Autumn 2024 Quarterly Crossroads
The Quarterly Crossroads is a quarterly newsletter of leadership updates, school highlights, student stories, news and upcoming events for the School of STEM.
Letter from the dean
As this calendar year comes to a close, I wanted to reflect and express gratitude for many of the accomplishments that have happened during the last quarter in the School of STEM.
As you know, the school is committed to serving all students, especially those from underserved communities, and creating opportunities to raise awareness and participate in activities beyond the traditional classroom is essential for their success.
Holly Gion, STEM Advisory Board chair, and I would like to highlight some of the investments that have been making a meaningful impact for students. The first STEM Advisory Board scholarships were awarded this autumn quarter, providing critical financial support for students with significant financial need. The first endowed faculty fellowship was awarded to recognize outstanding success in undergraduate research mentorship.
The board also launched an ambitious series of events focused on raising awareness of career pathways across the spectrum of STEM disciplines. These events provide students with guidance about what to do while they are students as well as how to transition to the workforce. Keep watch for events and updates on social media (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook) — this is a great way to stay connected to STEM! I am deeply grateful for the advice and support advisory board members provide to the school. In this newsletter you can read about the legacy of Ralph and Doreen Boy. Ralph is one of the first STEM Advisory Board members and our first emeritus board member.
I am excited to report that the School of STEM fundraised $28,700 at the recent I heart UW Bothell luncheon. Some of the proceeds from this event will fund research scholarships to increase experiential learning opportunities for students who collaborate with faculty or community and industry partners. Experiences like these help students discern their professional pathway, which is especially important to UW Bothell’s large population of first-generation college students. Thank you for your generous contributions and support — they help STEM students significantly!
Now that we have settled into Innovation Hall, we hosted a STEM Soirée, a night of innovation and impact, in October to celebrate this new space that transforms traditional classrooms and offers improved and expanded lab spaces. At the event we unveiled the newly named electrical engineering student project/capstone lab, the “Decuir Room,” thanks to the generous gift from Joseph Decuir in honor of his father Laurence Decuir.
The School of STEM has been anticipating an announcement about who will be named the next permanent dean for the School of STEM. With this newsletter planned for Tuesday, it was nice timing that the UW Bothell Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs announced on Monday that I will have the privilege to continue on in this role as the official spokesperson for the school. A big thank you to everyone who participated in contributing to this process.
We are looking forward to launching a new year and exploring innovative ways that we can continue to collaborate to enhance the student experience. Together with you, we will transform lives, one student at a time.
Happy Holidays to everyone from the School of STEM!
– Jennifer McLoud-Mann