Meet the Faculty and Campus Leaders Supporting Your Success
The first day of New Faculty Onboarding introduces new faculty to the people, programs, and resources that support teaching, research, and academic success across the University of Washington. On September 11, Day 2 brings those connections to life through in-person conversations, faculty panels, networking opportunities, and a resource fair designed to help new faculty build community and navigate the UW with confidence.
The day begins with a networking breakfast and welcome from senior academic leaders, offering participants an opportunity to connect with colleagues from across the university while hearing about UW’s commitment to faculty success. Following the opening session, faculty will gather for a plenary panel on trainee mentoring, featuring experienced researchers, educators, and academic leaders who will share insights on supporting undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees. The remainder of the day includes discipline-specific scholarship panels, opportunities to network with fellow faculty, and a resource fair showcasing the many offices and services available to support faculty throughout their UW careers.
Below is a preview of a few of the featured participants and sessions.
Meet the Trainee Mentoring Panel
The plenary mentoring discussion brings together faculty and academic leaders who work with trainees across the educational spectrum, from undergraduate researchers to graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and interdisciplinary research teams.
Panel participants include:
- Cecilia Giachelli, Associate Vice Provost for Research and Professor of Bioengineering (moderator)
- Michael Regnier, Professor of Bioengineering
- Kalei Kanuha, Associate Dean of Graduate Student Success
- Sophie Pierszalowski, Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research
- David Beck, Director of Research at the eScience Institute
- Joey Key, Associate Professor of Physics
- Stephanie Harrington, Associate Dean for Administration, College of the Environment
Together, the panelists bring expertise in graduate education, undergraduate research, interdisciplinary collaboration, student success, data-intensive research, academic leadership, and faculty mentoring. Their collective experiences offer new faculty practical perspectives on how to support trainees at every stage of their academic journeys while building productive and rewarding mentoring relationships.
Building a Scholarship Portfolio at the UW
Following the mentoring panel, participants will choose from one of four discipline-focused discussions hosted by Academic Personnel & Faculty:
- Building a Scholarship Portfolio in Medicine & Health Sciences
- Building a Scholarship Portfolio in Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
- Building a Scholarship Portfolio in Engineering & Natural Sciences
- Building a Scholarship Portfolio in Teaching & Pedagogy
These sessions are designed to help faculty better understand how scholarship is recognized, supported, and evaluated across different academic fields. Through conversations with experienced UW faculty and academic leaders, participants will gain practical insight into building a successful scholarly portfolio while navigating the expectations and opportunities unique to their disciplines.
Whether faculty are developing research programs, advancing creative and scholarly work, pursuing clinical and applied scholarship, or demonstrating excellence in teaching and learning, these discussions will provide discipline-specific perspectives on building a sustainable and impactful academic career at the University of Washington.
Meet the People Behind the Resources
After a networking lunch, faculty will have the opportunity to connect directly with campus partners during the Resource Fair.
One of the most valuable aspects of onboarding is discovering not only what resources exist, but also the people behind them. The Resource Fair provides a chance to ask questions, make connections, and learn how various offices can support faculty throughout their UW careers.
Representatives will be available from:
- Global Affairs
- UW Libraries
- Office of Research
- Tri-Campus Engagement for Community Research
- CoMotion
- Faculty Development
- The Graduate School
- Undergraduate Academic Affairs
- Environmental Health & Safety
- Husky Assist Program
- University Book Store
- UW Alumni Association
Faculty can also connect with offices and programs that support well-being, benefits, and campus life, including:
- Whole U and UW WorkLife
- Combined Fund Drive
- UW Human Resources and Benefits
- TIAA
- Campus & Community Safety
- Transportation Services
Building Your UW Network
Day 2 is intentionally designed to foster connection. Between the networking breakfast, mentoring panel, scholarship discussions, lunch, and Resource Fair, participants will have multiple opportunities to engage with colleagues and campus partners from across schools, colleges, and campuses.
These early relationships often become valuable sources of collaboration, mentorship, and community throughout a faculty member’s UW career. By the end of the day, participants leave with more than information. They leave with connections, conversations, and a stronger sense of belonging within the University of Washington community.
Join Us
New Faculty Onboarding is part of Faculty Welcome Week, a series of programs designed to help new faculty begin their UW careers with confidence, connection, and community.
While Day 1 offers a virtual introduction to university leadership and key resources, Day 2 provides opportunities for deeper engagement through mentoring conversations, discipline-specific faculty panels, and meaningful interactions with the people and offices that support faculty success.
Register for both days of New Faculty Onboarding, September 10-11, 2026, and take full advantage of Faculty Welcome Week as you begin your UW journey.
New Faculty Onboarding
Sept. 10–11, 2026
Register for both days to take full advantage of the opportunities and resources.
Mari Ostendorf serves as the University of Washington’s Vice Provost for Research, a role she assumed in 2021. She is an Endowed Professor of System Design Methodologies in Electrical & Computer Engineering and previously served as Associate Vice Provost for Research, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies in the College of Engineering, and Associate Chair for Research in Electrical & Computer Engineering. She also holds adjunct appointments in Computer Science & Engineering and Linguistics.
François Baneyx has served as UW’s Vice Provost for Innovation and Director of CoMotion since 2019. He is the H. Harry and R. Metta Rehnberg Endowed Chair in Chemical Engineering, an adjunct professor of Bioengineering and Materials Science & Engineering, and an internationally recognized authority on protein production technologies and the biological fabrication of advanced materials.
Joy Williamson-Lott serves as Dean of the University of Washington Graduate School. A professor of higher education in the College of Education, she is an accomplished scholar whose research examines the history of American higher education, the Black freedom struggle, and the pursuit of equity and access in educational institutions.
Verletta Kern’s work centers on connecting researchers with the people, services, and expertise they need to advance their scholarly projects. In discussing her role, she has described serving as a connector who helps faculty and students navigate questions related to digital scholarship, copyright, publishing, preservation, and access.
Fredrick M. Nafukho serves as Vice Provost for the Office for Academic Personnel & Faculty and is Professor of Management and Organization in the Foster School of Business, Presidential Term Professor, and Adjunct Professor in the College of Education.