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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.

As the UW gears up for its transition to the Big Ten Conference for the 2024-25 academic year, the university’s integration into the prestigious Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) is also in full swing. Alongside its athletic endeavors, UW will participate in the BTAA’s leadership development programs with five department chairs and two deans selected as fellows for this prestigious program.

UW President Ana Mari Cauce highlighted the benefits of this transition. “The Big Ten is a thriving conference with strong athletic and academic traditions and we are excited and confident about competing at the highest level on a national stage. My top priority must be to do what is best for our student-athletes and our university and this move will help ensure a strong future for our athletics program.”

Beyond athletics, UW’s membership in the Big Ten includes participation in the BTAA—a consortium of research universities committed to advancing academic leadership and collaboration. The BTAA offers various programs designed to cultivate the next generation of university leaders. The University of Washington has selected seven leaders to join two of the BTAA’s flagship programs: the Deans Leadership Program (DLP) and the Department Executive Officer (DEO) Program.

These programs span the 2024-2025 academic year, providing immersive leadership experiences aimed at building leadership skills and competencies. The DLP focuses on new deans, guiding them through the critical challenges of their early years, while the DEO program is designed for department chairs to hone skills in conflict resolution, faculty development and communication.

 

Deans Leadership Program Fellows

Tamara Lawson, LL.M., J.D.
As the Toni Rembe Dean and Professor of Law at the UW School of Law, Tamara Lawson brings a wealth of experience from her previous roles including serving as dean at St. Thomas University College of Law in Miami. Her work extends beyond the classroom with leadership roles in national legal organizations and a history of advocacy on issues such as criminal justice and race.

Michael Spencer, PhD
Dean of the UW School of Social Work, Michael Spencer is the university’s first Native Hawaiian dean. His career has focused on Indigenous health and social welfare with his work at the Indigenous Wellness Research Institute underscoring his commitment to advancing health equity for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities.

 

Department Executive Officer Program Fellows

Whasun Oh Chung, PhD
Chair of the Department of Oral Health Sciences, Dr. Chung is a longtime faculty member at the UW School of Dentistry. Known for her research in oral health, she has also played a key role in mentoring students and guiding the department’s research agenda.

Princess Imoukhuede, PhD
As the Hunter and Dorothy Simpson Endowed Chair of Bioengineering, Dr. Imoukhuede is a trailblazer in her field. She is the first African American woman to earn a PhD in bioengineering from Caltech and has received numerous awards for her contributions to biomedical engineering.

Janine Jones, PhD, NCSP
Dr. Jones, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of School Psychology, focuses her work on culturally responsive interventions for students of color. Her research seeks to bridge gaps in educational equity through resilience-building and emotional interventions.

Adrian KC Lee, ScD
Chair of the Department of Speech & Hearing Sciences, Dr. Lee leads research that examines the brain’s processing of sound. His interdisciplinary work blending neuroscience and engineering explores how attention and auditory processing can be applied in next-generation brain-computer interfaces.

Bart Nijssen, PhD
Chair of the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Dr. Nijssen’s research in hydrology and commitment to addressing global challenges such as climate change make him a vital leader in the field. His leadership focuses on creating an inclusive and equitable learning environment for the next generation of engineers.

 

These seven fellows will represent the University of Washington in the Big Ten Academic Alliance during the 2024-2025 academic year, engaging in programs that will shape their leadership within academia and beyond.

 

 

 

Story filed by Courtney Laguio, Assistant Communications Director for the Office for Academic Personnel and Faculty (APF)