Best of 2023 story round up at UW Tacoma

Together, We Are Doing Great Things

Published on December 22, 2023 / Published by

Twelve stories from 2023 illuminate a year of growth and accomplishments at UW Tacoma.

As we reach the end of 2023, we wanted to share some of the stories that we feel best illustrate UW Tacoma’s enduring commitment to the success of our students and the well-being of the South Sound region.

The dozen stories highlighted below are just the beginning. You can take a deep dive into our 2023 archive here.

Our heartfelt thanks to all those who join with us to build a bright future for Tacoma, our region and the world!

Enrollment Turns the Corner on Pandemic Recovery

UW Tacoma enrolled 4,790 students at all levels in 2023, marking a shift that signals a post-pandemic recovery.

Read the story

Partnership with Follett Brings New Campus Retail

The UW Tacoma Shop will sell course materials, text books, campus-branded merchandise, apparel, technology and more — online and on Pacific Avenue.

Read the story

New Grant Will Expand Access to Native Knowledge

$225,000 from the Mellon Foundation will support American Indian and Indigenous (AII) community-building events, bring more AII voices to campus, and power a summer institute on Indigenous humanities.

Read the story

Not Your Average Joe

Joe Davis is the first alum from either UW Tacoma or UW Bothell to be named president of 60,000-member UW Alumni Association.

Read the story

The Class of 2023

In 2023, we are celebrating the incredible achievements of almost 1,900 newly-minted UW degree holders.

Read the story

Encouraging Financial Wellness

Several new initiatives are helping instill financial literacy and resiliency into the UW Tacoma student body.

Read the story

New Display Honors Timber, Tribal Connections

A new display and permanent land acknowledgement in Milgard Hall celebrate our partnership with the Puyallup Tribe.

Read the story

Celebrating our Community with 'Dawg Bites'

UW Tacoma and the Milgard School of Business hosted the first ever Dawg Bites, a community event open to all.

Read the story

“Simply Something I Do”

Dr. Sharon Laing is being recognized by the American Public Health Association for the excellence and impact of her mentoring.

Read the story

A Ph.D. for Tacoma

With its first cohort of students, UW Tacoma’s Ph.D. in computer science is already making a big impact on students, research and the South Sound community.

Read the story

Bioinformatics Team Powers International Effort to Map Gene Function

Dr. Ka Yee Yeung’s research group is making a key contribution to a historic effort to understand the function of every human gene.

Read the story

Getting Ready to Rock

A behind-the-scenes look at Theater at UW Tacoma's first musical, "Rock of Ages," produced in partnership with Tacoma Little Theatre.

Read the story

Feature illustration by Alex Volkman

Academic Affairs

Advancement

Alumni

Community partnerships

Community support

Milgard School of Business

Research

School of Education

School of Engineering & Technology

School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences

School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership

School of Social Work & Criminal Justice

School of Urban Studies

Student Affairs

Recent news

Husky Homecoming: Karrar Hashem (‘21) brings new location of Lune Cafe to UW Tacoma

As a graduate of the Milgard School of Business, Karrar Hashem ('21) is brewing success — literally. Now on his sixth outpost of Lune Cafe, the newest of which opened this summer on Pacific Avenue, Hashem is just steps away from his alma mater in Tacoma's historic downtown core.

Students make 24-hour sprint to fix everyday money stress

The inaugural HuskyHack competition challenged students statewide to create solutions that help people navigate banking benefits and rewards programs.

UW Tacoma rises to highest position ever in Military Times ‘Best for Vets’ college rankings

The latest rankings recognize UW Tacoma as the top school in Washington and the Pacific Northwest for supporting service members and their families.

More Recent News

UW Tacoma in the News

Criminal justice professor offers AP News insight on the recent decline in deadly acts of mass violence

New data shows mass killings in the U.S. have hit their lowest numbers in nearly 20 years, but experts warn AP News that the dip doesn’t necessarily mean overall safety has improved. UW Tacoma Professor Eric Madfis is quoted.

The Associated Press

December 2, 2025

Graduate student and Puyallup tribal member Andrea Bob reflects on regalia, being first-generation

UW Tacoma MSBA candidate Andrea Bob ('23) reflects on her journey as a member of the Puyallup tribe and a first-generation college student in an editorial for the Puyallup Tribal News.

Puyallup Tribal News

November 24, 2025

UW Tacoma art professor honors community through dumpling art

The Tacoma News Tribune published a story on Assistant Professor Yixuan Pan’s dumpling making performance art piece inspired by her Chinese heritage and memories in the kitchen.

Tacoma News Tribune

November 18, 2025

More UW Tacoma in the News