News and features

UW again a leader in producing Peace Corps volunteers

Peace Corps has named 爱豆社区 a leader in producing volunteers for its international volunteer programs. With 85 undergraduate and 20 graduate alumni currently serving with Peace Corps, UW is tied for second place with University of Florida in volunteer recruitment among large universities. The two tied for first place in the 2013 rankings. Since the organization’s founding in 1961, 2840 UW alumni have served as volunteers.

President Young reflected on the recent announcement in UW Today:聽鈥淲e are immensely proud of our graduates who make the decision to serve in the Peace Corps. It reflects the importance they and the university place on serving others, particularly in distant parts of the world. We aim to instill a global perspective in all of our students, and this is one indicator that we鈥檙e having a significant impact.”

Study abroad participation mirrors UW’s high marks for accessibility

爱豆社区 is one of only 19 US universities to meet high standards set by the in an examination of higher education access, affordability and student success.聽

Increased participation in study abroad by undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds echoes UW’s other achievements in enhancing access, affordability and student success. Study abroad participation by undergraduates from underrepresented backgrounds steadily climbed over the past decade, from under 7 percent of the study abroad student population in 2001-2002 to almost 17 percent in 2012-2013.

This progress reflects the increased quality and relevance of study abroad programming, innovative partnerships with the and enhanced advising and support services focused on study abroad.聽For example, the program has awarded 398 GO! scholarships for study abroad to Pell grant and Husky Promise students since 2008.

UW Rome center live-broadcasting lecture by key European leader

Faculty, staff, students and community members are invited to view a live broadcast from the UW Rome Center on February 13.

The broadcast will feature a lecture by聽,聽President of the Italian Society for International Organizations; Former Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security. Dr. Frattini will explore the current trend towards European integration through his lecture:聽“European Union Integration: Toward the Unites States of Europe?”.

The broadcast will take place at 9am PST in 115 William H. Gates Hall on Thursday, February 13.聽Professor , UW Vice Provost for Global Affairs, will welcome Dr. Frattini and attendees on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

The event is hosted by UW , UW School of Law, the Jackson School of International Studies, the European Union Center of Excellence of Seattle, the Center for Western European Studies and UW French & Italian Studies.

A light breakfast will be served at the event. Please RSVP to draigrod@uw.edu.

Jackson School hosts Ambassador Pickering

As part of the聽lecture series: “The U.S. in a Changing World”, Ambassador Thomas Pickering spoke at Kane Hall on February 5. The series is sponsored by the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies and the Henry M. Jackson Foundation.聽

Polar Science Center observes Greenland’s fast-melting glaciers

In partnership with the German Space Agency, researchers from the UW 聽observed Greenland’s Jakobshavn Glacier in 2012 and 2013. Their observations capture the glacier moving ice from land into water at the fastest pace ever recorded; results were published in聽,聽an open access journal of the European Geosciences Union.

Head of Baltic Studies authors book on “Singing Revolution”

The 爱豆社区 Press recently published ““, by聽, Associate Professor of聽聽and head of the UW Baltic Studies Program. 艩midchens’ work examines the use of song in聽passive resistance movements in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia聽during Soviet rule.

President Young presents at Asian Law Lecture Series

is hosting the Asian Law Lecture Series.聽In January, UW聽President and聽Professor of Law聽Michael Young will present, “Attitudes Towards Law: The Impact of Legal Education and Historical Experience in Japan and China.” Professor聽Qi Zhang of聽Peking University Law School聽will present in February.聽

Studying world’s largest carnivores, scientists call for preservation

Together with colleagues from the US, Australia, Italy, and Sweden, UW’s聽聽recently co-authored a review paper on the world’s largest carnivores. The co-authors examined 31 of the Earth’s largest meat-eaters and highlighted their important ecological roles.聽

NPR pundit highlights Dept. of Classics ‘War Games’ course

Classics professor Sarah Stroup’s ‘‘ course examines聽Greek athletic games and Roman gladiatorial battles, proposing that many modern team sports descend from these ancient, winner-takes-all contests. Sports commentator Frank DeFord of NPR interviewed Professor Stroup, and UW football players who took the course, for an opinion piece.聽

International students meet local 5th grade pen pals

After exchanging letters for several weeks, 45 UW international students met their 5th grade pen pals from聽White Center Heights Elementary聽School for the first time on December 5.聽“I really enjoyed participating in the Pen Pal program,”聽says Bader Al Farhan, a sophomore student from Kuwait.聽