The Wonder of Warashina

The Smithsonian’s Visionary Artist Award honors Patti Warashina, whose humor and innovative perspectives on the human condition put a new face on ceramics. Photograph by Kiliii Yuyan. Kiliii by Photograph The sovereign nation is led by Fawn Sharp, Sharp, Fawn nation is led by The sovereign the National of is also president who ’95, illustrate To Indians. American of Congress - pho sent we book, Harmon’s the themes of a Siberian native Yuyan, Kiliii tographer the to issues, specializes in Indigenous who Yuyan, the Quinault Reservation. of edge in National his stunning spreads for known Lake by picture this took Geographic, the of entrance the eastern Quinault near last world’s the inside one of reservation, He forest. old-growth of pieces remaining the evoke to fabrics installed red-and-black Coastal the Northwest of blankets button stump has a huckleberry “The spruce tribes. of sign “a notes, Yuyan it,” of out growing being cut after and revitalization renewal settlers.” by down - -

Despite centuries of America’s Indian na America’s centuries of Despite tions’ self-rule, the U.S. Supreme Court Court Supreme U.S. the self-rule, tions’ American decided in 1978 that Native prosecute or officials could not arrest The rul- land. native people on non-native Northwest’s the of case a involved which ing, reser every applied to Tribe, Suquamish undermining each in the country, vation and manage laws enforce abilities to tribe’s “Reclaiming book her In affairs. own its Emerita Professor the Reservation,” this that despite Harmon says Alexandra Indian Northwest crushing court case, their expand to ways found have tribes One of decades since. in the sovereignty about is the writes the tribes Harmon reservation whose Quinault Indian Nation, Peninsula. the Olympic sits on the coast of In Search of Sovereignty of In Search

OF WASHINGTON LAKE QUINAULT I GIVE BECAUSE COLLEGE CHANGES LIVES Merisa H.-W. Lawyer, mother, champion

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FORWARD DIAMOND DAWGS 6 An Informed Public Husky softball opens 8 Editor’s Letter the 2020 season as the 10 Roar From the Crowd nation’s top-ranked team THE HUB 13 State of the Art EMILE’S EYE 14 From Washington Our 2020 Odegaard win- ner, Emile Pitre, is also 18 Campus Architecture an ace photographer who 20 Research has captured campus for 21 Expert decades. 22 Scorecard 23 Athletics COLUMNS 45 Sketch 47 On the Media 59 Tribute 60 Memorials 62 Calendar EMILE PITRE UDUB 64 New Museum Café

24 A Life Study An apartment building fire forced Grace Flott to leap from a fourth-floor window. Painting plays a major role as she creates a new life. By Julie Davidow 30 Big Wig UW’s startup culture nurtures a growing number of students, proving that an idea fed by energy and mentoring can bring business success. By Hannelore Sudermann 36 After the Ashes are our legacy. You Scientists returning to Mount St. Helens after its cataclysmic eruption were blown away by how quickly life sprouted from the ruins. By Eric Wagner

DAVID MCNEW / GETTY IMAGES NEWS 40 The Personification of Impact Jim Ellis never held elected office. But that didn’t stop him from creating a legacy of serving the Because of customers like you, University Book Store has the great honor and public good that still touches us today. privilege of prioritizing our community over profit, as we’ve done for 120 years. By Julie Garner

4 UW MAGAZINE ubookstore.com SHO RELI N E OPINION AND THOUGHT FROM THE UW FAMILY 522

University, the University of North Carolina and Carnegie Mellon University in a national consortium working to better understand and address the problems of 5 disinformation. Governments are also responding. Lawmakers are developing legal levers aimed at slowing the spread of intentional misinformation. In the first session of 2020, lawmakers in Olympia, and in many other states, are debating bills on deepfakes, data privacy, platform liability and facial recog- 99 nition. Educators, librarians and journalists 522 are responding. National leaders and or- ganizations in the state of Washington are developing new programs in media literacy, data reasoning, digital citizenship and in-

5 Lawmakers are developing legal levers aimed at slowing the spread of intentional misinformation. ternet safety. Technologists are responding. They are designing new interfaces and 5 detectors of “fake news” and manipulated 99 media. They are also opening conversations with researchers, journalists and MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDING DIRECTOR policymakers. Just as important, alumni are responding. A Center for an Informed Public We have one of the strongest, most active alumni networks in the country. You have By Jevin West risen to other big challenges, including the funding of and access to higher education. On Dec. 3, we launched the new Center and sword-rattling threats by government The UW CIP is a public institution with a for an Informed Public (CIP) at UW—a leaders. They can affect people’s health public mission: to resist disinformation, response to the rise in disinformation and decisions, for example, whether or not to promote an informed society and strength- erosion of trust in our most basic societal vaccinate. Words someone never said can en democratic discourse. We understand institutions. More than 400 people packed be put into their mouth using voice cloning, the gravity of this mission; the threats to 520 the HUB South Ballroom, among them “deepfakes” (fabricated video and audio) democracy are real. We need to think big 520 faculty, alumni, students, librarians, jour- and other forms of synthetic media. It is and lead on this important issue. nalists, industry leaders, high school becoming harder and harder to identify the At our launch, Presidents Ana Mari teachers, funders and policymakers. There real from the unreal. Cauce and Kirk Schulz of WSU signed an was a sense of excitement mixed with Fortunately, there are many reasons to agreement, committing to work together. concern—excitement that UW was leading be optimistic. The challenge we face spans the entirety the way; concern over the magnitude and Universities are responding. The UW of the state, across political and rural-urban reach of the problem. is one of five centers around the country divides. If there was ever a need for action, 5 In today’s social web, falsehoods are cre- that received seed funding from the Knight it is now. We need your help in restoring ated with ease and they spread at Foundation to create an interdisciplinary trust in our institutions, and each other. unfathomable rates. Sometimes these false- group to resist misinformation, promote Jevin West is an associate professor in hoods are simply satire; other times they an informed society and strengthen dem- the Information School and coauthor of the reflect strategic political intent. At times, ocratic discourse. We are joined by New forthcoming book “Calling Bullshit: The Art we’ve seen them lead to mob-like behavior York University, George Washington of Skepticism in a Data Driven World.”

6 UW MAGAZINE ILLUSTRATION BY ANTHONY RUSSO STAFF Retirement doesn’t have to A publication of the UW Alumni Association and the University of Washington since 1908 Going up? mean slowing down. PUBLISHER Paul Rucker, ’95, ’02 ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT, UWAA MARKET- ING & COMMUNICATIONS Terri Hiroshima EDITOR Jon Marmor, ’94 MANAGING EDITOR Hannelore Sudermann, ’96 ART DIRECTOR Ken Shafer DIGITAL EDITOR Quinn Russell Brown, ’13 STAFF WRITER Julie Davidow magazine.washington.edu Located in the middle of South Lake Union’s CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jim Caple, Rebekah Denn, Brooke Fisher, bustling tech scene, Mirabella offers active Julie Garner, Benjamin Gleisser, Manisha Jha, Nancy Joseph, Sarah McQuate, Graham retirement living with no shortage of ways to Pruss, Eric Wagner, Jevin West spend your days. Whatever you’re in the mood for, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Daniel Berman, Scott Eklund, Brandon Hill, chances are you’ll find it within walking distance Meron Menghistab, David Oh, Emile Pitre, Mark Stone, Corinne Thrash, Dennis Wise, of Mirabella. Popular landmarks like the Seattle Ron Wurzer, Kiliii Yuyan Art Museum, Pike Place Market, and Lake Union CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS Joe Anderson, Olivier Kugler, Philippe Park’s gorgeous waterfront are just around the Lechien, David Plunkert, Anthony Russo

EDITORIAL OFFICES corner, along with countless shopping and dining Phone 206-543-0540 Email [email protected] opportunities. Our luxury apartment homes Fax 206-685-0611 4333 Brooklyn Ave. N.E. feature the finest appointments and stunning MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR UW Tower 01, Box 359559 Seattle, WA 98195-9559 views, with on-site restaurants, a fitness and Creativity, innovation, collaboration WRITE US! aquatic center, and much more. As a continuing Email [email protected] are the special ingredients Online magazine.washington.edu care retirement community, our in-house Letters may be edited for length or clarity. By Jon Marmor healthcare services will be there for you as your WRONG ADDRESS? Reader response to the new University of Quinn have taken this magazine’s storytell- Write us at needs change, providing the ultimate peace of Washington Magazine has been over- ing to a whole new level, combining their University of Washington Magazine whelmingly positive. While our whole team abilities with the redesign to bolster our Box 359559, Seattle, WA 98195-9559 mind for the future. deserves credit, two of the biggest reasons national reputation for scintillating images Or: [email protected] for the success are members of the maga- that connect deeply with readers. PLACE AN AD? zine staff: Art Director Ken Shafer and They build and paint props and backdrops SagaCity Media, Inc. photographer Quinn Russell Brown. for photo shoots. They spend hours in the 509 Olive Way, Suite 305, Seattle, WA 98101 Ken is the longest-serving member of library of the UW School of Art + Art History Jeff Adams, ’83 Call today to schedule a tour! this publication, having been part of + Design to find inspiration. [email protected], 206.454.3007 Columns magazine since 1990. He’s an Their collective images are astounding: Carol Cummins 206-254-1441 artist of rare talent who honed his skills inside the robotics lab of the Bill & Melinda [email protected], 206.454.3058 over a 40-year career, creating many logos Gates Center for Computer Science & you know—the Seattle Sounders, Seattle Engineering; portraits of student leaders UW Magazine is published quarterly by the UW mirabellaliving.com/seattle Storm and Tiger Woods, as well as projects who pushed the UW in the 1960s to create Alumni Association and administered jointly with for National Geographic, Nordstrom and the first office of minority affairs and diver- the UW for graduates and friends of the UW (ISSN Microsoft. Quinn has been on the magazine sity in America; or the movie set they built 2689-8349; Canadian Publication Agreement staff for just three years. He is our digital to capture Greg Olson, ’83, the legendary #40845662). Opinions expressed are those of editor and an incredibly adept portrait Seattle Art Museum film noir expert. the signed contributors or the editors and do not photographer. One of his photographs was Their story is one of intergenerational necessarily represent the UW’s official position. recently accepted by the Smithsonian’s mentorship that is a nod to the history of This magazine does not endorse, directly or by National Portrait Gallery for an Columns magazine and a recognition of its implication, any products or services advertised exhibition. rejuvenation as University of Washington except those sponsored directly by the UWAA. Re- What is the basis for their award-winning Magazine. It’s two minds working together turn undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Station work? Creativity and innovation. Ken and in the art of storytelling. Lucky us. A, PO Box 54, Windsor, ON N9A 6J5 CANADA.

ILLUSTRATION BY DAVID PLUNKERT 8 UW MAGAZINE Mirabella Seattle is a Pacific Retirement Services community and an equal housing opportunity. JOIN THE CONVERSATION (Letters may be edited for length or clarity) Email: [email protected] Online: magazine.washington.edu U.S. mail: University of Washington Magazine, Campus Box 359559, Seattle, WA 98195-9559 ROAR FROM THE CROWD

U District memories blocking view corridors of the water are and I revisited Vietnam. Taking in the War CORRECTION three examples of how the UW missed Museum exhibits, you witness the devas- Thank you for your cover photo of the aging opportunities to do right. Let’s hope the tation of bombings and Agent Orange on We misspelled Varsity Theater (“Coming Attraction: The UW truly steps up to help build a livable the people, but at the end you witness Roland Hjorth’s New U District,” December). Does anyone neighborhood for all residents. exhibits hoping for peaceful communica- name in our remember what preceded the Varsity at Casey Corr, Yakima tion and friendship with former enemies. December issue. that location? The real surprise of your Dale L. Schultz, ’65, Seattle A corrected article was the two-page spread of the Four 5030 House obituary is on Corners Art & Frame Shop at 4305 No-No Boy page 61. We University Way N.E. From 1940 until 1963, Experiences regret the error. that was the location of the Yormark Jewelry Your story about the UW students who In 1999, I enrolled in “Asian American store. One Christmas Eve, a sailor from shared a house on 17th Avenue N.E. in the History and Literature,” a UW Tacoma Sand Point Naval Air Station came in. He early ’80s (“The House at 5030,” December) course taught by Peter Bacho. On our read- took some folded money and change, brought back memories of the house at ing list was “No-No Boy” (“Getting the plunked it on the counter and asked, “What 5018 I shared with six grad students a Story Right,” December). That learning can you give me for this?” By the way, an experience was one of the most compelling open-door grocery store was at the Varsity decade earlier. Your article prompted me to look up those old housemates and find of my college adventures. location. Laurie Martin, ’00, Vashon Ben Yormark, ’48, ’59, ’64, Seattle out who we became over the last half-century. I was pleased to see a UW official pledge Claudia Gorbman, ’69, ’72, ’78, Poulsbo Feeling out of place to try “our hardest” to help make the U District a great neighborhood because past Vietnam experiences Your article (“An Ecologist in the City,” practices have not always been encourag- December) made me more aware that rac- ing. At times, the UW was not the best Your article “Veterans Visit Vietnam” was ism often goes hand in hand with being neighbor. Changing the waterfront along one to which I could sincerely relate. I “out of place.” I hope for more tolerance Portage Bay with massive new buildings, graduated in June 1965 and served in with this new awareness. pushing out maritime businesses and Vietnam in 1966. In 2014, my wife, Gael, Valerie Nordberg, UW Magazine Online

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10 UW MAGAZINE

STATEOFART THE The Wonder of Warashina Being an artist was not the career Patti Warashina’s parents had humorous figurative sculptures that explore the absurdity and in mind for her when she was growing up in Spokane. Her father, foibles of human nature, as well as feminism and other political a Japanese immigrant, and her second-generation Japanese and social topics. The UW art professor emerita is revered by American mother encouraged Patti and her two siblings to take generations of ceramic artists and collectors. She will be honored NEWS AND RESEARCH FROM THE UW their education seriously so they could find careers that would in April in Washington, D.C., as the 2020 Smithsonian Visionary support them as adults. Warashina enrolled at the UW intent on Artist. Photograph by Daniel Berman becoming a dental hygienist. However, one day she took a required elective in beginning drawing. It captivated her and compelled This issue’s cover story, “The Wonder of Warashina,” is a digital-first her to take more art classes, which ultimately introduced her to package designed to be explored on our website, magazine.uw.edu, the material of clay. That did it! Luckily, she switched majors and with a desktop or a mobile device. Through video, audio and went on to become one of America’s foremost ceramic artists. photography, you can see our Smithsonian sculptor at work in a PATTI WARASHINA Now 80, Warashina, ’62, ’64, continues to create satirical and way that the two-dimensional page could only dream of doing.

COURTESY MEREDITH CLAUSEN CORINNE THRASH

began with a summer abroad in high school. “It was my first taste of Paris, and boy, I Bonjour Paris remember it so well,” she says, recalling the pleasure of her first Parisian café and A professor shares her Paris apartments with UW scholars the aroma of fresh-baked baguettes. A decade later she returned through a Fulbright By Nancy Joseph dissertation grant to research La Samaritaine, an iconic department store Since graduate school, Meredith Clausen, built in the Art Nouveau style in 1910. an architectural historian, dreamt of owning “It was one of the first exposed steel- her own apartment in Paris—where she framed buildings in Paris, a radically new could immerse herself in a city she loved. I found an apartment structural system inspired in part by the “I’m not wealthy,” says the professor of architect Louis Sullivan’s work in Chicago,” art history and architecture. “But very early that was old and says Clausen. “It bore the impact of the on, I decided this was something I wanted industrial revolution in its materials and to do.” falling apart, but industrial processes, but was combined She joined the UW faculty in 1979, and perfectly located. and softened by detailing that was fully by the early 1990s had saved enough to Art Nouveau and all hand done.” buy her first apartment in a working-class more centrally located Paris apartment While her research includes 19th- and neighborhood on the periphery of Paris. using income from her first. 20th-century architecture, particularly in She rented it out, and watched its value “I found an apartment in the 5th ar- the postwar United States, she has made skyrocket as the area gentrified. In 2005, rondissement (the Latin Quarter) that was good use of the second apartment. It’s she returned to Paris on a fellowship that old and falling apart, but perfectly located,” available to other academics, including provided housing in the heart of the city. says Clausen, “so I got it for a good price UW graduate students. Clausen relished living near the city’s mu- and later remodeled it with scholars in “The main reason for getting the apart- seums, national archives and other scholarly mind.” ment,” she says, “was to make it available resources, and decided to buy a second, Clausen’s interest in the City of Light for other people.”

12 UW MAGAZINE

FROM WASHINGTON NEWS

ONE HOSPITAL, TWO CAMPUSES Rise and Shine In January, Northwest Hospital became a The Foster School’s Ascend program boosts small business nationwide or housing services and systems of care. second campus of the UW Medical Cen- When I transferred to the UW from the ter, creating one hospital on two cam- By Julie Davidow Seattle community colleges, I had some puses. The 281-bed community hospital experience with mobility, housing insta- about 5 miles north of the UW Seattle A UW program to help Washington small businesses Verchot says. And it works. bility and the need for social support. As campus opened in 1960 to serve a grow- owned by people of color, women and veterans has The national program is funded by JPMorgan Chase a child, I vacationed across the country ing area of the city that was underserved expanded to 13 cities across the country, with three with a three-year, $2.5 million grant. An additional with my parents and “snowbird” grand- in medical care. In 1997, Northwest Hospi- more cities slated to join this year. $250,000 will help fund the center’s ongoing efforts parents in RVs. I lived in a group home for tal began collaborating with the UW and The Consulting and Business Development Center’s in Seattle. In the Puget Sound region, the center is minors, failed out of high school and was ultimately joined the UW system in 2009 briefly homeless at 15. After reconnecting Ascend program is based on the research of William already working with companies and agencies like GRAHAM PRUSS while remaining a separate nonprofit. By Bradford, a finance professor and the Foster School Seattle City Light to boost their contracts with busi- with my family at 18, I was dependent on dissolving the nonprofit and integrating of Business’s first African American dean. Bradford nesses owned by women and people of color. medical and housing support for my own the financial, clinical and administrative found that businesses owned by people of color are Rather than parachuting into cities with initiatives family as a teen parent. components of the two hospitals, the hindered by structural barriers to accessing money, that end when funding dries up, Ascend encourages When I conducted undergraduate hon- two facilities can operate under a single markets and management education. connections that will outlast the grant period, Verchot ors reseach in anthropology, I wanted to license. The integration allows them to There’s a reason tech hubs like Seattle and Silicon says. As such, programs are taking shape based on incorporate my past experiences to under- expand access for patients, reduce ad- Valley are booming, says Michael Verchot, co-founder local conditions and around institutions that already stand contemporary Seattle. ministrative complexity, enhance quality and director of the now 25-year-old center. Networks have deep connections to their communities. In Through my last decade of research, I and reduce costs. learned that people who inhabit public of venture capital, entrepreneurs and innovators feed Chicago, for example, the University of Chicago and off each other and fuel growth. Meanwhile, median Northwestern University are working with local busi- parking often choose it as an alternative STAR PROFESSOR

revenues at white-owned companies are five times nesses; in Atlanta, the participation of Morehouse, a to cost-prohibitive housing or emergency At a time when issues of open science, in- higher than at black-owned companies and 1 1/2 historically black college, is key. shelter. The number of extreme low-income tellectual property and national security times more than Latinx-owned businesses. The Ascend model goes back to the center’s roots mobile home parks is shrinking, and with- are affecting international partnerships, Bradford’s insight is the foundation of a program— providing management education and connecting out access to a private place, a life in public astronomy professor Paula Szkody, an called the Three-M model—to cultivate local businesses owners of color with financing. “We’ve parking is the only option available to many. expert in binary stars, is taking the lead ecosystems that correct the imbalance of funding, been building toward this for 25 years,” Verchot says. In response, cities have criminalized sleep- at the American Astronomical Society. access to markets and management education by “Chase was trying to figure out how do they really ing in vehicles and targeted “car ranchers” Szkody earned her doctorate in astrono- connecting women- and minority-owned businesses move the needle. They were looking around the country who rent “vehicle apartments” to people my at the UW in 1975 and joined the AAS with universities, community development corpora- asking who’s got a good idea. They saw our work and in need. while in graduate school. As the society’s Seniors never had it so good. tions and banks. “It’s an amazingly simple structure,” said, ‘That’s something we want to invest in.’” Cities can, and should, include vehicle president, she will help fulfill its mission residents in community planning. to enhance and to share our scientific un- Fortunately, the number of “safe parking” derstanding of the universe. Another big programs across the West Coast is growing. concern she faces in her term, which runs We Need to Talk About For decades in the U.K., national networks until 2022, is the need to regulate dark of “halting sites” provided a model of making skies for the continued night operation space for unsettled and excluded neighbors. of telescopes. “Satellite companies are Seniors never Vehicle Residency These spaces, alongside extreme-low-in- sending up many satellites for high-speed come mobile home lots, require community internet,” she says. The light reflected had it so good. support to nurture and stabilize existing By Graham Pruss from that equipment prevents obser- homes. vations of objects in many areas of the sky. The AAS has about 7,700 members The thousands of people across the United place for people unsettled by natural di- including physicists, mathematicians, ge- States who are living in their vehicles need sasters, violence, urban displacement, ologists and engineers. legal spaces to park and live. limited access to housing, eviction or per- Criminalizing a form While we don’t have an accurate count sonal crisis. For nearly a century, car HELPING GRAD STUDENTS OF COLOR of vehicle residents because they often camping and RV living have been consid- of shelter causes undue In 1970, the University created an office hide their homes, and are routinely ered socially acceptable. What defines to help students of color thrive in grad- pushed to “move along,” we know this someone who lives in a mobile home as and disproportionate uate school at a time when nearly all community is growing. According to homeless seems to be less about their harm to vulnerable the faculty and most of their classmates annual King County reports, 3,372 people choice of shelter than that shelter’s were white. Today, while the UW has lived in vehicles in public parking spaces location. people. made strides in diversifying its faculty, in 2018—nearly four times more than a The mobile home is immensely valuable there is still a need to serve students FOUNDED BY UW GRADS IN 2009 TO SUPPORT SENIORS decade earlier. Of the approximately to its occupant. Issuing a ticket, impounding You can help as an ally, supporting the from underrepresented minority groups. IN HOUSEHOLD ENVIRONMENTS 6,000 people reported as “unsheltered” a vehicle-home or banishing overnight inclusion of vehicle residents in public The Graduate Opportunities & Minori- HSC providesHSC was in-home founded caregivers, by UW telehealth, grads and in nursing2009 to services serve for the seniors in King County, roughly half live in a car, public parking won’t solve larger social meetings, local media, neighborhood or- ty Achievement Program helps students at home. Longhouse provides vibrant adult family homes for seniors with truck, van, bus or RV. And yet, many and economic challenges. Criminalizing ganizing and planning within social alumni of all colleges and universi�es. We �rovide find role models and provides financial dementia or other chronic conditions who cannot stay at home. vehicle residents do not consider them- a form of shelter causes undue and dispro- services and housing systems. Together and other kinds of support. Students first Call to learn more! selves homeless. portionate harm to vulnerable people, and we can shift the paradigm to include the connect with GO-MAP as they consider a reﬁned in‐home care for seniors. Call today! They reject the label “home-less” because often does not meet the greater needs of thousands of neighbors who know a vehicle graduate program, and many cite the of- they may have used their vehicles as hous- of communities. as home. fice as a reason they chose the UW over ing for years, even decades. Insisting a Rather than a “punitive push” to “move Graham Pruss, ’11, ’16, ’19, wrote his other top universities. GO-MAP teaches vehicle resident is homeless denies their along,” a “positive pull” can include the doctoral thesis on vehicle residency with and supports students about topics such Seattle: 206.599.9990 agency by defining their choice of “home” thousands of neighbors who currently live the support of a grant from the National as addressing racial microaggressions, Bellevue: 425.241.4900 206-366-1771 as inappropriate. in mobile shelters within our communities, Science Foundation. He currently lectures negotiating a salary, and organizing and www.HuskySeniorCare.com www.Longhouse.com Vehicle shelters have always offered a along with those who use our emergency in anthropology. completing a dissertation.

ILLUSTRATION BY JOE ANDERSON 14 UW MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 15 www.HuskySeniorCare.com Baby’s Breath A new smart speaker can both soothe and monitor a sleeping baby By Sarah McQuate

A team from UW Medicine and the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering has used hardware similar to an Amazon Echo to create BreathJunior, a smart speaker that plays white noise and records how the noise is reflected back to detect the breathing motions of an infant’s chest. “We sought to develop a system that combines soothing white noise with the ability to unobtrusively measure an infant’s motion and breathing,” says Jacob Sunshine, assistant professor of anesthesiology and pain medicine. With National Science Foundation funding, the team developed a device to track both small motions (such as breathing), and large motions (such as moving around in a crib). It can also pick up the sound of crying. “In just a few years, we have come a long way from monitoring large motions in adults to extracting the tiny motion of a newborn infant’s breathing,” says Shyam Gollakota, associate professor of computer science and engineering who leads the UW Computing for Health group. DENNIS WISE What’s next? Perhaps a medical tricorder (think “Star Trek”) that can, without physical contact, monitor a variety of vital signs.

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1 5 Suzzallo Library McMahon Hall Collegiate Gothic, 1926 Brutalist, 1965 This temple to books was The 11-story concrete dormitory boasts balco- designed by Carl Gould, nies and spectacular views to the east. the founding dean of the 6 School of Architecture. Glenn Hughes Penthouse Theater 2 Streamline Moderne, 1940 4 Denny Hall Designed by a drama faculty member, Renaissance Revival, 1875 this was the first theater-in-the- The first building on round built in the U.S. campus, Denny was built 7 with brick and sandstone PACCAR Hall and inspired by a French Contextual, 2010 chateau. Home to the Foster 3 School of Business, the Sieg Hall award-winning building Modern, 1960 boasts a four-story THE SPLENDOR With its modern twist atrium that captures OF A BUILT on Gothic elements, it a view of nearby is often considered the Denny Hall. ENVIRONMENT least-appealing building on campus. Originally, the regents planned to fill the University W D R N 5 4 of Washington with colle- UW Faculty Club giate Gothic-style buildings. International Style, 1960 But the Seattle campus This mid-century jewel was designed by UW now showcases shining alums Paul Hayden Kirk examples of different styles and Victor Steinbrueck. and eras. In creating this graphic, we used details from Professor Norman Johnston’s history “The 6 Fountain and the Moun- tain.” As he wrote: “From an acreage generous in scale and wonderfully endowed by nature with water and mountain vistas ... [the campus] has been nurtured into the splendor of a built environment unmatched in the league of university campuses.” 7

18 UW MAGAZINE

EXPERT

RESEARCH ROUNDUP

CORAL CONSUMPTION Microplastic particles—which come from synthetic clothing, bottles, plastic bags and cosmetics—are as about common in our PARENTAL INFLUENCE Arsenic and Old Lakes oceans as their sources are in our daily lives. By Brooke Fisher And corals and other marine organisms are eating them. Now a UW team in the School Several times a month, Samantha of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences is running Fung, a graduate student in civil a study to determine what harm the microplastics may be causing. In the lab, and environmental engineering, they’ve found that some corals are more heads to a small, shallow lake in likely to eat microplastics when consuming Federal Way to follow up on recent, other food. Corals use tentacle-like arms and surprising, arsenic-related to sweep food into their mouths. They can discoveries. rely on algae for energy, but most also con- “It’s very rare to study a lake sume drifting animals. Rising ocean as small as Lake Killarney,” says temperatures can cause corals to lose their Fung, who has worked on a re- symbiotic algae partner. Some have adapted search project at the 31-acre

by shifting their diets to feed on zooplank- lake for close to two years. “This ton, tiny marine organisms about the size project is aimed at determining of microplastics. “Microplastics are not as which lakes are most susceptible simple as a life-or-death threat for corals,” to contaminants and have a high- says Associate Professor Jacqueline Padilla- er chance of arsenic being trans- Gamiño, senior author of the study. “It’s ferred up the food web.” about total energy lost … it might not kill The source of Lake Killarney’s DENNIS WISE them, but there will be less energy for them arsenic lies about 15 miles away to grow and reproduce.” The bigger concern in Tacoma, where an ASARCO copper smelter operated for about a century. The smelter emitted air Graduate student pollution that carried heavy metals across the Puget Sound region. Although it was Samantha Fung closed 35 years ago, the legacy of sediment contamination remains a long-term source and Professor Alex of toxins in the ecosystem. And until now, the water-related hazards have been largely Horner-Devine take overlooked. Lake Killarney is surrounded by homes, and people fish there for rainbow samples from Lake trout, largemouth bass and yellow perch. Killarney. After a surprising discovery a couple of years ago that some shallow lakes have characteristics that facilitate the movement of arsenic from sediment at the bottom of a lake up into the food web, a team of UW researchers opened an investigation. They If You Got High as a Teen, Will Your Kids Do the Same? wanted to study the movement of water and the heavy metals’ impact on aquatic life. The project is supported by UW’s Superfund Research Program and led by Rebec- By Julie Davidow ca Neumann, associate professor of environmental engineering, with UW Tacoma As- is waste management, she says. “We don’t sociate Professor Jim Gawel. “Arsenic fortunately doesn’t pose much of a contact risk, know where plastic goes, where it stays, Children are more likely to use marijuana if their parents smoked used in the past year. We didn’t ask whether they used in front but the biggest concern is ingestion,” Neumann says. “A possible exposure pathway is who grabs it, and what are the mechanisms during adolescence, according to new research from the UW of their kids. people eating snails, crayfish or fish, which may have high levels of arsenic.” by which we get it back. We are just at the School of Social Work. The greater risk—about 2.5 times higher For the past four years, the researchers have been investigating lakes in the Tacoma Are your findings even more relevant now that marijuana is tip of understanding these implications.” than children whose parents abstained in their youth—holds true legal in some form in 33 states? vicinity, with a special focus on Lake Killarney and Angle Lake. Although both are even if the parents no longer use pot. Now that recreational small lakes in urban settings, they have very different depths: At 52 feet, Angle Lake marijuana is legal in 11 states (including Washington), Marina For a long time, we lumped marijuana together with other illegal COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT is about four times as deep as Lake Killarney. Both lakes have similar levels of arsenic Epstein, research scientist at the Social Development Research drugs. Now we just have to be much more nuanced. We have to The Carnegie Foundation recently recog- in their lakebeds, but plankton in the shallow lake accumulated up to 10 times more Group and lead author of the recent study, says we should be think about it more like alcohol. There’s nothing illegal about nized the UW for its wide-ranging arsenic than those in the deep lake. asking more questions to help parents and doctors better under- parents or adults using marijuana, but more information about community engagement through research stand the generational impact of pot use. that use needs to be teased out. How frequently do people use? and teaching. The elective designation was How long have they been using? All of these things play a role conferred on all three campuses for different Why would a parent’s teenage habits impact their kids’ in determining risk for children’s use. From this study we know that might really reverse the trend for increasing reasons. Programs like Urban@UW bring marijuana use? that parents’ history matters, so we need to account for that. Adolescents Are Not melanoma incidence,” says Margaret Madeleine, a teaching and research into communities That’s the trillion-dollar question. It could have something to do co-senior author of the study and a Fred Hutch epi- around our region to address issues like What can parents do (whether they’ve used marijuana in the with how parents communicate about drug use with their children. past or not) to reduce the likelihood that their kids will use? Among the Sun Set demiologist specializing in cancer-incidence trends. housing, pollution and public health. Maybe they’re more permissive because they think, “Oh, I did Melanoma, triggered by ultraviolet radiation from the Community highlights from the Tacoma it and I turned out OK.” Maybe it’s a mental health issue. Maybe It’s not like they can go back and change their history [with Cases of melanoma among teens and young adults sun, is the most common skin cancer and the fifth campus include work with Joint Base Lewis- the parents who used marijuana in adolescence are heavier marijuana]. Even if they’re using now, they can still be effective. declined markedly from 2006 to 2015—even as the most common of all cancers in the country. If it is McChord to help service members transition drinkers. There are many things that could be going on. It would We just need to empower parents to talk to their children and incidence of skin cancers continued to increase among detected and treated early, patients have a better than to civilian life. The Bothell campus engages be fascinating to dig into that. set clear guidelines about their expectations. With legalization, older adults and the general population. The decline 95% chance of surviving five years or more. If not with a Seattle Children’s center to provide obviously the availability of marijuana has skyrocketed. Many of may be the result of public health campaigns encour- caught early, though, it can spread to structures such programs and classes for young adults with If a parent never smokes around the kids, only uses edibles the parents [from an earlier study] we interviewed expressed aging the use of sunscreen, hats and staying in the as the lungs, brain, or liver and become lethal. The autism spectrum disorder. “While we don’t and locks away marijuana, are kids still more at risk? confusion. They weren’t sure how to talk to their kids about shade. The findings of the research team at the UW study was, in part, to determine whether public health do public service for accolades, we do care Parents might not be as good at hiding their marijuana use as marijuana, how to craft a message. In my next study, I plan to School of Medicine and Fred Hutchinson Cancer programs to increase sun protection awareness have about how effective our work is,” President they think they are. Having been a kid, I would say that kids are test whether our existing tools—the kinds of parenting skills we Research Center were based on national cancer-registry had an impact. The work was supported in part by Ana Mari Cauce said in an announcement very observant and curious. But I don’t have an answer to that know help keep kids from using drugs—still work if parents are data. “There seems to be a breakthrough happening National Institutes of Health grants. Brian Donohue of the classification. from this study. For this analysis, we just asked parents if they using marijuana themselves.

20 UW MAGAZINE ILLUSTRATION BY PHILIPPE LECHIEN SPRING 2020 21

SCORECARD DARHIAN MILLS Off and Running SPORTS REPORT If you ask Darhian Mills how she got started in track and field, LAKE TO KEEP HUSKIES brace yourself for her answer: “I don’t like to run.” Funny, seeing AT HIGH-WATER MARK how the fifth-year grad student from Bothell holds the school After leading the Huskies to a Rose Bowl, Kicks, Kills and record in the 400-meter hurdles and earned first team All-America the College Football Playoff, two Pac-12 honors last year. Interview by Jim Caple. championships and six consecutive Ap- Lots of Thrills ple Cup victories in his six years as head The Husky women’s volleyball and men’s soccer How did you get into running? coach, Chris Petersen decided to step teams shared something in common this past I started running my sophomore year of high school. I really did down in December. He will remain at the fall—both made the Elite Eight round in their not like running. I did every other sport that didn’t have running. UW in a leadership advisory role for Hus- respective NCAA playoffs. I really wasn’t an active kid. I liked being at home and staying ky athletics. Calling himself a “Husky for The men’s soccer team (17-4) recorded its inside. And then in ninth grade, my dad took me to one of his life,” Petersen said: “I’m excited for where second-highest win total ever to reach the NCAA longtime friend’s daughter’s track meet. And I was like, ‘OK, this this takes me, because I do have a lot of quarterfinals for the second time in school history. is kind of cool.’ … I started because my parents didn’t want me thoughts and ideas. And passion for help- Junior Blake Bodily and sophomore Ethan Bartlow to sit on the couch anymore. ing others.” earned first- and second-team All-American hon- Athletic Director Jen Cohen didn’t have ors, respectively. How did you get so good at it? to look very far to find a new head coach, “It took the entire team to win the Pac-12 title,

I think a lot of it was natural. Running for every great athlete is naming defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake but two players really found a way to tip the balance back in our favor,” says head coach a natural thing. And constantly working at it—training my body, to take over. Lake, who played football for Jamie Clark, who has led the Huskies to seven NCAA tournament berths in the past training my eating habits. It’s a huge mental game as well. Once Eastern Washington in the ’90s, had been eight seasons. “Blake created the big play time and time again, whether it be unlocking I realized that I do kind of like running, I love the sport and I an assistant with several teams, including a defense off the dribble or playing a cross that needed to be tapped in. On the other The Huskies men’s love hurdling, I just want to be better at it. two in the NFL. He coached with Petersen end, Ethan put out so many fires for us. Any time we needed a big defensive play, or a soccer team enjoyed sense of calm at the back, he provided it.” a season for the ages, How did you choose the UW? Women’s volleyball (27-7) reached the Elite Eight and was ranked No. 6 in the sea- Coach going 17-4 and making I received letters from Michigan and schools on both coasts, but son-ending poll. Outside hitter Kara Bajema broke the UW season record for kills with Petersen it to the NCAA Elite because it was so late in the game, I didn’t have a lot of colleges 597 and was a first-team All-American. Sophomore setter Ella May Powell, who recorded Eight for the second fighting over me. I initially wanted to move to California for the 1,395 assists, earned third-team All-America honors. time in school history. sun. But I realized then I wasn’t ready to leave my family yet. I “Beating No. 1 Stanford at Stanford [during the regular season] was special because just wanted to be as close as I could but far enough away to have we accomplished something so many UW teams couldn’t do for years,” Bajema says. my own independence. Washington just felt like a great fit. “Sports isn’t all about climbing to the top, it’s also about the growth and knowledge you attain along the way. I wouldn’t change any experience or relationship I have had What is it like running the hurdles? at UW because they all got me to where I am today.” The short hurdles are so much fun, but they’re definitely like my Achilles heel because they are so quick. If you mess up, you don’t have any time to fix it. But I love the 400 hurdles, because if you mess up, it’s OK. You have however many meters left to fix it. Coach Professional Caregiving at its Best You’re always focusing on the next hurdle, the next hurdle. Every Lake time I tell somebody who doesn’t run track that I do the hurdles,

they’re like, ‘Oh my god!’ You’re not supposed to run full speed ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS (3) at an object, but we do it. Mostly with grace.

What has been your favorite race? I guess it would be when I broke the school record. That was the second round of West Regional Preliminaries. Once I crossed the finish line and looked up, I had forgotten what the school record was, so it didn’t hit me. I was tired after the race, and was resting my hands on my knees. Then I looked up again and I at Boise State and came to the UW with realized, ‘That’s the school record, and that’s what I’ve been Petersen in 2014. wanting since I came here.’ It was one of my biggest goals, and “I’ve been dreaming of this opportunity I reached it. for as long as I can remember,” Lake said, “and I can’t think of a better place to do it What are you majoring in? than in the world-class city of Seattle and I’m a fifth-year graduate student. Last year, I received my bach- at such a prestigious university with a rich elor’s degree in communication with a minor in diversity. Currently, football tradition.” I’m in a one-year master’s program in Intercollegiate Athletics Cohen said Lake has “crazy energy.” Leadership. We focus on athlete administration and coaching. “He’s a fierce competitor,” she said. “He’s an incredibly great teacher of the Are you aiming to participate in the 2020 Olympics? game. And he has a unique ability to con- The U.S. team is stacked with many amazing 400 hurdlers, so it nect with his students. He cares about Proudly Serving the Husky Community for 15 Years is a difficult team to make. But I’m one-quarter Filipino, so I them both on and off the field. He also has might be able to run for the Filipino national team. a lot of confidence about his vision and fu- We provide our professionally trained caregivers with career advancement ture for this program.” opportunities, scholarships and the best benefits in the industry. You can rest at Do you want to be a coach? Besides being excited for the new op- ease knowing that you’re loved ones are well taken care of at home. Yes. Eventually I hope to run professionally after college, then portunity, Lake is grateful for his relation- become a coach. I really want to work in athletic administration, ship with Petersen. Said Lake: “He’s been maybe become a Division I athletic director. Those are the goals. a mentor and a friend to me, and he will Call 206-237-7915 or visit fedeltahomecare.com/UW continue to be a friend and mentor to me.” PHOTOGRAPH BY RON WURZER

22 UW MAGAZINE WINTER 2019 23 A Life Study A devastating fire makes Grace Flott struggle for control of her body—and her life

By Julie Davidow Paintings by Grace Flott

race Flott has spent hours and days staring at her Gbody—searching the ridges, gouges and lines in her skin for what it means to live with the scars. With her body forever altered and her youth punctured by grief, she wondered who she would be and how would she become that person? How would her life take shape after surviving a deadly apartment fire as a UW undergrad-

uate in Paris? Forged in the Flames Nearly a decade later, Flott, now 29 and an artist, perches (Self Portrait at 28) on a stool in her studio. The bright room with white walls Oil on Panel, 2019

24 UW MAGAZINE Cast of a Woman’s Torso Oil on Linen, 2017

and high ceilings is carved out of a former warehouse on Airport Way in SODO. She shares the space with another artist and is just settling in after finishing a master’s program at Gage Academy of Art. A few of her recent paintings lean against the wall. Most come from an autobiograph- ical series she created for her thesis, which she based on the experience of surviving and rebuilding her body and her life after the fire. Flott is trained as a representational painter. Realism is her goal. In a self-portrait, the artist holds her palette in one hand, a brush in the other. Her gaze is set straight on, looking for the balance of light and shadows that will capture what she sees. “I wanted the burns to be the focal point,” Flott says. “I wanted the viewer to be confronted with that, and I wanted it to be a point of conversation. “In our culture there’s not a lot of room to talk about people who exist outside of the norm.” In April 2011, Flott was 20 years old and nine months into a study-abroad program at Sciences Po (the Paris Institute of Political Studies). She was speaking fluent French, writing 10-page papers in her second language and getting to know students from all over the world. For Flott, who grew up in Spokane, Paris was “very much a dream city.” Near the end of a late night out, she and her friends stopped at another friend’s tiny apartment in Northeast Paris. Her Eye of David group was preparing to leave when an Charcoal on Paper, 2016 explosion ripped through the building. Someone opened the door to the hallway. A backdraft created by an open window sucked in the smoke. “It happened so quickly,” Flott remembers. She couldn’t breathe. She felt unbearable heat on her skin. There was no obvious escape in the I care about unfamiliar building. “The only thing that was logical to me was to get to the window, but not to jump,” Flott says. “It was to literally breathe one visibility for all more time before I died.” She watched another person put their leg over the window sill and fall. She did the same thing, dropping four stories to kinds of bodies. the ground. “I blacked out on the way down.” Flott woke in shock and terrible pain with a compression fracture in her lower back, a broken ankle and 50% of her body burned. Her roommate and best friend, Jasmine Jahanshahi, lay dead nearby. Another friend, Louise Brown, also died

26 UW MAGAZINE Can I Get the Door for You? Oil on Panel, 2018

that day, along with two Swedish students and a firefighter. After a brief time in a Paris hospital, Flott was flown to Seattle, where she en- tered Harborview Medical Center for a seven-week stay. That was followed by months of painful recovery at home with her parents in Spokane. She used a walker, crutches and a cane while learning to walk again, and wore compression garments to mitigate scarring from her burns. Still, she was determined to finish her final year of college as soon as possible. “I just wanted to get back to normal,” Flott says. “I felt like this huge part of myself had been taken away from me and I was really fighting to get it back.” She interned at a Spokane law firm once she could get Making art around without a wheelchair and started classes again at the UW nine months after the fire. She graduated in 2013. “I was just young enough that I managed became to bounce back,” she says. After graduation, Flott worked as a union organizer for healthcare workers, continuing the activism she had taken up as a UW student. While doing better physically, she strug- a lifeline. gled with depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. She felt distant from her peers—college students and recent grads who mostly agonized about dating, exams and finding jobs. She remembers thinking, “I almost died.” Making art, a hobby she’d always enjoyed but never seriously pursued, became a lifeline. Painting affirmed her social-justice commitments by offering a medium to elevate unheard voices. It also quieted the voice in her head that told her she would never be safe again. “I realized there was this whole other part of the experience of the fire that I couldn’t put words to.”

Blue Shirt, Red Ribbon Soon she started sketching and taking Oil on Panel, 2018 art classes. At Gage, she learned to apply rigor and an analytical framework to her work. Rather than painting for therapy (“just getting out whatever I felt”), she began to consider what she wanted to say. Several of her paintings depict medical objects similar to the ones she relied on during her recovery, including a back brace hanging with a pair of crutches, and a wheelchair as still life. Surrounded by these canvasses in her studio, she considers her next project. “I would love to do a longer series around non-normative beauty,” she says. “One thing I really care about is greater For more of Flott’s work, see her website at graceathenaflott.com. visibility for all sorts of bodies.”

28 UW MAGAZINE BIG

WIGUW’s startup culture nurtures a growing number of students, proving that an idea, some energy and valuable mentoring can bring business success

By Hannelore Sudermann Photos by David Oh

Keisha Credit has started five Last fall, over cocktails in Cabo San Lucas, to create several successful businesses, made over into the warmly furnished head- companies so far. At 23, she left Keisha Credit, ’11, ’18, found herself talking including a seven-figure custom wig quarters of Lucke by Keisha. “You are in her job at Microsoft to focus full about income disparity to a friendly stranger company. the Lucke studio,” she says gesturing around time on her custom wig company. in the bar. The disparity gap makes things “People of color know hustle,” says the room. Mannequin heads adorned with In 2017, she returned to the UW harder for entrepreneurs of color to prosper. Credit. “But to know what it takes to have thick, lustrous wigs line the back wall. In to earn her master’s degree in It’s a subject the Seattle-based business a business, we don’t have that.” Building the far corner, one of Credit’s employees entrepreneurship and take her owner thinks a lot about. a business is more complex, with relation- styles a bob with a brush and a flat iron. “It was my birthday. I was there on va- ships, politics, culture and many other Further to the left, another worker wraps business to new heights. cation,” she says. “But this is what I wanted things “we don’t get exposed to on an up a few hairpieces that she will take away

to talk about.” As she was unwinding over everyday basis.” But by self-starting her to color. And a third woman sits focused drinks and her conversation with the other first business with only instinct and cour- on a laptop, corresponding with customers. woman turned to race and business, Credit age, and then pursuing a graduate program In all, Credit has six employees. “And I do started sharing the details of her startup in entrepreneurship at the UW, Credit has all the other stuff,” she says. experiences. The other woman, it turns charted her own path to success. In some Credit didn’t take a straight road to own- out, was a senior contributor for Forbes ways, her story is rare. In others, it’s another ing a business. She had planned on a magazine. And last November, Forbes great tale of a Pacific Northwest startup. Microsoft career, having interned at the highlighted Credit as a serial entrepreneur Credit literally lives her work. The two- company as a Garfield High School student. who, despite the disparity gap, has managed car garage of her South Seattle home is She enrolled at the UW to study

30 UW MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 31 programming, but quickly realized it didn’t the inaugural class for a master of science its startup culture from the epic stories of suit her. “I took one class and I dropped in entrepreneurship degree. The yearlong companies like Costco, Microsoft, Amazon it,” she says. She had started college as a program was built for students to bring and Starbucks to the nearly $4 billion in junior thanks to Running Start, and sud- their startups to life. Credit was one of the funding—according to GeekWire—direct- denly she needed a new major. She chose few who already had a successful business. ed to startups in our region last year. While sociology. Then, feeling she was too young “Most of my classmates wanted to be tech much of the scene is software-oriented, to graduate and jump right into work, she entrepreneurs. They wanted to invent the retail should not be overlooked, says Suresh added a communication major and stayed next PayPal,” she says. “But I had a great Kotha, professor of management and re- another year. connect-the-dot, make-a-product search director at the Buerk Center. “We’re While at the UW, Credit started her first business.” in the five top communities in terms of business venture—a house-painting com- Thirty years ago, when the notion of creating companies,” he says, adding us to pany. “I wanted to create opportunities for creating a center for entrepreneurship at a list that includes the Bay Area, Austin, my friends. I didn’t realize at the time I the UW was floating around campus, it Boston and the research triangle in North was acting like an entrepreneur.” After was rare for students to start up their own Carolina. graduating, she did what her family ex- businesses. Now the University has such The region has a vibrant community of pected and went to work for Microsoft. As a center, named for Arthur Buerk, ’58, a small businesses, says Kotha. With two a program manager, she traveled the world serial entrepreneur who helped establish business accelerator programs, the UW and captured customer experiences to it, and the scene is quite different. Today can share in the credit for the startup en- bring back to headquarters. “But I wasn’t students come to the UW with a great ergy. CoMotion, an accelerator started at fulfilled,” she says. “I didn’t feel important. startup idea or a business already underway. the UW in 2009, helps researchers patent, I felt like a number.” They’re hoping to find the tools and class- license and launch startups for the tech- At the same time, a personal trip to Ghana mates to partner with to make it real, says nologies they create. Meanwhile, the Jones provided a chance to explore her heritage. Amy Sallin, director of the UW’s Buerk + Foster Accelerator at the Foster School The experience of self-discovery prompted Center for Entrepreneurship. “They find of Business is strictly for students, designed her to change her hair. “I decided to cut it us because they already know what they to help them through the first six months off and grow this big Afro,” she says. While want to do. It’s in their DNA.” of creating their own companies. the new style suited her personally, it wasn’t Maybe there’s something in the water Of the 55 concepts that have gone going to fly in the corporate world, says here. The Northwest is widely known for through the Jones + Foster Accelerator, 48 Credit. “You should wear a wig,” her hair- Credit, seated, is dresser suggested. In fact, Credit could Lucke by Keisha, pictured with her probably make her own wig, the hairdresser Credit’s most success- employees and some said. High-quality and made with human ful business to date, of the women she hair, it would be far better than the products specializes in crafting mentors in starting generally found in wig shops. custom wigs with their own businesses. Soon, Credit was not only making cus- human hair. tom wigs for herself, she was making them for her Delta Sigma Theta sorority sisters. are still in business. Last year’s awardees our app and find work,” he says. The first the accelerator existed when she was a She was a corporate tech manager during offer a sampling of the greater Seattle start- iterations were rough, admits Shaykho. student in the early 1980s. “I would have the week and a wigmaker on the weekend. up scene. Knitrino, for example, is an app “We had to learn to write code, and I had been all over it,” she says. “From age 7, I Nine months later, and three years after created by two sisters for modern-day to mock up the designs for the app. I’m was trying to figure out what I could sell graduating from the UW, Credit quit knitters who can access interactive patterns embarrassed now because they were really to my neighbors. My whole life, I was always Microsoft. through their mobile devices. DopCuff’s terrible.” But through their studies at the working on something.” Today she is a “I didn’t tell my family what I was doing,” team is developing a device that allows UW and by being admitted to the Jones + serial entrepreneur, having co-founded one she says, explaining that in her circle, and certain end-stage heart-failure patients to Foster Accelerator, they’ve had mentors, tech company and solely founded another. in the greater African American commu- measure their blood pressure from home. pro-bono legal advice and resources to She now runs another startup, Pacific Edge nity, people worry when they see you leave For one group of students, the way to a smooth their way. Their hard work paid off Properties, a real estate business. One thing a good-paying job. She just told her folks startup is through technology. Amin in February when the team received Hjorten did learn to do as a student was she was burned out and needed a break. Shaykho, ’18, and his friends have devel- $25,000 in seed money. play the student card to get into companies She wasn’t even sure what her big venture oped a mobile platform where users can The app, which they’ve named Kadama, and talk to leaders and hiring managers. “I would be. “But the wig business was already request services like tutoring, house clean- is already in use by student tutors with would just call and say I’m a student at the going,” she says with a shrug. “So I did ing or dog walking and providers can earn expertise in subjects like math, history and UW and I want to do an informational that.” Her first-year sales grossed more money by doing jobs on their own sched- music. Having officially launched the app interview.” Now she urges current students than $60,000. ules. Shaykho and a friend came up with in November, Shaykho and his team hope to do the same. “Go see them. Build a re- The next couple of years flew by. Word the idea when they were in high school, to soon expand the services to include lationship. They want to help you,” she says. spread about Lucke, and an increasing wishing they could hire people to help errands, pets, housework and yardwork. One of her favorite UW startups to men- number of customers from around the them with their chores at home. Shaykho, who graduated last year, is now tor was Sugar + Spoon, a 2018 project in region—and a few from around the world— “We developed that idea into something a project lead at Apple in Cupertino, the accelerator founded by Ivana Orlovic were eager for her high-quality custom with wider appeal,” says Shaykho. And to California. But he often travels back to and William Hubbell. The two met in a wigs. make it succeed, they wanted to ensure Seattle to work with the rest of the team, Foster School class called “Creating a “I knew the company was growing, but that it was fast, easy and affordable, including co-founder Marwan El-Rukby, Company” and hit upon the idea of devel- I didn’t know why,” Credit says. “I didn’t he says. Students with complicated class who completed his degree in business oping a safe-to-eat raw cookie dough. “I understand organic vs. strategic growth.” schedules, for example, could find side administration in December. love them,” says Hjorten. “They were like That need to know more drove her back jobs “as long as they were back- Now a mentor to UW student startups, sponges. If we made a suggestion, they just to the UW where, in 2017, she enrolled in ground-checked, they could just hop on Lisa Hjorten wishes the Buerk Center and did it. Almost to a fault.” They showed up

32 UW MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 33 for each of their monthly meetings eager for more ideas “and so grateful for the help.” Today they have two food trucks, a storefront on the Ave and a team of A Cornucopia of Companies IN THE OFFICE employees. From socks to sweets, here’s a sampling of UW student startups The Buerk Center sees students from across campus, says Sallin. Students in environmental engineering and applied physics, for example, want to get a degree A-Alpha Bio This startup is about screening drugs before they go to clinical in their science and then create something trials. Based on David Younger’s thesis work, the team developed themselves, she says. “It’s not because they AlphaSeq, a new high-through-put approach for testing the effect of a want to make millions of dollars. It’s because drug on thousands of protein interactions (and potential side effects) they see a way to make a difference and simultaneously. The screening could reduce the amount of want to do it sooner rather than later.” After time it takes to get a drug to market. the UW added a minor in entrepreneurship, the draw to the center deepened. “We now Strideline As high schoolers in 2009, Riley Goodman and have 300 students from 40 different ma- Jake Director started their sock company in a garage with jors,” Sallin says. “They come from all across $700. As college students at the UW, they sold socks out of the campus, take classes together and form trunks of their cars. Their colorful footwear, which they want to be “the most truly interdisciplinary teams.” comfortable socks on Earth,” have been worn by NFL players and celebrities, and And exciting things continue to happen are sold through major retailers such as Nordstrom. at the undergraduate level. Because of de- mand, the “Creating a Company” class has Discovery Health This company provides medical support to remote expanded from one session to five. Students worksites through tele-medical access to expert emergency and occupation- form teams to find ideas, write plans and al medicine physicians. The business now has more than a dozen pitch their businesses in the first quarter, clients in the commercial fishing, towing, transportation, and and then get a bank account and the chance cruise industries, including Trident Seafoods and Foss Maritime. to start up in the second quarter. In 2015 students Sam Tanner and Peter Keckemet Membrion This clean-tech startup developed by Greg Newbloom, ’14, and Professor Lilo took their idea for caffeinated chocolate Pozzo engineers flexible membranes using silica gel—the material in the small bags included for hikers to a business plan competition with products to help them stay dry. Silica gel also can be used in water purification, batteries, and then to the Jones + Foster Accelerator. fuel cells and gas separations. UW-trained engineers and chemists make up much of the Six months later they had their first round team. The company now has $1.5 million in National Science Foundation funding. of seed funding for Joe Chocolate Co. and moved into a production facility. Today Uphill Designs After hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from they have a wholesale production facility Mexico to Canada, Dan Sedlacek, ’14, decided to share his in South Seattle, a factory and shop in Pike handmade hiking gear with others. At the UW, he started Place Market and products on store shelves working with fellow engineering student Mounica (including REI and Whole Foods) across Sonikar, ’14, and MBA student David DeBey, ’15, the country. to design and build an environmentally When it comes to startup ideas, “we see friendly trekking pole. Today Uphill Designs everything,” says Sallin. “I think it reflects makes sustainable bags and purses. the Seattle ecosystem. We’re not all tech. It’s very interesting and well-rounded.” Sugar + Spoon Classmates Ivana Orlovic, ’18, and William Hubbell, ’18, created Keisha Credit is putting her experience Seattle’s first safe-to-eat cookie dough. By eliminating eggs and using heat-treated flour in their recipe, the founders of Sugar + Spoon have been satisfying cravings and education to work again, connecting Varsity Jacket Wireless USB Tiffany Stained-Glass Diploma Frame back to the UW this time as CEO of Paca across Seattle through their two food trucks and a storefront on the Ave. y Paca, a scented candle company that and Necktie Keyboard and Mouse Table Lamp framingsuccess.com “reinvents” the candle with refillable soy Seattle Strong Coffee The “best cold brew coffee” maker in Seattle was founded ubookstore.com fanatics.com memorycompany.com wax, phthalate-free inserts. The idea started friends Evan Oeflein, ’18, Emileigh Thylin, ’17, ’18, and Brian Wipfler, ’18. The with Zachary Dodds, an engineer currently company born out of a class assignment has two main products—Nitro Cold Brew enrolled in the UW master’s in entrepre- and Nitro Dirty Chai—which are sold in over 100 locations across neurship program who met Credit at a the Pacific Northwest. Foster School event. He asked her to co- found his company and help him apply to SclObo This streetwear apparel brand was created for Counter Top StadiumViews 3D be in the latest Jones + Foster cohort. After gamers by gamers: UW Bothell students Niko Picture Frames Refrigerator Wall or Desk Art praying on it, Credit agreed. Richardson, ’17, and Jonathan Augustus, ’19. Each huskyteamstore.com “I’m thankful that the entrepreneurial piece of clothing comes with a collectible card and fansedge.com youthefan.com landscape is shifting,” says Credit. “Now bears art that is specific to the card. “Gamers are an it’s being celebrated that you are leaving underserved group in fashion,” says Richardson. your job to follow your dream. It’s the cool thing now.” TourniTek The medical-device startup committed to fighting limb But, she’s quick to say, you have to be amputations through pre-hospital treatment was founded by MBA alum Pennants Portfolio Schutt Mini Helmet willing to sacrifice for your business, “will- Logan Jacobs, ’17, and Shahram Aarabi, a vascular and trauma surgeon. huskyteamstore.com ubookstore.com schuttsports.com ing to lose it all, willing to endure the stress The technology behind TourniTek was developed by a group of UW and willing to have the fun to get there,” medical researchers. she says. “This is fun for me. But it’s not for everybody.”

realdawgswearpurple WearPurple DawgsReal 34 UW MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 35 AFTER THE ASHES

Scientists knew Mount St. Helens would come back to life after its 1980 eruption. But as a new book reveals, they were blown away by how fast it happened.

JOHN T. BARR / HULTON ARCHIVE By Eric Wagner JOHN T. BARR / HULTON ARCHIVE

36 UW MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 37 The story of the eruption of Mount St. This article President Jimmy Carter toured the area by opportunity to document how living things Helens as most of us know it begins with helicopter four days later, he could only crept back in from the outside world, to two prepositions, at and on, usually in that is an excerpt marvel at the waste. “The moon looks like test on the grandest of scales some of the order and in quick succession: At 8:32 from the a golf course compared to what’s up there,” oldest and most durable theories in ecology a.m., on Sunday, May 18, 1980, a powerful book “After he said to a scrum of media when he re- and evolution about how life responds to earthquake shook the mountain. turned. Local reporters were less glib. a massive disturbance, how it recovers The summit rippled, churned and then The Blast: “Death is everywhere,” wrote one in The from one, or how it does not. collapsed as more than 2 billion tons of The Ecologi- Oregonian. “The living are not The helicopter neared the mountain and rock, snow and glacial ice fell away in the cal Recovery welcome.” flew past the still-steaming crater. The pilot largest landslide ever recorded. The land- of Mount St. • • • scanned the ground for a safe place to land, slide took with it all the weight and pressure A couple of weeks later, on a bright eventually settling close to Ryan Lake, that had until then kept a bulging chamber Helens” by morning in June, another helicopter lifted about 12 miles distant. Franklin, Sedell and of magma contained under the mountain’s Eric Wagner, off from Vancouver, Washington, albeit to Swanson prepared to disembark. The safety northern flank. With that release, super- ’04, ’11. considerably less fanfare. Riding in it were officer, who was 6’ 4”, weighed over 300 heated water and gas both in and Jerry Franklin, Jim Sedell and Fred Swanson. pounds and had introduced himself as Tiny, surrounding the chamber flashed to steam Franklin and Sedell were ecologists with reminded them that they did not have long and burst out in searing clouds. The clouds the U.S. Forest Service, and Swanson a to stay and were not to walk far. They might of steam and shattered stone raced over geologist also with the agency. The heli- have to get out of there in a hurry. the land, obliterating the trees closest to copter rose and turned northeast above So it was that Franklin opened the he- the mountain and flattening others as they the city and its suburbs. From there it licopter’s side door and hopped out. His flew farther on. Mudflows followed as the crossed into Cowlitz County and flew over boots sent up little puffs of ash when they mountain’s glaciers and snowfields melted. the Lewis River, which was still running hit the ground. He glanced down, but in- Called lahars, these flows swept down gray-brown and high. Here the pilot turned stead of the gray he expected, he saw a bit drainages and river valleys, swallowing to angle more to the north. Tracts of forest of green poking up next to him. He knelt. boulders, trees, logging equipment, cars, appeared, with stands of tall old trees next It was a plant shoot, maybe 2 or 3 inches trucks, trains, bridges and houses. From to short young ones, and brown patches tall. I’ll be damned, Franklin thought. It was the heart of the mountain, meanwhile, a of fresh clear-cuts between them: the Chamaenerion angustifolium, a plant much column of ash from the exposed vent rose checkerboard grid characteristic of the more widely known by its common name, 15 miles into the sky. Pacific Northwest. Roads noodled in and fireweed. The main eruption lasted nine hours and among the squares like veins, but no one • • • caused the deaths of 57 people. When it was looking at them. Their thoughts were Fireweed is a common perennial plant was over, Mount St. Helens was 1,314 feet drawn east, to Mount St. Helens. in the evening primrose family. It ranges shorter. Where the summit had been gaped The misshapen hulk of the mountain across much of the temperate Northern

a crater a mile wide and 2,000 feet deep. lay in the distance, still shrouded in cloud. Hemisphere, from sea level to subalpine MICHAEL GALLE / GETTY IMAGES NEWS In a 180-degree arc to the north, 234 square Franklin, Sedell and Swanson gazed at it. meadows to altitudes as high as 15 thousand miles of forest were buried, knocked flat The whup-whup of the helicopter’s rotors feet in the Himalayas. Individual plants or left standing but scorched. The landslide was so loud that it was impossible to hear can grow up to 9 feet tall, but most are traveled more than 14 miles down the valley anyone speak, but it did not matter, because closer to 3 feet. Their leaves are long, narrow of the North Fork Toutle River. The lahars no one had anything to say. The eruption and pointed, like spearheads. Their small went farther still, destroying hundreds of had overwhelmed their professional vo- flowers grow in dense clusters, and the miles of roads and railways, knocking out cabulary. They were flying toward petals may be pink, red or purple, or some- twenty-seven bridges, damaging more than something for which they did not yet have times all those colors at once, depending two hundred homes and clogging com- the language. on the play of sunlight and wind. mercial ship traffic 75 miles away on the Franklin and Sedell were certain that Fireweed can spread through the soil Columbia River. As it was blown east, the nothing could have survived. The event by means of a system of roots that lie a few towering plume of ash blocked out the sun seemed impossible, and in this way almost inches beneath the surface. If the stalk for miles. Several inches of ash fell in the perversely exciting. In overwriting the above the ground has been damaged, the is called rosebay willowherb, but is also All of us come from a piece of root that had somehow trees. Ants trooped along the ground, leav- city of Yakima within an hour, and street- landscape, Mount St. Helens had presented plant can regrow from as little as an inch known informally as bombweed, since it survived under all the ash and debris. He ing trails of dimpled footprints. Dark lights flickered on at noon. Two hours after ecologists with what was in effect a huge or two of remnant root. The stalk itself was often the first flower to appear in blast smart imagined the new shoot emerging from mounds of dirt showed where a pocket that, the plume reached Spokane, more natural experiment. It was as if the volcano grows quickly, up to 1 inch per day. Mature craters after German air raids during World ecologists the root fragment, pushing up through the gopher must have pushed up from its sub- than three hundred miles away. The plume Eager to learn itself had posed a question: What happens plants can also produce tens of thousands War II. “London, paradoxically, is the gayest ash once the ground had cooled. He imag- terranean tunnels. Roving herds of more about realized we eventually climbed to the stratosphere and when every single living thing for hundreds of seeds. Each is topped with a cottony where she has been most blitzed,” wrote ined the probing spread of the slender ungulates—elk, probably, judging by the Mount St. Helens? didn’t have floated across the U.S., dusting 17 states. Author Eric Wagner of square miles, big and small, plant and tuft of fine white hairs to help the wind one American journalist in 1944. “The tendrils below, the slow and tenacious size of the hooves—had already planted In 15 days it had circled the Earth. will be speaking animal, is burned away or buried, and noth- carry it away, sometimes for miles. Fireweed wounds made this summer by flying bombs the correct unfurling of bud and leaf above, the erup- prints in the ash as they picked their way Back in the blast area, the sense of des- about his book “After ing is left but rock and ash? thus can travel across long distances. are, of course, still raw and bare, but cellars working tion of the flowers, the establishment of through the tangle of trees. olation was greater than mere statistics the Blast” at Dawg Franklin and Sedell had discussed the Botanists describe the species as aggres- and courts shattered into rubble by the the plant. Franklin clambered over the trunks— could convey. Mount St. Helens had always Days in the Desert question at length in the weeks leading up sive; to some gardeners, it is a pest. German raids of 1940–41 have been taken hypothesis. Franklin stood and took in the landscape how hard it was to get around!—and been the most beautiful of the Cascade on March 19 at the to their flight, both between themselves Pest or not, fireweed gets its American over by an army of weeds which have turned again. He realized that this fireweed was stumbled toward a stream that was working peaks, its summit the most symmetrical. Rancho Mirage Library and with their colleagues in Oregon, common name from its habit of being one them into wild gardens.” one of tens, hundreds, maybe even thou- its way through the ash to the old surface. and Observatory Gone now was that perfect white cone, Washington and beyond. Their working of the quickest plants to sprout in newly Now Franklin considered this fireweed sands of little green shoots emerging from The water was almost clear and a film of in California. UW the dark forests that had cloaked it, the Libraries will have an hypothesis was that although it might take burned forests, clear-cuts and any place sprout so close to Mount St. Helens. It the ash. He saw the beginnings of pearly algae was starting to spread in it. He was deep, clear lake that had reflected it. In exhibit called “Blast!” decades or even centuries, plants and an- that has been suddenly and drastically could not have come from a seed; fireweed everlasting and thistles. More than plants, astonished, elated. “Right off,” he said later, their place was a hollow volcano in a in Special Collections imals were sure to return at some point. denuded. It thrives in habitats with bare would not set seed for a couple of months he noticed evidence of other forms of life. “all of us smart ecologists realized we didn’t wrecked landscape of black and gray. When from April 6-Aug. 14. Here then was an unprecedented soil and a lot of light. In England, the species yet, near the end of summer. It had to have Beetles were scuttling over the downed have the correct working hypothesis.” ■

38 UW MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 39 DRIVEN TO SERVE THE PUBLIC GOOD, JIM ELLIS LEFT A LEGACY THAT CONTINUES TO IMPROVE OUR LIVES. THE PERSONIFICATION OF IMPACT By Julie Garner

Freeway Park, a place of peace and green space in downtown Seattle, is a Puget Sound area showpiece.

40 UW MAGAZINE © COURTESY CHARLES BIRNBAUM: THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE FOUNDATION SPRING 2020 41 honor for an alumnus, the Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus award. Two events in his early life helped form Ellis’ character. Born in Oakland, California, in 1921, Ellis was 2 years old when his family moved to Washington. He was the eldest of three boys. The first event occurred when Ellis was 15. His father dropped him and his younger brother Bob olk singer Pete Seeger once off on 5 acres of woodland his dad had One of his first posed the question, “Which side are you purchased along the Raging River near on boys, which side are you on?” When it Preston. The boys had two dogs for com- came to Jim Ellis, the political right thought pany along with groceries. Their mission? efforts was clean- Fhe was a card-carrying Communist. The Spend the summer building a log cabin left thought he was a flunky for developers for the family. They had no blueprints and ing up Lake and downtown business. After all, Ellis no construction experience. In the first was the guy who drove the cleanup of four days, a steady downpour soaked them polluted Lake Washington, ensured the and all their gear. But by the end of the Washington, Washington State Convention Center was summer, they had built the cabin, although located smack-dab in downtown Seattle they continued to work on it for three years and earned the moniker “Father of Metro.” after that. This experience cemented his which was nearly The truth is Ellis, ’48, ’49, a bond lawyer close relationship with his brother. who never held public office, fought for The second event could have turned ruined because the public good. That was his side. In these Ellis bitter and angry. Instead, on the advice highly partisan times, the life of Jim Ellis of his beloved wife Mary Lou, he channeled shows another way forward. Though Ellis loss into something positive—not only for millions of gal- died Oct. 22 in Seattle at the age of 98, his himself but for the community. Ellis and achievements continue to benefit everyone his brother enlisted in the army on the lons of sewage who lives in the Puget Sound region—and same day after the Japanese bombed Pearl his legacy will live on. Harbor. Four years later, Bob was killed by His civic-mindedness included the UW, an artillery shell in the Battle of the Bulge were dumped where Ellis received two degrees from law in 1945. Jim, who was stationed in Idaho, school in 1948 and 1949. He served on the was devastated by the news and wanted Board of Regents from 1965 to 1977, wild to head to the front to avenge Bob’s death. into it every year. years full of anti-war student activism. However, Mary Lou, his wife of three

Emile Pitre, ’69, a founder of the UW’s months, offered her young husband wise SEATTLE TIMES Black Student Union who went on to serve counsel: Instead of revenge, why not do in several positions in the Office of Minority something to honor Bob? She said, “We Affairs & Diversity before retiring in 2015, could take part of our life and give some- is writing a book about OMA&D. He says thing to others, for Bob.” Ellis’ role on the Board of Regents was Because Bob loved nature, many of Ellis’ absolutely pivotal in creating policies to causes involved conservation. President Lake Washington, which was nearly ruined they generated some vehement disagree- provide educational opportunities to wom- Nixon even asked Ellis to serve as the On the advice of because millions of gallons of raw and ments. But Ellis tried not to take anything en and underrepresented minorities. nation’s first director of the Environmental partially treated sewage was dumped into too personally. He also didn’t care who got “Fifty-one years later, we still have OMA&D, Protection Agency, but Ellis turned him it every year. It took more than five years credit. He arranged meetings, brewed cof- and the Instructional Center, which pro- down because he thought he could do his wife, Mary Lou, and one defeat at the polls before voters fee and photocopied agendas himself. He vides tutoring to 2,000 students each year, more good in Washington state. approved the creation of Metro, a regional became famous around town for his bat- and the Ethnic Cultural Center. Jim Ellis Like many veterans returning from government agency that cleaned up the tered brown briefcase, from which he was part of all that,” Pitre says. When angry World War II, Ellis came home and pursued Ellis dedicated his lake. Next was Forward Thrust, an initiative pulled every possible document or plan students in 1968 demanded to meet with higher education, enrolling in the UW Law that resulted in the creation of the that often made him the best prepared some regents, Ellis and fellow regent Robert School. After graduation, he went to work life to public ser- Kingdome, the Seattle Aquarium, more person in the room. In an interview with Flennaugh, ’64, a Seattle dentist, went to for a top Seattle law firm. But he made time than two dozen county swimming pools Historylink.org, he said, “Life is interesting. a room in the HUB where the meeting was for public service, even as his family grew and a bevy of parks, including Gas Works If you just refuse to be cynical, it’s really to be held. Two chairs for them had been to include four children. vice in honor of his and Discovery parks, and the beginning quite fascinating. And in some degree, it’s perched on a table overlooking the entire One of his first efforts was cleaning up of the Burke-Gilman Trail. Then he pushed inspiring to see all our differences and to room. “It was like we were going to be brother Bob, who to build a “lid” over Interstate 5 in down- see that the system—hopefully, hopeful- kings presiding over everyone,” Ellis re- Left: A poster Right: At the future town Seattle to serve as the home for the ly—can still function.” We may not see the called in a 1999 interview with Jon Marmor, encourages site of Freeway Convention Center and Freeway Park. He likes of Jim Ellis again. But we see his life editor of UW Magazine. He immediately citizens to vote Park in downtown was killed during didn’t stop there. In the early 1990s, he as a living witness of what one person COURTESY ELLIS FAMILY got rid of the chairs and sat on the floor for the creation of Seattle, Jim Ellis chaired the Mountains to Sound Greenway committed to the public good can accom- with the students and listened. He did a Metro to clean up lobbies U.S. Trans- Trust, which is dedicated to preserving a plish. We’re the better for it. lot of listening to students in those years. Lake Washington, portation Secretary World War II. greenway along the I-90 corridor from Julie Garner is a former UW Magazine In 1999, for his lifetime of public service, which was pollut- John Volpe for a lid Seattle to the foothills of Kittitas County. staff writer who still contributes to the pub- the UW bestowed upon Ellis the highest ed by sewage. over Interstate 5. None of these projects was easy, and lication, much to our delight.

42 UW MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 43 45 SPRING 2020

SKETCHES ALEJANDRO RICO-GUEVARA

QUINN RUSSELL BROWN You can see this portrait on display display on can see this portrait You at “Distinction” the show as part of Northwest Center the Photographic 3, 2020. May to 26 March from - UW MAGAZINE UW Our University has never been the same has never University Our underprivileged to dedicated a life For As a teenager, Pitre worked in the fields worked Pitre As a teenager, 44 THE UW COMMUNITY UW THE FROM NEWS magazine.washington.edu/feature/emiles-eye Emile’s Eye Emile’s most the UW’s of being one In addition to diversity of in the areas leaders well-known is just ’69, Emile Pitre, equity, and racial just about photographing for as renowned on campus. and everyone everything vest season because he had gone back to back to season because he had gone vest to class. going of in the fields instead work out his academic pointed When a teacher on school let him focus his father potential, black a historically to went Pitre full time. majoring in chem- Rouge, in Baton college as a graduate the UW to and came istry, 1957. 7, student on Sept. As a founding that day. here since he arrived Pitre Union, Student Black the of member racial confront to administrators pressured of Minority and establish the Office equity he later As a graduate, & Diversity. Affairs thousands tutoring joined the same office, at the Instructional color students of of became the later He years. 38 over Center - presi vice and associate director center’s assessment. dent of the 2020 Charles will receive Pitre students, highest the UW’s Award, Odegaard E. is award The diversity. in achievement be- who president the former named for on diversity of proponent great a came helped him build that ’69, Pitre, campus. part was he as a student in 1968, legacy; inside Odegaard’s that protested a group of to the led event that directly office—an this award. of creation Growing up in small-town Louisiana, Emile Louisiana, up in small-town Growing the city. to moving of dreamed always Pitre uncle His different. seemed just life City work to Texas, Beaumont, to had moved a janitor, was though he and even Texaco, for a big cigar suit and smoked a fancy wore he thought “We visit. to came home he when recalls. Pitre Texaco,” he owned showing father, alongside his sharecropper then but school week of first the for up during har the quarter rest of flunking the By Quinn Russell Brown By A Legacy of Caring of Legacy A his for Pitre Emile honors The UW color of students to devotion MEDIA

Telling Truth Through Fiction Wild Elephants: From Campus Activist Conservation By Hannelore Sudermann in the Age to City Council of Extinction Varisha Khan becomes one of the first Muslim Before Alejandro Varela, ’06, moved to New York and became a writer—with short By Samuel Wasser and women to hold public office in Washington stories appearing in Harper’s Magazine, The New Republic and the Southampton Art Wolfe, ’75 Review—he was a grad student at the UW pursuing a master’s degree in public health. Simon and Schuster, By Manisha Jha He wanted to improve the lives of others and he could write, but, Varela wondered, Oct. 2019 were the reports and studies he’d been producing making enough of a difference? “I realized I could do more with fiction,” he said in an interview last fall. Now he writes Wasser, a UW professor On a February day in 2015, a crowd of students gathered short stories using plot and characters to shine a light on health, poverty, inequity and of conservation biology, and photographer Wolfe in Red Square, just days after the murder of three Muslim culture, all against the backdrop of public health. pair stunning sceneic images with Wasser’s own students in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. They held signs “Carlitos in Charge,” which appeared in Harper’s last October, is told from the point work to combat elephant poaching and draw atten- that read “I’m a Muslim, too,” “I’m a college student, too,” of view of a health researcher in the United Nations, and steeped in gay culture, public tion to the illegal trade of elephant ivory. The book and “Am I next?” health research and global politics. The piece is, as Varela describes it, “An anti-impe- celebrates the magnificent elephant and the prom- It was the beginning of an organized movement of Muslim rialist tale of intrigue and cruising in the halls of global power.” ise of efforts to protect and support the species. students on campus, as well as the start of a career of activism and civic engagement for one young protester. The students saw themseves in the students killed, says Varisha Khan, ’17, then a sophomore. She remembers think- Be an InventHer ing, “That could have happened to us.” By Mina Yoo and That was the moment Khan realized she was drawn to Hilary Meyerson, ’98 activism. Khan became a founding director of the Middle Sasquatch Books, Eastern Student Commission the following year. She toyed Oct. 2019 with the idea of law school but one month into Khan’s senior year, Donald Trump was elected president and friends Law alumna Meyerson and classmates came forward to share their fears for the and Yoo, an inventor future. and former assistant In the time since that protest in 2015, Khan has worked professor at the Foster as a political action committee chair for OneAmerica Votes School, join forces in and as a communications coordinator for the Washington this handy guide to Chapter of Council on American-Islamic Relations. help women (and all readers) take their big ideas Now, at 24, she’s a member of Redmond’s City Council through prototypes, market research, funding and and has made history by being one of the first two Muslim distribution. They fill the book with practical advice women elected to public office in Washington.

QUINN RUSSELL BROWN and stories of other successful women inventors, “I think this is the time for young people to be in power. offering direction and encouragement “to creating Whether you’re in college, whether you’ve just graduated, the next big thing.” the perspective you bring” may lead to great solutions, Khan says. “We have the drive and the capability to change the status quo.” Danger God Director Joe O’Con- nell, Featuring Gary Read All About It: Kent No More Newsstand in the Market After leaving the UW, where he studied Lee Lauckhart is a quiet man who let the York before returning to Seattle, where he journalism and played headlines do the shouting for four decades drove a cab and sold handmade jewelry. football before head- at his Pike Place Market newsstand, First He comes from a publishing family—his ing off to the Korean & Pike News. On New Year’s Eve, the grandfather owned small-town newspapers War, Gary Kent found stand’s final day of business, longtime cus- and his uncles were reporters and print- a life in the movies, tomers stopped by to say they will miss ers—and he thought running a newsstand serving as a stuntman him, reporters scribbled in their notebooks would be his piece of a family tradition. and actor in B movies and local television stations captured the Once, First & Pike carried 180 newspa- and on TV. This documentary about his life shows final hours. pers from around the world. At the end, he us why the Walla Walla native was an inspiration for Now the only newsstand in the market sold only a handful. “People would say, “Oh, the Brad Pitt character in Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 is gone, another milestone in the decline I’m so glad you’re still here and then walk film “Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood.” of print media. Lauckhart graduated from on,” he remembers.

the UW in 1968 with a degree in environ- Lauckhart didn’t take a paycheck in re- MERON MENGHISTAB mental health but had trouble finding work cent years, while continuing to pay his when the Boeing recession hit Seattle in employees more than minimum wage. “The the early 1970s. newsstand,” he says “represents the way He took a job at a newsstand in New things were.”

46 UW MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 47 To Infinity and Beyond. Maybe. STARBUCKS MILITARY COMMITMENT Finding elements to support life on planets outside our solar system is Giada Arney’s quest By Benjamin Gleisser

A planet orbiting Proxima She earned a B.A. in astrophysics from the University of Centauri, the star nearest our Colorado, then came to the UW for graduate school. Arney’s sun, receives about the same research centered on past phases of Earth history as analogs for amount of energy from its “alien” environments we might someday encounter when turning star as Earth does from the our telescopes to exoplanet atmospheres. sun. That has NASA research She joined NASA after graduating from the UW and now space scientist Giada Arney, works at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. She ’12, ’16, wondering: can this received the NASA Early Career Achievement Award in 2018 nearby planet support life? and the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Arney, at left, studies ex- Engineers in 2019. oplanets—planets outside As for the planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, Arney says it COURTESYGIADA ARNEY of our solar system. “Most orbits within its star’s “habitable zone”—the region around a star 26,000 stars have orbiting planetary where liquid water, an essential ingredient for life, might be systems,” she says. “There present on its surface. But just because a planet is in that zone are zillions of planets we doesn’t necessarily mean it’s habitable. don’t see. I’m fascinated by The jury is still out on the planet’s potential habitability—or the idea of these other lack thereof. The goal, she says, is to find a “Goldilocks” plan- worlds. Do any of them have the elements to support microbial et—one that, like the porridge in the children’s tale, is not too life? That’s one of science’s most important questions.” hot, not too cold and just right for life. To that end, Arney is Her love of astronomy began when she was a youngster sitting helping develop NASA’s Large Ultraviolet Optical Infrared on the back porch of her Denver home with her mother and Surveyor, a next-generation spacecraft telescope that may someday gazing at the infinite pinpricks of glittering light in the night sky. replace the current Hubble telescope. HIRED AND She later read every book in the library about outer space and Toronto-based freelance writer Benjamin Gleisser can’t wait became fascinated by the idea of extraterrestrial life. to see his first UFO. COUNTING

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48 UW MAGAZINE From the time she could work, restaurants were her way out. probably worked there.” By age 14, Stowell was scooping ice cream, then working at While working as a wine sales representative, she met Ethan McDonald’s. Stowell, and their first risky steps to start their own business With vague thoughts of being a paramedic, she briefly attended became a political and social education in itself. Policies around Central Washington University before moving to Seattle, where issues like minimum wage and family leave brought her into she worked for a catering company. “I was told, ‘You seem im- active debates about how to meet the needs of workers as well pressive.’ I had been catering at Bill Gates’ house,” she says. as businesses who depend on them. The stark needs exacerbated Eventually she applied for a more advanced job as an event by Seattle’s intense growth helped bring her to United Way’s planner. “I’m sorry, you don’t have a college degree,” was the Board of Directors and to work with the Seattle Downtown response. The words set her resolve. “I was never going back to Association. Even tragedy was channeled into positive action; this little town, and I was never going to be told again I wouldn’t she and Stowell created a marathon fundraiser for fetal health get a job because I didn’t have a college degree.” when their first children, twin sons, died before birth. The restaurant industry gave her a safety net once more, as Caring for others has been a theme throughout all the twists she waited tables to work her way through school, starting at and turns of her life—in a practical way, not a theoretical one. North Seattle College and finishing seven years later with a “It’s not enough just to care. Caring is not a strategy,” she says. bachelor’s degree from UW, studying political science and “It’s so easy for people to fall into the cracks. It’s easy to assume women’s studies. the students coming through the doors of FareStart are really As an older student, “I was there 100% for school. It was such different from you or me.” a different experience, and I loved every minute of it and every Her own two children sometimes join her at FareStart dinners, class I had. Except statistics.” understanding that the workers and diners there are all part of Her interest in political science came from seeing the country’s their community. At their best, restaurants can create a sense of turmoil right after the election of George W. Bush in 2000. “I hospitality and caring and service, and a way up in the world, was at the age where I saw the urgency and the need to be civ- says Stowell. ically and politically involved.” “Restaurants are what got me out,” she says. “Now I’m maybe The pull toward women’s studies, including an internship at in the perfect place, because I work with people who are getting Planned Parenthood, came from her small-town childhood where out of their own circumstances.” “gender roles were very clearly defined” and reproductive rights Rebekah Denn is a James Beard Award-winning writer who were not a given. “When you went to the health department for authored the story of the Filipino restaurant Archipelago in our Fall any kind of family planning process, your mom’s best friend 2019 issue.

A program of the UW Alumni Association.

BRANDON HILL YOUR BACHELOR’S HIGHER DEGREE IS ED WITHIN REACH A Serving of Support NEEDS Angela Dunleavy Stowell brings her expertise in social Finish your degree online justice to the menu at Seattle’s FareStart YOUR at the UW in our Integrated Social Sciences By Rebekah Denn VOICE. B.A. Program. In Seattle’s halls of power, Angela Dunleavy Stowell is a familiar When people see Stowell in those high-profile roles, some Caring for others face and a force for change. assume she came from a place of status and privilege and took has fueled Angela She might be seen testifying before the Seattle City Council, a traditional path to success. For most of her life, she didn’t tell Stowell’s life, A flexible interdisciplinary major as on a recent hearing date. She might be chairing a $41 million people those assumptions were wrong. “I’m getting used to telling but she is quick with no commute, designed to campaign, as she did for United Way in 2018, raising money for my story now, because I tell it to our students a lot,” she says. “I to point out that community programs. was really ashamed of it for a long time, well into my 30s. (But) “caring is not a support your goals. Learn more at For many years, she was best known for her role in the celebrity it’s not a shameful thing to not have the traditional path to college. strategy.” socialsciencesonline.uw.edu. chef world, helping build one of Seattle’s most successful restau- It’s not a shameful thing to not even finish college.” rant groups with then-husband Ethan Stowell. Now her influence Stowell grew up in a rural town in Eastern Oregon—“a won- Sign up to be an advocate today. comes as CEO of FareStart, the James Beard Award-winning derful place and a beautiful place, but it was not for me,” she nonprofit that provides culinary job training to people who are says. Her own parents hadn’t gone to college, and most of her UWimpact.org homeless or otherwise living in poverty. neighbors didn’t even think about it for their kids.

50 UW MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 51 Support merit-based academic scholarships. When you support UW undergraduate academics, you can help students get hands-on experience that brings their education to life—and help prepare them for a successful career. giving.uw.edu/representation-matters

GENEROSITY AND OPPORTUNITY AT THE UW

Representation Matters From studying abroad in New Zealand to working at the Burke Museum, UW senior Racquel West is focused on how museums are accountable to the communities they represent

By Nancy Joseph

UW senior Racquel West has loved “That was a big wake-up call,” says museums since childhood, but she hadn’t West. “Museums and other institutions considered working at one until she studied of knowledge hold so much power. I’d abroad in New Zealand through a UW always believed everything I read in Department of American Indian Studies museums, but I learned that you should program. With a focus on learning from critique everything. I wasn’t raised to do and with New Zealand’s Indigenous Maori that, and I think most people are not. The people, the program included museum visits study-abroad experience really sparked my and discussions of how the Maori have interest in the institutional responsibility been misrepresented in museum settings. of museums.” West, who is African American, began to consider how what she learned in New Zealand applied to how Indigenous people were represented—or misrepresented— back home in the U.S. “I began to rethink everything I had assumed about museums, and I wanted to use my education to ensure that people were accurately represented,” she says. PHOTOGRAPHS BY CORINNE THRASH CORINNE BY PHOTOGRAPHS A NEW PERSPECTIVE Back on campus, West delved deeper into of the museum and how it has affected RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE West considers herself fortunate to That focus has prepared West as both an “What we call the issue as a double major in geography the reservation.” West is also putting what she’s learned be paid for doing work that she loves, academic and an advocate for strengthening ‘objects’ in the and history. “I tell people that I study space West has continued volunteering at the into practice through her job at the Burke which helps ease her financial burden learning and engagement in museums. She collection aren’t and time, but I’m not a physicist,” she says. Suquamish Museum, helping organize Museum’s Bill Holm Center, where her as a student. Undergraduate honors and hopes to pursue a doctoral degree and a just objects,” West “If you’re talking about a place, you need and digitize the archives. She credits UW duties range from administrative tasks to scholarships have also had an impact. She career of helping museums improve. says. “They are to understand the time, to have a context. history professor Joshua Reid—her thesis helping organize objects in the collection. has been a McNair Scholar, received a “Over the past 40 years there’s been a big kin, and they Time influences how we look at a space.” adviser and a member of the Snohomish The center offers support to Native artists, Mary Gates Research Scholarship and has shift in museums,” says West. “There’s been hold knowledge.” Last year, West completed a history Indian Nation—with impressing upon her visiting researchers and others interested twice been awarded the Chester William a realization that things need to change. I Racquel West works honors thesis focusing on the Suquamish the importance of that commitment. in access to the Burke’s culture collection. Fritz Scholarship. want to continue to be a part of that.” at the Burke Museum’s Museum, created and run by the Suquamish “Something I’ve learned in my classes “What we call ‘objects’ in the collection “It is a big boost in confidence. Essentially Bill Holm Center, tribe. “The Suquamish Museum and tribal with Dr. Reid is that you don’t go into a aren’t just objects,” West says. “They are people are saying, ‘We believe in you.’ It which furthers the study museums in general hold the power of different cultural space, do a project with kin, and they hold knowledge. So a lot of meant the world to be nominated both of Native arts of the representing themselves, which is really someone and then leave,” she says. “Because the work of the Bill Holm Center is about times for the Chester Fritz Scholarship, that Pacific Northwest. different from other museums,” says West. then you’re using that community and making the collections accessible to those the department recognized how much I’m “I was interested in learning more about that knowledge for your own benefit and whose relations are in the collections. In trying to do,” West says. “Having scholar- what that looks like. Since I was writing not giving anything in return. As long as this way, the museum is held accountable ships has eased my mind and allowed me a history paper, I focused on the history I’m in the area, I’ll continue volunteering.” to the communities it represents.” to focus on my academic work.”

52 UW MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 53 Support students in the health sciences. When you give to the Magnuson Institute Student Financial Support Fund, you can help UW students like Jennifer Velloza conduct lifesaving research. giving.uw.edu/magnuson-student-support

busy, complicated lives,” says Velloza, whose the stigma they faced in getting tested and LEDGER research was supported by a Magnuson taking PrEP. Scholarship from the UW. “The drugs in the PrEP pill are also part of Public health professionals like Velloza the medication used to treat HIV, so young About the Magnuson Scholarship look beyond individual patients and diag- women face HIV stigma if they’re seen noses to preventing and treating diseases taking PrEP,” Velloza says of the preventive across entire populations. measure. “And PrEP is a signal that you’re In choosing a Ph.D. program, Velloza sexually active. In a lot of places, there are was drawn to the UW School of Public conservative gender norms about women’s Health’s emphasis on global collabora- sexuality and sexual health, which can also tion and its long-standing relationships lead to stigma around the PrEP pill.” in sub-Saharan Africa, where she wanted Velloza took a leading role on the study’s to continue working. qualitative team, helping design the interview questions that unpacked the effect of stigma and analyzing the transcripts. “We learned a lot more about how stigma manifests in the communities, how young Named for the late U.S. Senator Warren G. women talk about it and how it affects their Magnuson, the Magnuson Scholars Program lives,” Velloza says. “More important, the recognizes one graduate student per women gave us ideas about how to reduce year in each of the six UW health sciences “I’m a first- stigma and address some of these issues.” schools for their academic and research For example, they highlighted the role of excellence. TV ads and national campaigns in raising generation public awareness of PrEP. college student, LAYING THE GROUNDWORK The Magnuson Scholarship gave Velloza time to focus on completing her disserta- and I feel so tion, publishing her research and applying for grants—laying the groundwork for a $30KEach student receives grateful to career in academia. a $30,000 award Beyond the generous financial support, for the academic the scholarship validated the importance of year, funded by an have received Velloza’s work toward our understanding endowment from the Warren G. Magnuson of HIV prevention, a point underscored Institute for Biomedical Research and such generous by the family and former staff of the late Health Professions Training. Senator Warren G. Magnuson at a lunch support from with the Magnuson Scholars. “To have a moment to step back and think about larger implications of my work donors.” and the impact it could have in the future was quite meaningful to me,” Velloza says. Velloza’s ultimate aim is a holistic SEEING A FULLER PICTURE approach to HIV treatment that could help In 2018, Velloza was one of six UW health save more lives—whether in sub-Saharan sciences graduate students to receive the Africa or in the U.S. As a senior fellow at Magnuson Scholarship, a prestigious award the UW’s International Clinical Research Crisscrossing the grass-covered plains and partner violence also often coincide with that recognizes academic performance and Center, investigating how counseling and 160UW STUDENTS Treating sloping hills of rural Swaziland, Jennifer depression. If you’re depressed, you may research potential. peer support can help women stick with Since 1993, more than Velloza spent a year visiting medical clinics lose the ability, foresight and desire to take “I’m a first-generation college student, their PrEP regimen, she’s taking a first step 160 UW students have in this small southern African country. care of yourself and your health.” and I feel so grateful to have received such toward that goal. received Magnuson Nearly one in four people here have HIV— What Velloza saw in Swaziland (recently generous support from donors,” Velloza Scholarships. Mind and the rate is even higher among women. renamed eSwatini) would inspire her dis- says. “My education and where I am now just As a study manager for Doctors Without sertation at the University of Washington would not have been possible without that.” Borders, Velloza saw pregnant and post- School of Public Health, showing how de- Thanks to the scholarship, Velloza could and Body partum women struggle to get HIV testing pression and stigma hinder young women travel more frequently to her clinical proj- A Magnuson Scholarship and treatment because they were also from using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). ect sites, where she collected data on how enabled Jennifer Velloza to suffering from sexual trauma, depression The drug can prevent HIV when taken stigma and depression affect young wom- study the vital role of mental or anxiety. regularly—but many women don’t follow en’s use of PrEP. health in HIV prevention “Women dealing with intimate partner through on their daily treatment, even if One study included more than 500 partic- $5.5The scholarship M violence may be afraid to come to the clinic they face a high risk of infection. ipants across three urban clinics in Kenya, endowment has grown By Malavika Jagannathan or may not have the means or financial “We can’t force anyone to take the PReP Zimbabwe and South Africa. From teenage from $2 million in independence apart from their significant pill every day, so we need to support people girls to married women, what they had in 1992 to $5.5 million other,” Velloza says. “HIV and intimate in integrating HIV prevention into their common was their high risk for HIV—and in 2020.

54 UW MAGAZINE PHOTOGRAPH BY DENNIS WISE SPRING 2020 55 Support research and travel. When you support undergraduate research—and give students the chance to experience different parts of the world—you can give them the tools to succeed. giving.uw.edu/down-to-earth

panicking, because I was the specialist for stone tools and knew Down to Earth nothing about them. But over time I learned more, and it was cool to have all those tools pass through my hands.” in Turkey ON THE RIGHT TRACK The next summer, Robinson continued in the role at Çadır Höyük. Mentors and scholarships helped Ryan Robinson He created a database of information about the excavated tools, find his way to a field he loved—and an archeology and that became a resource for his anthropology thesis project, site halfway across the world exploring how digital technology can offer new perspectives on stone tools. Robinson also completed a thesis for his NELC major, analyzing By Nancy Joseph Persian coins from the third century B.C. He presented on stone tools at a Harvard conference and on Persian coins for a confer- At his UW orientation, transfer student Ryan Robinson was just ence at New York University, and he also presented at this year’s finding his footing, unsure of what he’d study. The next summer, UW Undergraduate Research Symposium. he was uncovering 4,500-year-old artifacts at Çadır Höyük, an Robinson eventually plans to pursue a doctorate in archaeology. archaeological site in central Turkey. The scholarship awards he received “give me a lot of optimism It all began with a conversation. Robinson, who transferred to going into grad school,” he says, and were a welcome sign that he the UW from Bremerton’s Olympic College, told an adviser about was on the right track. But first, he plans to take a year to decom- his fascination with the ancient Middle East. So the adviser press—and participate in more excavations. “I look forward to introduced him to Stephanie Selover, assistant professor of Near graduate school,” Robinson says. “But I’ve been in school for a Eastern languages and civilization (NELC) and adjunct assistant long time, so first I want to live without grades for a little bit.” professor of anthropology. “By the end of our conversation she had given me her card, signed me up for two of her classes and convinced me to come with her to Turkey the following summer,” recalls Robinson, who graduated in June with degrees in anthropology and Near Eastern languages and civilization. “I had this idea of professors at a big university being intimidating, but Stephanie was really welcoming.” In addition to receiving Selover’s encouragement, Robinson would go on to earn several scholarships that made his studies possible—both in the classroom and in the field. The Undergraduate Research Travel Award, a Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship, and the Irene Dickson MacFarlane Tuition Scholarship were “such a relief” financially, he says. PHOTOGRAPH BY MARK STONE MARK BY PHOTOGRAPH CRASH COURSE After spending his first UW year studying archaeology, Robinson in sales and customer service. He’s looking ahead to graduation, After Michael McGroder, joined Selover in Turkey, working alongside teams from several Chances planning where to go and how to get there. Over coffee at the ’88, retired from countries. The site’s name, Çadır Höyük, translates to “tent Suzzallo Library Starbucks, we talked about internships, which ExxonMobil, he found mound,” because settlers repeatedly tore down crumbling build- help our students learn about their future careers and prove a way to give back be- ings and built on top of them, creating a hill that holds the remains Change Lives themselves to potential employers. I can’t wait to see what hap- yond financial support of 6,000 years of human settlement. A walk up the slope is like pens when a company gives this young man a chance—as an by sharing his industry traveling through time. intern and, possibly, an employee. knowledge with UW At one of the oldest areas of the site, where buried material By Korynne Wright Chair, UW Foundation Board Every year, thousands of you—our UW alumni, faculty, staff, geology students. (From is particularly brittle, Robinson and others used a small trowel retirees, parents and friends—create chances. You donate, vol- left: Wylee Cleverley, and brush to painstakingly remove about five centimeters of At the University of Washington, we’re in the business of giving unteer, mentor and advocate for higher education. Our students, ’17; Madeline Hille, ’18; dirt at a time. They looked for bits of pottery, bones and other people a chance. And you help us create those chances every day. staff and faculty feel the impact of your generosity. So do the McGroder.) artifacts in the soil. “It’s tedious,” Robinson says. “But it was You provide philanthropic support to our first-generation communities we serve, locally and around the world. the most fun I’ve ever had in my life. Despite taking archaeology college students, helping them pursue academic and professional We’re devoted to giving you, our Husky family, many chances courses, without actually being at a site you can’t envision what dreams that once seemed impossible. You power the ground- to connect: it will be.” THRASH CORINNE BY PHOTOGRAPH breaking work of our medical researchers, enabling patients to • Embrace lifelong learning through on-campus Stone tools, a common find at Çadır Höyük, must be identified live healthier, more fulfilling lives. You give across our University: lectures by our brilliant faculty. and cataloged by a stone-tool expert. When that position became Ryan Robinson to world-class faculty, to bright students, to programs and facilities • Serve other Huskies through UW-sponsored vacant, Selover vouched for Robinson and he was asked to step spent two summers that elevate research and learning, and to causes and initiatives volunteer opportunities. in, a prospect both flattering and terrifying—especially given the identifying and you care deeply about. • Meet other proud University alumni and friends site’s limited internet service and just one textbook for researching cataloging stone tools But in addition to your philanthropy, there are so many ways through the UW Alumni Association. the tools. at Çadır Höyük, an to help us create chances at the UW. Thank you for the chances you help create—and the lives you Robinson recalls sneaking off to the on-site lab after dinner to archaeological site in I recently met with a participant in the Huskies@Work men- change. No matter how you give, we are grateful. look at the textbook and take notes. “The director of the lab would central Turkey. torship program, which connects UW alumni with current students. come in and be impressed that I was still working. She may have This young man is a junior communications major at UW Bothell, Learn more about upcoming events, opportunities to give your time slightly misinterpreted it as being more enthusiastic than I actually where he writes for the Husky Herald; he also has a background and ways to connect with other alumni at uw.edu/alumni. was,” Robinson says, laughing. “Really what I was doing was

56 UW MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 57

Visit UWalum.com/tours for TRIBUTE more information.

UWAA TRAVEL Sorry, but you’ve got some tough choices: explore the wonders of the JIM MCCURDY, 1923-2019 Aegean or head to Europe to experience a part of France that is sometimes overlooked. Either way, you will have the adventure of a lifetime.

Undiscovered France Featuring Albi, Toulouse and Carcassonne Oct. 24-Nov. 1 Here’s your chance to celebrate the soul of France in and around Aegean Awakening the beautiful city of Albi on this seven-night excursion. You can Nov. 8-21 revel in the pink-washed city of Toulouse, stroll along romantic Discover the historic wonders of Israel, Cyprus, Turkey and Greece on this incredible riverbanks, and savor local delicacies. French masterpieces await 12-night cruise. You will enjoy Jerusalem; Paphos, the birthplace of Aphrodite; the you in this elegant, easygoing region, including paintings by Turkish Riviera; the small-town charm of Chania and the amazing city of Athens; and Toulouse-Lautrec, famous frescoes, medieval fortresses and a end with a full day in Istanbul. revolutionary 17th-century canal.

If you have a passion for the purple and gold, ‘Whenever You Get, Give Back’ RECOGNITION you belong with us. Jim McCurdy’s mantra spurred support of higher education WILLIAM RUCKELSHAUS was the deputy attorney During World War II, James G. McCurdy the UW Alumni Association, as well as general during Watergate, was engaged in a rigorous naval science steadfast supporters of higher ed. They where he had a firsthand view program at the University of Washington. donated to a wide range of UW departments of a White House in turmoil. His classes were so demanding that he and causes: the Burke Museum, athletics He boldly resigned from office during the in- decided to relinquish his starting spot on and the Carlson Leadership & Public famous “Saturday Night Massacre,” but would the Husky football team. He later reclaimed Service Center, as well as programs in art, later return to D.C. to head the Environmental Yakima’s Jim McCurdy his spot, suiting up for the 1944 Rose Bowl dentistry, law, business and social work. Protection Agency in the 1980s. (He was the (above) was one of against USC. The Trojans trounced UW, The McCurdy family is especially known agency’s founding director in 1970.) He also the UW’s strongest but McCurdy, an All-Pacific Coast guard, for its support of maritime research and established the Ruckelshaus Center, a joint advocates, supporting was presented with the Guy Flaherty Award the renowned Husky rowing program. One venture of UW and WSU that brings together programs from art to as the team’s most inspirational player. He example is the family’s scholarship named diverse voices to solve policy issues. Ruck- dentistry to athletics. also received an even more impressive for McCurdy’s younger brother, Thomas, elshaus died Nov. 27 at the age of 87. accolade: The Seattle Post-Intelligencer a UW rower who died while on active duty named McCurdy its “Man of the Year.” in the Korean War. In 1957, the scholarship ALBERT E. DEATLEY, ’53, A Franklin High School graduate, was given to a young man named Ron ran one of America’s largest McCurdy started college at Stanford but Crockett, ’62, who would go on to become family-owned asphalt and moved home to attend UW. He graduated a titan of engineering, sports and philan- paving companies and always in 1945, served in the Navy, and went to thropy. Crockett went to see McCurdy supported his Yakima Valley work in the family business for Puget Sound after being chosen for the life-changing community. He also helped organize civil Bridge and Dredging Co. He worked his honor. He says McCurdy’s words from that engineering scholarships for UW and WSU way to the top and oversaw construction day stuck with him for decades, guiding students. DeAtley and his wife, Patty, were UWALUM.COM/ of the Hood Canal Floating Bridge. him for the rest of his life: “He looked me members of the Tyee Club Champions Circle JOINUWAA McCurdy and his wife, Betty Barclay in the eyes and said, ‘Whenever you get, and the Henry Suzzallo Society. DeAtley died McCurdy, ’49, were lifetime members of give back.’ ” Oct. 21 at age 85.

58 UW MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 59 LYNN LINDE ROWLAND SALLY DIAN HILE ELAINE CAHILL CAROL LAUZON Pole as part of the Arctic Ice 1961 as a member of the Husky ISAAC NAMIOKA was a UW ’50, Seattle, age 95 ’59, Albuquerque, New Mexico, ’67, Federal Way, age 95 ’74, Snohomish, age 70 Dynamics Joint Experiment, a golf team. He died Dec. 15 at professor of mathematics from Oct. 30 age 82, June 12 Nov. 1 Aug. 26 1990 project that helped launch the the age of 80. 1963 to 1996 and a member of UW’s Polar Science Center. In the inaugural class of fellows STEVEN MARQUARDT CECIL MARVIN STILL DAVID L. RICHARDS LEIF ALAN HOVLAND BRUCE W. BECKSTROM 1995, he worked for the United MARY KAYE LARUSSA worked of the American Mathematical In Memory ’50, Sun Lakes, Arizona, age 92 ’59, Snohomish, age 82 ’67, ’68, Seattle, age 74 ’75, SeaTac, age 67 ’91, Seattle, age 64 Nations climate program based as a UW neonatal nurse for 25 Society. In 1974, he wrote a Oct. 19 Dec. 8 May 9 Nov. 7 July 5 at the Norwegian Polar Insti- years. The fourth in a family of seminal paper that described a tute in Oslo and later moved 11 children, she and her hus- topological space that became LEWIS (BUD) JOHN INKSTER JR. PRESTON M. TROY STEVEN WALTER ERLANDSON ALICE JOAN JAMES RITA ANN KEATING to Fairbanks for a position band, Robert Houk, raised two known as Namioka space. ’52, Portland, Oregon, age 88 ’59, Olympia, age 82 ’68, ’73, ’06, Seattle, age 73 ’75, Olympia, age 77 ’98, Port Orchard, age 80 at the University of Alaska’s children at the home they built The Journal of Mathematical Jan. 22 Nov. 26 Nov. 14 Nov. 4 Nov. 6 International Arctic Research on Bainbridge Island. She died Analysis and its Applications Center. He died Dec. 25 at the July 20 at the age of 63. dedicated a special issue to CAROLE DIANE TAYLOR SHIRLEY JEAN WOODMANSEE MARVIN DALE FREDRICKSON JOHN WAYNE SLACK age of 79. the Japan native in honor of ’52, ’82, Lake Oswego, Oregon, ’59, Spokane Valley, age 83 ’68, Redmond, age 77 ’75, Bellevue, age 78 DAVID A. MCKINLEY, ’53, his 80th birthday in 2008. He age 88, Nov. 22 Nov. 27 Nov. 11 Sept. 11 2000 ROLAND L. HJORTH was dean didn’t see architecture as his is remembered by colleagues of the UW Law School from occupation, but as his calling. and friends as a “gentleman DOROTHY S. TRONDSEN JEROME HALL CAROLINE STITH AARON TYLER OPPENHEIM 1995 to 2001 and a member He was inspired by innovation and a gentle man” who loved ’53, Seattle, age 88 ’68, ’69, Albuquerque, ’76, Seattle, age 65 ’05, Redmond, age 36 of the UW law faculty for and sustainability in architec- black-and-white photography ALUMNI Oct. 1 New Mexico, age 75, July 8 Dec. 10 Sept. 2 45 years. He grew up in a ture and enjoyed mentoring and Bach. Namioka died Sept. 1960 Mennonite community in young architects. The na- 25 at the age of 91. RONALD JAMES CHAMPOUX FRANK LEO MILES ELLEN ADDELSON HANSEN JEAN JOHNSON MATAYA northeastern Nebraska, where tionally recognized McKinley ’54, Auburn, age 89 ’60, ’62, Sitka, Alaska, age 81 ’68, Seattle, age 73 ’76, Seattle, age 88 his first memory was the quiet was involved in many notable YVONNE PALKA was an aca- 1940 Nov. 23 Dec. 8 Nov. 11 Oct. 13 while watching his father till projects, including the UW’s demic, artist and writer who a field. During his UW tenure, Central Quadrangle Plan with was working on a children’s HARRY SMITH GEORGE MICHAEL KOHN SAMUEL CHARLES ROSKIN MORTON SAFFORD JAMES III MITCHELL KEVIN MCMURRY he helped raise funds for the Odegaard Library and Meany book when she died Nov. 30 ’43, Redmond, age 98 ’54, Bainbridge Island, age 90 ’60, Seattle, age 85 ’68, Olympia, age 75 ’76, Kenmore, age 65 construction of William G. Hall, One Bellevue Center and at the age of 81. She taught at Nov. 7 Oct. 6 Oct. 15 Nov. 4 Nov. 22 FACULTY AND Gates Hall and established six KCTS Channel 9. He and wife the UW during the 1970s and FRIENDS endowed professorships and Jan established the Jeannette helped establish the Women’s ROBERT HENSON MERRYMAN REID A. MORGAN JR. ALBERT A. ACENA RAYMOND C. KARTCHNER DANA WINTHROP MURPHY an endowed chair. He died and David McKinley Endow- Studies Department, now ’44, ’48, Bainbridge Island, ’54, Mercer Island, age 88 ’61, ’75, San Mateo, California, ’68, Sandy, Utah, age 80 ’76, Oceanside, California, May 6 at the age of 83. ment for the Design of Future the Department of Gender, age 96, Nov. 12 Nov. 12 Dec. 3 age 85, Nov. 25 NIELS H. ANDERSEN began his age 87, Oct. 28 five-decade career as a UW Architectural Environments Women and Sexuality. At JUDITH ANN HODSON was at the UW, along with the Antioch University, where she STUART HUNTING ROBERT OLSEN DONALD LEE LEWISON PETER LAWER NAULT chemistry professor in 1968 as RALPH E. DAVIS the department’s youngest- a registered nurse who was McKinley Futures Studio. A was a professor for 36 years, ’47, Silverdale, age 93 ’54, ’58, Everett, age 88 ’61, Seattle, age 80 ’68, Medina, age 73 ’76, Redmond, age 69 recruited to join the UW studio space in Gould Hall is Palka developed a program Nov. 30 Nov. 17 Dec. 7 July 19 ever hire. A child prodigy, the Dec. 6 Denmark native immigrated to Medicine Department of named for him. He died Dec. in ecopsychology, a field that Pediatrics in 1966. The native 12 at the age of 89. explores the connections IRVING BRUCE MORGAN THOMAS SPRAGUE RUBIN SALANT KATHRYN ANNE SLAGLE Minnesota as a child, graduat- WILLIAM DOUGLAS HOFIUS ed from the University of Mich- of Winnipeg, Manitoba was between human personal ’47, Kirkland, age 94 ’54, ’60, Lahaina, Hawaii, ’61, Seattle, age 83 ’68, Charlotte, North Carolina, ’76, Newcastle, age 72 instrumental in launching NANCY K. MERTEL, ’60, was an development and the natural Oct. 27 age 86, Aug. 13 age 86, Dec. 11 July 22 igan at 20 and received a Ph.D. Nov. 9 in synthetic chemistry from the Preemie Project, where English literature major at the world. volunteers made quilts for UW who continued to support ROY POTTER ARTHUR P. FINLON JAY KEITH HAMMERMEISTER DIANE R. BURKE Northwestern University at MICHAEL K. REEDY 24. Andersen climbed Mount premature infants at UW liberal arts education through- DOUG SMART, ’59, ’63, was ’47, Bellingham, age 100 ’55, Seattle, age 87 ’61, Durham, North Carolina, ’69, Carcassonne, France, ’78, ’84, Seattle, age 78 Medical Center and Seattle out her life, from working at a Husky basketball star who Dec. 12 July 24 age 76, Nov. 10 Sept. 11 Baker at 74 and ran several age 84, June 18 miles every morning. He died Children’s Hospital. That the Duke University library to remains the No. 2 career Dec. 20 at the age of 76. project has since spread to serving on the UW College of rebounder in school history. HERSCHEL A. COX JR. RICHARD LOYD MARSHALL MADELEINE GRUMMEL KOLB LARRY LACKTRUP RICHARD JOHN WOTIPKA hospital and quilting groups Arts and Sciences advisory Although he was drafted by the ’48, ’53, Hailey, Idaho, age 95 ’55, Lake Forest Park, age 85 ’62, ’66, Seattle, age 79 ’69, Seattle, age 71 ’78, Mercer Island, age 67 nationwide. She died Dec. 26 board. She died Oct. 5 at the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, he opt- Oct. 6 March 15 July 9 Sept. 28 DONALD BAIRD AXWORTHY Sept. 30 specialized in developing at the age of 80. age of 82. ed for a career as a dentist. He died Nov. 18 at the age of 82. THORA B. IVES RICHARD L. PARTINGTON PHYLLIS CLAIRE FRANKLIN targeted cancer therapies. His RICHARD SUTCH career as a research scientist RICHARD “DICK” EDWIN HOLT, ALAN MORGAN first came to ’48, Kirkland, age 93 ’55, Bellevue, age 85 ’63, Kensington, California, ’79, Issaquah, age 82 ’47, ’57, was a professor of Seattle in 1966 to participate MEREDITH PARKS SMITH, ’64, Nov. 20 July 15 Oct. 30 included stints at the UW, the age 76, Sept. 19 then Seattle-based biotech- mechanical engineering at UW in medical research at the was a surgeon who worked on 1970 for 29 years. He maintained UW. At the end of that year, vascular research in the UW MICHAEL FRANCIS SHANAHAN NORMAN L. ERICKSON MARILYN KAY LEASK nology company NeoRx and ELLEN KRAFT AGNES EVELYN DIVOKY the Fred Hutchinson Cancer his engineering license until he he was recruited as the senior Department of Nephrology ’48, Edmonds, age 95 ’56, Sunnyvale, California, ’64, ’65, Tacoma, age 77 ’70, Kenmore, age 92 ’79, Edmonds, age 66 was 95. He died Sept. 7 at the surgical fellow at Seattle from 1959 to 1969. He learned June 22 age 85, Nov. 3 Nov. 10 Research Center. He died Sept. Sept. 22 June 26 19 at the age of 62. age of 96. Children’s to help establish to downhill ski as an adult, a pediatric training program, volunteered for the Alpental DAVID FRANK WOLTER BEULAH MARIE GIBBLE RUTH DIAN PUMPHREY JUNE ENGSTROM DAVID JAMES NIELSEN JAMES SAMUEL KENNEDY, ’81, a role he held for 35 years. doctor ski patrol and continued JESSE H. BROWNING, ’59, ’95, ’48, ’52, ’58, Mercer Island, age ’57, Arlington, age 85 ’64, Seattle, age 77 ’71, Seattle, age 91 ’79, Seattle, age 64 served as a professor of air The native of South Wales skiing into his 80s. He died 95, Aug. 11 Nov. 27 Nov. 28 was the successful owner of a Nov. 26 Oct. 29 manufacturing business in Los science in the ROTC program was a part of the team that Oct. 14 at the age of 94. at the UW. Before that, he performed the first separation MARJORY WINSTON PARKER BENNETT NORMAN NELSON Angeles when he returned to GERALD MARTIN SCHUEMAN INGRID HANSEN UW in 1989 to pursue a Ph.D. served in Vietnam in the Air of conjoined twins at the hos- GARY SNYDER, ’62, ’66, was ’49, Fairfield, California, age 93 ’57, Pinole, California, age 87 ’64, McLean, Virginia, age 83 ’71, ’75, Burien, age 68 Weather Service during the pital. He later was a clinical an infielder on the 1959 Husky Oct. 17 Nov. 8 in geography. After finishing his July 3 Oct. 1 1980 degree, he taught economic war and was instrumental in professor of surgery at UW Hall of Fame baseball team. He geography at the UW before developing a then-classified Medicine, teaching medical spent most of his career as an LUANN ELLEN PERKINS BRUCE MAHLON BARR MARCIA L. PARKS CAMELLIA L. LEE weather satellite system. students and volunteering in educator at Mercer Island High ’57, Hunts Point, age 83 retiring in 2000. He died Oct. ’65, Seattle, age 75 ’71, ’74, Edmonds, age 71 ’82, Kirkland, age 78 18 at the age of 84. After he retired from the Air hospitals and clinics in Hun- School, where he was vice Dec. 9 Aug. 10 Nov. 12 Oct. 22 Force, he began a career at gary, Bulgaria and Guatemala. principal and athletic director. 1950 Boeing as a software engineer He died Dec. 29 at the age His son, Quin Snyder, is the JOSEPH ANTHONY BARRECA JAMES WILLIAM HARRYMAN ILSE CIRTAUTAS taught Turkish FREDERICK M. SCHUEHLE BARBARA B. CHAPMAN LINDA LEE BLAIR languages and literature at the and was part of the devel- of 88. coach of the NBA’s Utah Jazz. ’50, Seattle, age 97 ’58, ’64, Bellevue, age 83 ’65, Bellevue, age 76 ’72, Seattle, age 91 ’87, ’88, ’92, ’99, Seattle, opment of the B-1B, the P-3 He died on Oct. 24 at age 80. Nov. 15 Dec. 6 UW for more than 40 years Nov. 9 Nov. 10 age 70, Sept. 13 and helped established the Orion and the F-22. He died ANN MCARTHUR NADEN, ’81, Jan. 7 at the age of 83. served as president of the UW As a Husky rower who was BYRON G. BEHRENS WENDY LISTER field of Comparative Turkic GERALD EDLUND KAY MAHAFFEY KEITH B. CYRA Studies. She retired in 2014 at Alumnae Board and was a a member of the U.S. Four ’50, Kirkland, age 93 ’58, Mercer Island, age 83 ’66, Renton, age 83 ’72, Santa Rosa, California, ’87, Issaquah, age 56 After delivering an estimated member of the Fran Nordstrom rowing team, ROBERT I. WILL, Sept. 20 Oct. 2 the age of 88. The Cirtautas Nov. 3 age 82, Sept. 16 Sept. 22 Fellowship, which she created, 3,000 babies during his three Guild, a volunteer organi- ’49, brought home a gold medal supports travel for UW stu- decades as an OB-GYN, JOHN zation that raises money to from the 1948 Summer Olym- CARL MILLER BURDICK JR. RICHARD A. PROUTY KATHERINE SETSU HUTCHINGS WILLIAM NORRIS MONG PATRICIA FIRTH HANSEN “JACK” RITCHIE LAMEY, ’61, ’65, cover uncompensated care for pics in London. He loved to be ’50, Issaquah, age 91 ’58, Arlington, age 89 dents studying Central Asia. ’66, Kirkland, age 75 ’72, Greenbank, age 69 ’88, Bellevue, age 83 She died July 18. ’70, returned to playing golf, patients at Seattle Children’s in the air as well as the water June 21 Jan. 9 Nov. 7 June 11 Nov. 6 the game he loved as a child. Hospital. An avid tennis player and became a pilot who owned The former Washington State and golfer, she was the only several aircraft. He died Oct. 14 DAVID BRACE MCCALLUM DONALD DORLAND ROGER COLONY, ’77, joined sci- RUSSELL LEE LEACH ROSEMARY ELLEN GUILEY DENOVA CHUNG WEAVER entists from the U.S., Canada Junior golf champion earned an person in her family to score a at the age of 94. ’50, Seattle, age 93 ’59, Surprise, Arizona, age 83 ’66, Mount Vernon, age 77 ’73, Woodway, age 69 ’89, Bellevue, age 55 athletic scholarship to Stanford hole in one. She died Oct. 18 at Nov. 18 May 19 and the Soviet Union in 1972 Nov. 5 July 19 Nov. 7 to study ice near the North and later won the Pac-8 title in the age of 61.

60 UW MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 61

CALENDAR SPRING 2020

EMBRACE YOUR INNER STUDENT NEWS FROM THE UWAA Public Arts & Lectures Step 2020 SPRING Bringing It Full Circle Afrika! Inspired by her job-shadowing experience while at UW, May 7, 8 and 9, 8 p.m. a recent grad returns to the Huskies@Work program as an alum Katharyn Alvord Gerlich Theater, Meany Hall Step Afrika! blends percussive dance styles practiced by When Sandy Warynick-Ruiz, ’19, was a Kern showed her around, invited her to in K–12 social work. Distance wasn’t a historically African American student majoring in history with a minor sit in on a staff meeting and introduced barrier; they were able to connect over fraternities and sororities with in American Indian Studies, she had an her to a history teacher on staff. the phone, as many Huskies@Work par- traditional African dance and idea of what she wanted to do after “Huskies@Work opened up connections ticipants do. other art forms. graduation: teach history. To explore her and gave me a real-world perspective … She shared her experience as a new career path, she signed up for UWAA’s It also stresses networking, and that is alum. Today’s students are graduating into Huskies@Work program, which matches often overlooked by students,” Warynick- a competitive job market, where it’s chal- students with alumni to learn about work Ruiz said. lenging to find an entry-level job. The cost and careers. Bates Technical College specializes in of living in the area puts pressure on Warynick-Ruiz was paired with Juliette training for hands-on skills, and Kern leads students to find a lucrative career fast. Kern, ’13, Assistant Director of Student student activities like clubs and student Activities at Bates Technical College. They government. The match and setting weren’t both had attended UW Tacoma. That day, completely in line with what Warynick- Ruiz wanted to do. But Kern shared her MUSIC AND DANCE origins in hot rod and custom motor- story—how she didn’t end up doing “Huskies@Work cycle culture to the art movement it exactly what she had studied or what she Jerusalem Quartet is today. Showcasing materials from had imagined as her career. March 24, 7:30 p.m. gave me real-world all areas of Special Collections, this Warynick-Ruiz never forgot Kern’s story, Katharyn Alvord Gerlich Theater, exhibit focuses on zines, comics, especially when she found herself in the Meany Hall perspective.” flyers and other methods of DIY same situation. The fall after graduation, For nearly a quarter century, the culture. she started working as the Indian Education Jerusalem Quartet has toured the and Migrant Liaison for the Hoquiam Just as she learned from Kern, Warynick- world earning rave reviews for its DRAMA School District. Ruiz encouraged Abeyta to be flexible and warm, full sound and precise balance Sandy Warynick-Ruiz,’19, Months into the job, Warynick-Ruiz ready for chances to grow and learn at of voices. It returns to Meany Center Cabaret participated as both a decided to pay it forward as a Huskies@ work, just as she did at school. with a program of Mozart, Brahms April 25 - May 17 student and an alum Work alumni host. “Because I did it as a “You never know what doors might open and Korngold’s Quartet No. 2 written Floyd and Delores Jones Playhouse in UWAA’s Huskies@ student, I was happy to provide the same up. Learn to work with what is available. in Viennese style. UW Drama students perform “Cabaret.” The show’s memorable Work program. opportunity for another student,” she said. Sometimes you might not go where you Los Angeles Master Chorale songs include “Cabaret,” UWALUM.COM/LECTURES “It’s nice to bring that experience full cir- want to go, but you’ll go where you’re March 26, 7:30 p.m. “Willkommen” and “Maybe This cle.” She was matched with Faith Abeyta, needed. You’ll find opportunities and Katharyn Alvord Gerlich Theater, Time.” a student at UW Tacoma who is interested build relationships.” Meany Hall UW ALUMNI BOOK CLUB From theater and opera director LECTURES Peter Sellars comes a staging of Take your reading to the next level. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU WISH YOU’D BEEN GIVEN WHEN YOU WERE A STUDENT? Orlando di Lasso’s “Lagrime di San Revolution in Rhyme: Official Be a Huskies@Work alumni host. Sessions take place during May and November. Pietro (The Tears of Saint Peter)”. Poets of the Islamic Republic March 10, 7 p.m. George Li Kane Hall UWALUM.COM/EVENTS April 29, 7:30 p.m. Fatemeh Shams, poet and scholar, Katharyn Alvord Gerlich Theater, will present the 2020 Afrassiabi Meany Hall Distinguished Lecture in Persian and A silver medalist at the 2015 Interna- Iranian Studies. tional Tchaikovsky Competition, Li has garnered international attention Communication, Gender, and the with performances on the world’s Politics of Making the First Move most prestigious stages. With Online Dating April 16, 6:30 p.m. EXHIBIT Washington State History Museum in Tacoma Low Brow/High Culture Associate Professor Riki Thompson Through April 24 HUSKIES@WORK 509 DAY REUNION WEEKEND presents her original research about Allen Library, South Basement, MAY 1–31 MAY 9 | EASTERN WASHINGTON JUNE 5–6 | SEATTLE CAMPUS online communication, gender, sex- Special Collections ALUMNI APPLICATIONS CLOSE MARCH 31 It’s the UW holiday for Huskies east of the Return to campus for the Class of 1970 uality and the politics of matching, Low Brow/High Culture traces the Connect with a student about your career Cascades! Look out for free events and 50-Year Reunion or the Golden Graduates messaging and making the first move evolution of lowbrow art from its UWALUM.COM/BOOKCLUB path. Host a student for day on site, an other ways to celebrate purple pride. Brunch for Huskies who graduated 50 or in digital dating spaces. hour for coffee or online. more years ago.

62 UW MAGAZINE 54 UW MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 63 realdawgswearpurple WearPurple DawgsReal Since they met in 1972, this powerful duo has stuck together and committed their careers to education — Lea in the UW School of Law and Pat in the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance. Their combined service to the UW totals nearly 50 years, and they graciously continue in volunteer committee work on campus. Both professors emeritus agree that at the heart of the University, it’s the students who matter most. Lea Vaughn and Pat Dobel are proof that Husky passion never rests. Lea Vaughn & Pat Dobel faculty UW Retired REAL DAWGS WEAR PURPLE

- - Off the Rez’s Facebook following—food following—food Facebook Rez’s the Off win- retractable the cafe’s This spring, breakfast, is open for the café now, For The dishes offered at the café meld meld the café at offered The dishes a per food is American Native Offering and communities at the Burke and gives and gives and communities at the Burke standard to alternative a singular visitors museum fare. help cus- on social media to rely trucks bolsters find them—also tomers Swift the Burke, buzz for word-of-mouth people draw to wanted really “We adds. the to on community the outside from still truck The food says. she campus,” days, most area the Seattle around travels at Optimism Brewing stops with regular park Noble and Barnes the Hill, Capitol in months, in recent and, ing lot in Bellevue café. Burke outside the new can sit on the open so diners will wall dow landscaping new then, By outside. patio a with camas—a purple flower featuring - diets through Native to central root starchy be in bloom. Washington—will out (it closes at 6 p.m. dinners lunch and early could dinners but pop-up weekdays), on thinking “We’re it open later. soon keep Rikard about some fun things in the future,” at the bustling tables glancing around says, we definitely “But rush. during an off-hours settled first.” a little more get to want - and ingre flavors post-colonial and pre- wild rice the bison for dients—braised corn sweet with quinoa mixed bowls, featuring salad and a potato succotash more have “We potatoes. sweet roasted than they us here to available ingredients McConnell, says on a reservation,” would chili beef with topped Indian tacos ’07. - a post-co capture bread fry on and served showcase to wanted “We lonial classic. says. Rikard worlds,” both fect fit for the state’s new natural history history natural new the state’s for fit fect the Burke’s Swift, Hally says museum, The operations. and finance of director history native of role highlights the café

QUINN RUSSELL BROWN (2)

COURTESY STYER FAMILY THE UW THE With Rikard still practicing law full time, time, full law practicing still Rikard With It was McConnell’s craving for fry fry for craving McConnell’s was It McConnell, whose mother grew up on up grew mother whose McConnell, When the longtime couple launched Whenlaunched couple longtime the Restaurant owners Cecilia Rikard and Cecilia Rikard owners Restaurant they started gathering, cooking, tasting tasting cooking, gathering, started they bread fry Their recipes. family and tweaking palm-sized balls into hand-shaped dough, oil with olive is made order, and fried to It’s lard. traditional than the more rather menu—a the truck’s of the foundation both op- of symbol golden-brown pillowy, the to and pride that dates pression - govern the U.S. when century nineteenth Americans onto Native ment forced - to tradi With access cut off reservations. and fresh beans corn, like staples tional used communities Native vegetables, and flour fat, sugar, of rations government has become a mainstay what create salt to tables. and on kitchen at celebrations bread—a taste from his family’s gatherings his family’s from taste bread—a set them on course. in Montana—that build their calls the decision to Rikard McConnell’s of a reminder business around “It “no-brainer.” and childhood a culture does Nobody ‘Hey! him, to occurred just ” should do it.’ We this. the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana, in Montana, Reservation the Blackfeet support and in tech paralegal as a worked suit Those jobs didn’t graduation. after opening a busi- considered so the duo him, office an not “Mark’s instead. together ness around,” moving be up, to likes He guy. cook, to both loved They ’06. Rikard, says could you sell something to want but didn’t find anywhere. their food truck in 2011, neither had training neither truck in 2011, food their cooking. service or in food Mark McConnell met in 2005 as UW un- met in 2005 as UW Mark McConnell fall campus last to and returned dergrads location brick-and-mortar open the first to food American Native popular their for life, in a previous lawyer corporate A truck. you,” feed us “Let host. a natural is Rikard a guest. she implores Off the Rez Café anchors the southeast the southeast anchors Rez Café the Off visitors beckoning Burke, the new of corner bubbling in hot bread fry with the scent of canola oil. -

UW MAGAZINE UW

64 nell’s family meals family nell’s on the Blackfeet in Reservation Montana. Mark McConnell McConnell Mark and Cecilia Rikard launched (right) truck in food their the to capture 2011 McCon of flavors By Julie Davidow Julie By Native American food truck parks a truck American food Native the Burke at café new Off the Rez Offthe Off the Rez serves Off the a classic Indian fry bread taco on (far right) with lettuce, chili, beef crema house-made sauce and pickled onion. red THINGS THAT DEFINE THAT THINGS University of Washington Magazine

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