class Burt co-teaches with CLUE Program Manager Lizzy Harman, tutors check in about their own experiences returning to campus. They talk about how to navigate social and emotional challenges that they and other students might be experiencing. They focus on language and strategies to develop resilience and a growth mindset, both for themselves and the students they tutor. This emphasis on their mental state is intentional. When people are in a stressed state, it can be hard to focus on one鈥檚 studies or work. These weekly class sessions happen right before CLUE opens, preparing tutors to take a holistic approach to their work. This allows them to create a calm, safe and supportive space and helps them guide students to stay motivated as challenges or setbacks arise.
This year, CLUE is offering tutoring both in-person and virtually. Both spaces are busy; tutors quickly switch between leading tutoring tables in the Mary Gates Hall Commons and leading online sessions. This hybrid approach increases students鈥� access to tutoring: Some students don鈥檛 want or are unable to stay on campus late, live too far away from campus to come back for evening tutoring, or want to limit exposure to others.
Academic Success Coaching: Setting goals and making plans to reach them
Academic Success Coaching Manager Alli Bothello oversaw the expansion of the Academic Success Coaching program, expanding from eight coaches last year to 14 coaches this year. Coaching sessions are open-ended and guided by what is on the student鈥檚 mind. Conversations can range from time management and study strategies to concern over disappointing test results 鈥� 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 do well on my first test; now I鈥檒l never get into my major鈥︹�� to topics beyond academics. The coaches work with each student to guide them through these experiences, with a goal of helping students find resources, develop ways to move forward from setbacks and set and reach their goals. Coaches are available to meet at whatever frequency the student needs, be it weekly, quarterly or as needs arise. They are also hosting workshops on developing effective study strategies, time management, self-care and building a community, and finals exam prep.
Academic Support Programs are free and available for all students. See the CLUE tutoring schedule, upcoming study skills workshops, online academic resources, and schedule a meeting with an academic success coach on their website.
First Year Programs: Building community and wayfinding through the 91爆料
Cornerstones of First Year Programs鈥� (FYP) work are helping students learn about campus resources, build their community and understand how to navigate the 91爆料. This work is rooted in the knowledge that students who feel connected to campus socially and academically are more likely to persist through college and earn their degree.
First-year networks: Connecting Huskies with similar lived experiences and interests
First-year networks are social groups run by peer leaders. The 14 networks鈥� themes range from shared interests, including mindful-living, foodies, to shared identities, such as East Asian and transfer students. Students are connected through a Discord (a group chatting platform), and are invited to various events and meetups, learn about academic support programs and most importantly meet a group of students with similar interests and shared identities, helping them establish a community at the 91爆料. FYP surveyed students as they signed up for networks: 93% registered to make friends and 90% are seeking connections to students with shared interests.
First-year interest groups keep well-being at the forefront of their work
Mindfulness and self-care is incorporated into each General Studies 199 class meeting, taught by First-year Interest Group Leaders. The goals of this are to help students understand mindfulness and its benefits. They explore mindfulness activities like journaling, meditation, 3-minute dance parties and breathing exercises.
Each FIG Leader brings in a peer health educator to lead a seminar on one of four topics: mental health, coping with clouds, Sleepy Husky or physical health. The peer educators explore the science of the given topic and discuss how it connects to physical, mental and emotional health. One past participant commented, 鈥淭he mental health seminar project was important to me since the pandemic has taken a toll on me when it comes to being motivated and isolated.鈥� There is also great power in hearing peers talk about similar experiences, with another participant sharing, 鈥淏eing able to have guest speakers talk about research, mental health and admissions was extremely valuable because it gave me more understanding for how the areas work. I don’t feel alone in the process of college.鈥�
First Year Programs also has 听
Honors: Introducing a student-led mentorship program
The Honors Program鈥檚 new wellness-oriented program is student-led. Shannon Hong, a junior majoring in neuroscience, first experienced peer mentoring through the student-led . Finding it valuable, she approached Honors to start a similar program for them. The , launched this fall, creates a network of support within the Honors Program. Volunteer mentors are connected with mentees and focus to help them navigate the Honors requirements and their general Husky experience. 鈥淢y peers and I initially created the Honors Peer Mentoring Program to help students feel more supported and engaged in the Honors community,鈥� explains Hong. 鈥淏ut since then, it has grown into something bigger 鈥� a program that empowers students to become leaders and take initiative in their 91爆料 Honors experience.鈥� These mentoring relationships are available throughout the entire year.
Applications for the Honors Peer Mentoring Program winter cohort will open on January 3, 2022. to learn more.
Office of Educational Assessment: Surveying students to best meet their needs
The Office of Educational Assessment is launching Husky Check-in surveys this year. Designed to gauge student needs in real time, these twice-a-quarter surveys will focus on timely issues related to the student experience. The first survey explored how students are accessing support services, their preferences for virtual versus in-person offerings, whether where they live impacts their preference and what additional unmet needs may exist. The research team will share the results with key stakeholders across campus who can use the feedback to adapt programs to match the needs of students. The first survey launched the week of October 11, 2021; approximately 1,300 undergraduate and 400 graduate students participated.
Resilience Lab: Working towards a campus culture of compassion and mindfulness
Learn about upcoming and request copies of the .
The Resilience Lab鈥檚 work centers on promoting well-being among students, faculty and staff at the 91爆料. Their Be REAL (REsilient Attitudes and Living), a program developed in collaboration with the Center for Child and Family Well-Being, has equipped more than 100 faculty and staff members with skills and tools to foster their own wellness and that of their colleagues and students. Be REAL participants learn mindfulness skills to manage stressful emotions, strengthen self-awareness and to foster community well-being and mental health. Because of that ripple effect, Be REAL reaches people far beyond those who signed up for the 6-week course. And the reach of this work will continue to deepen. For example, some alumni of Be REAL choose to participate in a community of practice where they can ask questions and brainstorm ways to bring these ideas into their work. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really powerful to do this with colleagues,” explains Sasha Duttchoudhury, Resilience Lab graduate student assistant. 鈥淒oing this on 鈥榳ork time鈥� shows value, that the 91爆料 values our well-being.鈥�
The Be REAL faculty and staff program grew out of the student Be REAL course. The current format allows for flexibility, allowing it to be a stand-alone class or taught as part of other programs. Be REAL is also offered as a one-quarter class for students. Be REAL recently created a .
Another way the Resilience Lab is bringing well-being practices to the campus community is through the 鈥淲ell-being for Life and Learning鈥� initiative. Students, staff and faculty collaborated on this work to create a vision for the classroom as a cornerstone of well-being. The resulting guidebook is organized into four main pillars: teaching for equity and access; nurturing connections; building coping and resilience skills; and connecting to the environment. The guidebook鈥檚 appeal is wide: with programs from STEM to social sciences ordering copies.
President Cauce talks about the benefits of Be REAL in her annual address:
91爆料 News recently ran a story about the Resilience Lab鈥檚 work, including an interview with director Megan Kennedy. Read the article here.
Robinson Center: Intentionally bringing students to campus and creating community
Preparing Transition School students to come to campus for the first time began in spring 2021. Transition School principal Lisa Scott recognized that for this group 鈥� students who spend what would be their ninth grade year preparing to fully matriculate into the 91爆料 the following year 鈥� knowing their way around campus and building a community was crucial to their emotional and physical well-being. Scott developed a plan to safely bring these students to campus in May 2021. They spent the day completing a campus-wide scavenger hunt and acclimating to the campus environment. 鈥淢any parents have told me that the May Activity Day was the highlight of their student鈥檚 year,鈥� shared Scott. This group of students returned to the 91爆料 campus as first year Early Entrance Program students in autumn 2021.
To prepare Robinson Center students for the 2021-22 school year, the Robinson Center held orientations for the Early Entrance, 91爆料 Academy and Transition School students. Though each orientation was fine-tuned to meet the groups鈥� specific needs, common threads included building community, exploring campus and learning about campus resources.
Learn more about the .
Students are typically two to three years younger than most of their college peers, and student well-being programs remain a priority throughout the year. Students continue to meet with mentors and attend seminar classes on topics including majors and resources. The Robinson Center serves as a mini-HUB with places to relax, study, hangout with friends and eat outside.
When touring the space recently, an engineering colleague commented, 鈥淵ou can feel the community in this space.鈥�
Student-Athlete Academic Services: Keeping the pulse on student-athlete well-being
(SAAS) has been checking on the well-being of the 91爆料鈥檚 650 student-athletes throughout the pandemic through their regular pulse surveys. These 10-question surveys asked about what鈥檚 going well to what鈥檚 been most challenging. SAAS adjusted their programs and outreach based on the feedback they received.
Throughout the pandemic, the SAAS team also discovered new ways of serving their students: virtual counseling and virtual tutoring. Pre-pandemic, these services were exclusively offered in person. Yet the effectiveness of these online programs means the SAAS team will carry them forward. For athletes who travel to meets, games and competitions, being able to continue to access tutoring and counseling uninterrupted is hugely beneficial.
Join the team and make your own wellness commitment with this printable. Print it, write your commitment on it and post it somewhere visible to you to continue to encourage yourself.
The SAAS team saw both first- and second- year students join their orientation. This year鈥檚 focus was building community 鈥� community within the 22 teams, within the student-athlete community and the broader 91爆料 community. Activities included a campus-wide scavenger hunt to find campus resources and a barbeque with coaches and staff from around campus to help students connect to the 91爆料鈥檚 services. They also participated in the NCAA鈥檚 Mental Health Awareness Week. Students particularly embraced the wellness wall, where they anonymously wrote a commitment to personal wellness they are committing to for the 2021-22 year. Mental health services, team doctors and nutrition advising supports continue year round. In addition, SAAS provides advising, tutoring, career development, internships and academic coaching year round to best support our Husky student-athletes.
Undergraduate Research Program: Introducing undergrads to the what, why and how of research
The Undergraduate Research Program is building community within their 43 undergraduate research leaders (URLs) 鈥� student volunteers who help their peers get involved with research. Last year, the URLs spoke to more than 1,500 students about these opportunities. This work included a two-day orientation, which took a holistic approach to leadership development, with lots of time for reflection and conversation. There was an emphasis on empathy to help students slow down, reflect on the experiences of one another and and find commonalities with their own experiences. Mindfulness practices like deep breathing and other grounding exercises were included to help students center themselves.
Another key component of orientation was a diversity, equity and inclusion training on inclusivity and bias. The URLs learned about the experiences and potential barriers encountered by students from groups ranging from BIPOC students to first-gen to neurodiverse students to transfer students. Students then reflected on how this awareness will change their mindset in their work as a URL, explaining, 鈥淥ur role is not just to promote research, and generally mentor undergrads entering research, but to help others to overcome the barriers that they may be facing in even entering a lab in the first place.鈥�
The URLs are proactively thinking about ways to continue to support their peers and are pitching ideas 鈥� unprompted 鈥� to URP鈥檚 leadership team. We鈥檒l share info about these new initiatives on our social media channels as they are launched.
In addition to their URL program, the Undergraduate Research Program expanded their advising offerings to include weekly virtual advising, in-person group advising and individual drop-in advising appointments. These sessions often focus on learning how to get involved with research and answer questions like, 鈥淚鈥檓 a first-year student. Is research for me?鈥� (Answer: Yes!) Through the continued support, students grow their confidence and resilience as they navigate finding a research team and ultimately begin their research experiences.
Get involved with undergraduate research. Check the Undergraduate Research Program website for upcoming advising sessions, search for research opportunities and more.
CCRI receives nearly $1.2 million grant for work to increase equity in STEM
Community College Research Initiatives, a program within Undergraduate Academic Affairs, received a $1,173,375.00 grant from听听to work towards equity in STEM education for low-income learners across Washington state.
Community College Research Initiatives (CCRI) conducts research 鈥嬧�媔n order to facilitate the advancement of equity in higher education. Ascendium invests in initiatives designed to increase the number of students from low-income backgrounds who complete postsecondary degrees. Ascendium鈥檚 work is particularly focused on supporting learners from rural and low-income backgrounds, making them a fitting partner for CCRI.
CCRI is an influential contributor in community college and听听identifying strategies that help students transfer to four-year institutions and complete their bachelor鈥檚 degrees. This project will create a state-wide consortium of partnerships between two- and four-year institutions. These partners will specifically focus on creating programs that will help low-income STEM students transfer and earn their bachelor鈥檚 degree. This grant will enable them to animate their findings by building partnerships between two- and four-year institutions throughout Washington state, ultimately increasing the retention and graduation of STEM transfer students.
Welcome to campus, we belong together
We belong together. I made that statement at this year鈥檚 , an annual event filled with academic flourishes to mark the beginning of a student鈥檚 university journey. This year鈥檚 event was decidedly different and intentionally formatted for public safety. We are still trying to emerge from a pandemic, after all, so this year鈥檚 event was under a tent with new students only. I hope their families and loved ones were watching the livestream so they could share the moment. These times are still not yet 鈥渘ormal鈥� and require all of us to continue to adjust our sails.
But we belong together. The 91爆料鈥檚 leaders made that important declaration when we determined that we could bring our campus community back together safely with public health protocols and expectations for caring for our common good in place. I am encouraged about the year ahead.
In Undergraduate Academic Affairs, much of our work is centered around creating a sense of belonging among students. To that end, we come together to serve every student, no matter how they got here. From finding common ground through Advising & Orientation to developing and leading co-curricular experiences so undergraduates can access a truly transformational education alongside their peers, faculty and staff. Connecting, finding belonging amidst the many opportunities at the 91爆料 is foundational for undergraduates.
Together, and only together, can we create the kinds of classrooms, community-based opportunities, research spaces and campus that will enable deep learning for all our students. Together, we support students from the time they are admitted through graduation. Today鈥檚 undergraduates are tomorrow鈥檚 teachers, business people, civic leaders, doctors, nurses, scientists, artists. UAA鈥檚 reach across campus and into research spaces and the community is an intentional move toward connecting students to the big issues that are affecting people and the people who are working on solutions to these issues. In this way we take steps toward a future that is equitable and just, healthy and whole, innovative and informed. This work can only be done together.
Welcome to campus. We belong together, and together, we are strong, healthy, brave and boundless.
The 24th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium to happen virtually on May 21
On Friday, May 21, nearly 750 undergraduates from all three 91爆料 campuses as well as local community colleges and regional colleges will participate in the 24th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, which will be held online for the second year. The 91爆料鈥檚 Undergraduate Research Symposium is one of the largest in the country and provides a professional opportunity for undergraduates to present their research, scholarly and creative work.
Registration is required to attend the virtual Symposium. To register, visit symposium.uw.edu. Attending the event is always free. Pre-recorded presentations followed by a live Q&A will happen in real time and will not be available for later viewing.
Undergraduates from all disciplines show the ways their research connects to issues that matter in our communities and contributes to the University鈥檚 work as a leading public research university. In 2019-20, nearly 8,300 students participated in at least 1 quarter of research. More than 1,200 students presented their work in the 2019 Undergraduate Research Symposium, and over 850 students presented in the virtual Symposium in 2020.
This year is the fifth year that the 91爆料鈥檚 Population Health Initiative is awarding select student presenters a Population Health Recognition award for 鈥渢heir innovative and well-presented research work.鈥� Among this year鈥檚 12 student awardees are these timely and challenging research projects:
- Dancing Around the Point: Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Puget Sound Region by Annette Mercedes, who’s majoring in anthropology and biology.
- Ultrafine Particle Inequality by Race, Ethnicity, and Income in Seattle by Kaya Bramble, who’s majoring in industrial engineering.
- Firearm Injury and Violence Research Articles in Health Sciences by Funding Status and Type: A Scoping Review by Pavithra Prabhu, who’s majoring in microbiology.
鈥淭he application of classroom concepts in problem solving and experimentation have made me a better student, a better learner, a better teacher, a better thinker, and a better person. I believe every student, no matter the field, should conduct a mentored internship/research project in their area of study.鈥�
鈥� 2020 Symposium Presenter
Overview of the format and registration
Support student presenters through social media. Add a special frame to your Facebook profile pic; download graphics and post about it. Change out your Zoom picture and background for the Symposium.
The Symposium begins at 9 a.m., Pacific Daylight Time, and will run to 5:00 p.m. 91爆料 President Cauce, Provost Mark Richards and UAA Vice Provost and Dean Ed Taylor have each recorded videos to welcome students and guests; congratulate undergraduates on their accomplishments; share who the recipients of the Research Mentor Awards are; and recognize the invaluable role mentors play in encouraging undergraduates to transform their education through research.
Students will present their research in one of these formats, all followed by a question and answer period:
- Lightning talk presentation,
- 10-minute oral presentation,
- Visual arts and design presentation, or
- Performing arts presentation
Registered guests will be able to access students鈥� abstracts and presentation times, watch presentations by students they specifically want to see, and explore and attend multiple sessions.
All presentations will be pre-recorded and played in real time, according to the event schedule; they will not be available for later viewing. Registration is required to attend this free event.
To view the sessions, and make sure to if you do not already have one. Information about how to access the sessions and a detailed Symposium conference schedule will be emailed to registered attendees the week of Symposium.
91爆料 senior Maha Alhomoud named Carnegie Junior Fellow
Maha Alhomoud, a 91爆料 senior majoring in political science, has been selected as a 2021-22 Junior Fellow by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. A highly competitive award, only 5% of applicants are selected for the Carnegie Gaither Junior Fellows program each year.听 The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a unique global network of policy research centers in Russia, China, Europe, the Middle East, India and the United States. Its mission is to advance the cause of peace through analysis and development of fresh policy ideas and direct engagement and collaboration with decision-makers in government, business and civil society. Alhomoud will join the Middle East program.听
Fellows work alongside the Carnegie Foundation鈥檚 senior researchers and also have the opportunity to join meetings with high-level officials and contribute to the Foundation鈥檚 publications. In addition, as a full-time employee of the Foundation, they receive an annual salary and a generous benefits package. For Alhomoud, who is passionate about turning research into meaningful public policy, this opportunity is a chance to see how research is used to form policy, and how that policy goes on to impact people鈥檚 lives. She hopes her work impacts the development of sustainable healthcare and employment policies, particularly those from groups that are disproportionately marginalized in the Middle East.听
Alhomoud is an international student from Saudi Arabia. She has always been interested in examining the contextual factors that create unique political systems in different countries, especially in the Middle Eastern context, leading her to focus on studying political economy. She is interested in studying resource reliance, authoritarianism and state-society relations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states as they relate to political economy and comparative studies. Alhomoud is currently working on her political science honors thesis, supervised by Professor Whiting. Alhomoud鈥檚 work explores the evolution of extractive and distributive institutions in Saudi Arabia, specifically as they relate to taxation, and how the introduction of extractive policies impacts state-society relations. As the country is undergoing rapid change per its economic diversification roadmap, VISION2030, employing a process-tracing methodology has helped her understand the intersection between politics and economics.听
Previously, as an undergraduate fellow for the Center for American Politics and Public Policy (CAPPP), Alhomoud designed a project concerning corruption, foreign direct investment and economic diversification in a panel study of 17 major oil exporters over time. She is also currently an undergraduate research assistant in the political science department to Kenya Amano, Ph.C., where she鈥檚 working on a project about central bank independence.
In addition to her academics, Alhomoud advocates for increased international student representation at the university level. This year, she earned a Mary Gates Leadership Scholarship to establish the first AS91爆料 office dedicated to international student advocacy. For this project, she鈥檚 leading a team of 15 people to determine the new office鈥檚 mission, structure, budget and program. She is also a mentor for the International Student Mentorship Program (ISMP) at 91爆料.听
In the next few years, and especially as venues for Saudi women in the political sphere are increasing, she wants to learn more about the conduct of foreign affairs at the government level in Saudi Arabia and the GCC. During this time, she also plans to explore and rely more on local archives and works produced in the region for independent research projects. Long term, Alhomoud鈥檚 goal is to pursue a dual-graduate degree in law and political science and attain a membership in the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia. Ultimately, she hopes her work 鈥渃ontributes to a more nuanced understanding of the Middle East and more inclusive reform as countries diversify beyond oil to address the impacts of different policies on different segments of society, especially those who are disproportionately affected.鈥澨�
A feature story about Alhomoud will be coming soon.听
About the Carnegie Gaither Junior Fellows Program
The is designed to provide a substantive work experience for students who have a serious career interest in the area of international affairs. Approximately 12-14 students will be hired to work as employees at Carnegie in Washington, DC on a full-time basis for a period of one year. Gaither Junior Fellows provide research assistance to scholars working on Carnegie Endowment’s projects. They are matched with senior associates 鈥� academics, former government officials, lawyers and journalists from around the world 鈥� to work on a variety of international affairs issues. Junior Fellows have the opportunity to conduct research for Carnegie publications, participate in meetings with high-level officials, contribute to congressional testimony and organize briefings attended by scholars, journalists and government officials.
About the Office of Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards
The Carnegie Gaither Junior Fellow application 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. The 91爆料 campus application process for students interested in Carnegie Junior Fellowship (and other scholarships supporting graduate studies around the world) will get started this spring for 2022-23 awards.听
91爆料 Junior Sophia Carey named Beinecke scholar听
91爆料 junior Sophia Carey was recently selected for the Beinecke scholarship! Carey, who is majoring in English and comparative history of ideas and minoring in theatre studies, was selected from 95 applicants to join this year鈥檚 class. Each year the offers 20 scholarships to undergraduates who intend to pursue a master鈥檚 or doctoral program in the arts, humanities or social sciences. The selected students receive $30,000 to be used for graduate study and $4,000 in their senior year. The last time a 91爆料 student received this award was 2011.听
Carey entered the 91爆料 through the Early Entrance Program at the and has since focused her interdisciplinary studies in the arts, humanities and social sciences into a passion for community-based theater and the intersections between public policy and the performing arts. She is also in the .
Research and leadership experiences have been hallmarks of her time as a 91爆料 student. Her past research includes the paper 鈥淧erforming Beyond Utopia,鈥� which explored how residents of Lima, Peru, in the 1970s used community-based theater to resist and transcend dictatorial state agendas. Outside of performance studies, Sophia鈥檚 research has been featured in an open glossary of law, society and justice terms, and in 2019, she won the 91爆料 Library Research Award for Undergraduates for her paper investigating barriers to Latin American youths鈥� access to educational support services.听
Sophia is currently the president of the Early Entrance Drama Society, a student-run drama club at the 91爆料. In almost three years of involvement in the club, she has co-facilitated the translation of a 2020 production into a virtual format, performed in and directed several productions, and hosted drama-related events designed to build community and provide performance opportunities for students interested in arts and arts leadership. In addition to her work with the Early Entrance Drama Society, Sophia has acquired significant experience with local nonprofit and community-directed theater, as a directing intern at Stone Soup Theater, a development assistant at ArtsWest, and currently as a volunteer at the Seattle Rep.听
She plans to continue studying the potential for community-based theater to bring about material and political change through graduate research in a Ph.D. or MFA program that combines practical approaches and critical scholarly research methods in the study of theater.
About the Beinecke听
The Beinecke Scholarship program is open to juniors in studying the arts, humanities and social sciences. The scholarship provides funding for students to pursue a masters听 or Ph.D. in these fields. Since 1975 the program has selected more than from more than 110 different undergraduate institutions for support during graduate study at any accredited university.
About the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards听
The Beinecke application 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.
91爆料 junior awarded selective Goldwater Scholarship
Congratulations to 91爆料 junior Daniel Chen, whom the Goldwater Foundation honored with its undergraduate scholarship for students studying the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering. Chen, who is majoring in and , is one of 410 undergraduate students selected for the award from a pool of 1,256 students nominated by 438 institutions across the country.
Goldwater Scholarships are granted to sophomores and juniors who show exceptional promise and plan to pursue research careers in math, engineering or the natural sciences. These scholarships award up to $7,500 a year to help cover costs associated with tuition, mandatory fees, books, room and board.
Chen鈥檚 interest in challenging himself can be seen through his academic choices: In addition to majoring in two disciplines, informatics and microbiology, he is pursuing in microbiology. Chen has previously been awarded the Levinson Emerging Scholars award and the , and is also listed on the annual Dean鈥檚 List.
He began his college path early, entering the 91爆料 after middle school through the . To balance out his rigorous academic and research work, Chen enjoys hiking in nature preserves and crocheting amigurumi animals, hobbies that suit the environment of his hometown of Sammamish, WA.
鈥淭his news is simply wonderful,鈥� says Undergraduate Academic Affairs Vice Provost and Dean Ed Taylor. 鈥淭hrough his involvement in undergraduate research, Daniel has shown a dedication to furthering science and understanding as well as to the purpose of making people鈥檚 lives better. As a University community, we couldn鈥檛 be more proud of him. I extend my warmest congratulations to Daniel as well as his faculty mentors and others who have supported him on his journey so far.鈥�
As an undergraduate, Chen was one of the co-authors of the research paper,
Chen currently conducts research under Dr. Yapeng Su and Professor Jim Heath in the Heath lab at the Institute for Systems Biology. His research is focused on using the single-cell multi-omic paradigm to analyze COVID-19 peripheral blood mononuclear cells to identify the disease state effects of SARS-CoV-2 on patient immune systems. Such research has also branched out into investigating heterogenous patient responses to COVID-19 in convalescence along with interrogation of patient epigenomes to identify the early-stage immune cell subpopulations responsible for humoral immunity formation and the epigenomic changes that may guide such. In combination with Chen鈥檚 previous research investigating melanoma subpopulations using single-cell transcriptome (scRNA-seq) and epigenome (scATAC-seq) data, his current research projects have continued to push and develop his passion for biomedical informatics particularly when applied to clinically relevant problems.
After his undergraduate studies, Chen intends to pursue an M.D.-Ph.D. centered on leveraging computational resources and advances to solve human medical challenges such as cancer and infectious diseases. He particularly looks forward to identifying best practices and applications for such research to develop more accessible medical solutions for the given problem. He eventually hopes to pursue a faculty position at a university to conduct translational research in biomedical-informatic oriented fields.
For more information, contact Robin Chang, director of the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards, at robinc@uw.edu.