At UW Tacoma, the future is full of hope. From our founding 35 years ago, community has been the heart of our work — we were created by and for the people we serve. Here, every voice adds value. Every story reshapes the conversation.

I am so pleased to share that UW Tacoma has earned national recognition and been awarded the 2026 Carnegie Foundation Community Engagement reclassification by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. This recognition affirms our commitment to ethical and impactful community engagement.

I am pleased to share the news that Dr. Heather Dillon, Professor and founding Chair of Mechanical Engineering, will transition into the inaugural role of Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Success at the beginning of Spring quarter 2026.

As you prepare for Winter Break — when many of us will be taking time off or working remotely — here are some good reminders.

As we approach the end of the year, we know many of our donors and partner organizations are thinking about their year-end gifts. Our Advancement team is here to help make those contributions as smooth and meaningful as possible.

The Center for Equity and Inclusion (CEI) has experienced a lot of change over the last few years, but our ability to serve students and advance the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion has not wavered.

For students, we know that access to food, housing, healthcare, and other basic needs is essential to your well-being and academic success.

Each November, National Native American Heritage Month invites us to honor the enduring cultural values, knowledge systems, and resilience of Native American and Alaska Native peoples.

This week marks a cherished tradition for our campus — the National First-Generation College Celebration. Through this event, we join colleges and universities across the country in recognizing the courage and commitment displayed by those who have taken a bold step as the first in their families to pursue higher education.

As we begin planning for the 2026-27 fiscal year, I want to share a few updates and outline the process ahead.