News

University of Washington faculty have the opportunity to apply for partial tuition support to participate in the upcoming session of the Faculty Success Program (FSP), offered by the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD). The UW Office for Faculty Advancement is prioritizing support for assistant professors with plans for tenure and associate professors seeking promotion.

The Faculty Success Program is a 12-week boot camp designed to help tenure-track and tenured faculty achieve their professional goals. Participants will engage in weekly community calls, productivity tracking, and collaborative feedback, all within a supportive academic environment. FSP is open to all UW faculty with an active NCFDD account.  Register to become an NCFDD member.

The spring 2025 session of the FSP will run from January 27 to April 6, 2025. Early bird tuition for UW faculty is $4,895, with registration opening on October 20, 2024. The Office for Faculty Advancement will cover one-third of the early bird discounted tuition, with the remaining amount to be covered by the faculty member’s department, college, school, or campus.

Key Deadlines:

• Submission Deadline for Tuition Support: November 4, 2024
• Early Bird FSP Registration Deadline: November 15, 2024

Faculty are encouraged to apply early, as space in the program is limited. Proof of registration is required within two weeks of the FSP registration deadline.

To apply for tuition support, faculty should complete the Support Proposal Form by 5 p.m. on November 4, and include the following documents:

• A brief proposal detailing how participation in the FSP will contribute to professional development and advancement
• A 3-page CV
• Documentation of departmental or school support for the application

For more information on the FSP or the tuition support application process, visit the NCFDD website or contact the Office for Faculty Advancement at facadv@uw.edu.

The UW Office for Faculty Advancement is committed to promoting faculty excellence through recruitment, retention, and support of a diverse academic community.

NewProfs@UW Launches Academic Careers

The University of Washington’s NewProfs@UW event kicked off the academic year by welcoming over 100 recently appointed faculty from all three UW campuses. This annual two-day event, held this year on September 12 and 13, aims to connect new professors with essential campus resources and foster cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Organized by five central UW offices—Academic Personnel, Libraries, Research, CoMotion and Global Affairs—NewProfs@UW offered an introduction to the university’s extensive support systems designed to assist faculty in research, scholarship and career advancement. The first day featured a series of virtual sessions, each led by key leadership, while the second day brought attendees together in person at the Husky Union Building (HUB) for networking and panel discussions.

Day 1: Virtual Insights

The online sessions on September 12th provided attendees with a deep dive into UW’s central offices. Starting with a briefing from the Office of Global Affairs at 9 a.m., the day unfolded with presentations from CoMotion, the Office of Research, UW Libraries, the Office of Academic Personnel and Human Resources (UWHR). These sessions allowed new faculty to engage directly with department leaders and participate in Q&A segments, giving them a clearer understanding of available resources and how to leverage them in their roles.

For instance, during the session with the Office of Research, Vice Provost Mari Ostendorf, alongside associate vice provosts, walked faculty through crucial topics such as human and animal subject research, internal awards and proposal submissions, offering opportunities for in-depth discussions with specialists in each area. In the afternoon, a joint presentation by the Office of Academic Personnel and UWHR provided an overview of faculty development resources, followed by a detailed session on benefits, giving attendees essential insights into the support available for their career success and overall well-being.

Day 2: Connecting and Learning in Person

The following day shifted the focus to in-person interactions at the HUB, beginning with a networking breakfast where faculty could mingle and establish connections with colleagues across disciplines. The plenary panel, chaired by Bioengineering Professor Ceci Giachelli, explored trainee mentoring, with insights from faculty across departments, including Mike Regnier (Bioengineering), William Mahoney (Graduate School) and Joey Key (Physics).

The heart of the event came in the form of specialized panels designed to meet faculty members’ distinct needs. Attendees could select sessions such as “Building a Scholarship Portfolio” in fields ranging from Arts and Humanities to Engineering, Medicine and Pedagogy. Each session was led by experienced faculty who offered advice on establishing a successful scholarly presence at UW.

Key discussions also revolved around open scholarship, intellectual property protection, community-engaged research and opportunities for global collaboration. These topics are central to UW’s mission of fostering academic growth and innovation.

Looking Ahead

For new faculty, NewProfs@UW serves as both an introduction to the university and an essential stepping stone toward building lasting academic careers. Attendees left with not only a stronger sense of community but also a wealth of resources to support their teaching, research and professional development at one of the nation’s leading research universities.

For more information on the event and resources discussed, visit NewProfs@UW.

 

 

Story filed by Courtney Laguio, Assistant Communications Director, Office of Academic Personnel

Photo credit: David Bellard, Assistant Director, Communications and Creative Strategy, Office of Research 

We’re excited to announce that Dr. Deepa Rao will be joining the Office for Academic Personnel and Faculty (APF) at the University of Washington as the Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Development, effective October 1, 2024. This appointment follows a successful search that attracted faculty applicants from across UW’s tri-campus system.

As Associate Vice Provost of Faculty Development, Dr. Rao will oversee and support faculty affairs processes, leading key initiatives such as faculty development programming, mentorship, leadership training, and promotion and tenure reviews. Her responsibilities will also include expanded tenure workshops, faculty awards and recognition, department chair training, policy governance, and faculty code analysis across all three UW campuses. Dr. Rao will continue to hold her faculty appointment in the Department of Global Health.

With an impressive background, Dr. Rao serves as a Professor in UW’s Department of Global Health, co-appointed in the School of Medicine and the School of Public Health. As a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, she has led several large-scale, NIH- and CDC-funded projects focused on mental health services and stigma-reduction interventions globally. Her current roles include directing the MPH program and teaching courses like Rethinking Global Health and Global Mental Health. Dr. Rao is also Vice Dean for Faculty in the School of Public Health, where she developed a comprehensive faculty development program and helped revise the faculty handbook to incorporate community-engaged and antiracist approaches to scholarship, research, and service.

Dr. Rao’s career spans over 15 years at UW, during which she has been a strong advocate for students, staff, and faculty. As the inaugural chair of the Faculty Affairs Advisory Committee (FAAC), she has played a pivotal role in representing the School of Public Health on the FAAC and shaping policies to support a more inclusive academic community. Drawing inspiration from Paulo Freire, she is deeply committed to de-centering privilege and fostering multidirectional learning in her work.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the search committee—Leesa Hall, Shelley Kostrinsky, Trish Kritek, Maya Smith, and Marjorie Olmstead (Chair)—for their dedicated efforts in ensuring a successful search.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Rao to Academic Personnel as she steps into this vital role. We look forward to the exciting contributions she will bring to the University of Washington.