University of Washington Honors Program

Honors Happy Hour
2024-03-26 17:30 - 19:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Big Time Brewery & Alehouse, 4133 University Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98105, United States
This is a special opportunity to join fellow Honors champions of all decades (i.e. folks who have already engaged in community building), other alumni who have graduated in the past five years and the class of 2024 to share experiences, dreams, advice, resources and ideas.
Everyone is warmly invited to attend and catch up with familiar faces or create new connections!
RSVP for the event here.

Lunch & Learn w/LaShawnDa Pittman - Free/Public
2024-04-10 12:30 - 13:30 | 211 Mary Gates Hall
Join LaShawnDa Pittman and Stephanie Smallwood for a conversation about Pittman’s latest book, her recent Hanauer appointment, and what else is in store for this American Ethnic Studies professor.
When she isn’t focusing on her digital humanities project, Real Black Grandmothers, or leading a mindfulness meditation class, Pittman teaches courses for the UW Honors Program. Some her recent courses include “Western Civilization” and “Global Public Policy and Interrogating the Influence of ‘Western Culture’ on Care.”
Her recent book, Grandmothering While Black, tells the stories of 74 grandmothers and great-grandmothers from Chicago and how they tackle the legal and social systems to provide care for their families.
Bring your lunch and friends and swing by the Honors suite for a fun and causal conversation between Honors Program Director Stephanie Smallwood and Hanauer Professor Pittman on April 10th, 12:30-1:30 p.m. in the Honors Library – Mary Gates 211.
All are welcome! RSVP HERE so we buy enough snacks.

Crafternoon with Honors Advisers
2024-04-17 14:00 - 15:30 | 211 Mary Gates Hall
Hello Honors Huskies!

“The worst enemy of creativity is self doubt.” – Sylvia Plath

We are excited to invite you to come unwind and get creative with the Honors staff at our next Crafternoon!

Your Honors advisers will be hosting a Crafternoon in the Honors office (MGH 211) on:

April 17th 2:00-3:30PM

Drawing, jewelry making, knitting, cross stitching, painting, poetry…whatever it is that lights up your creativity – bring your own crafting materials and let’s enjoy community time together in a relaxing afternoon of creativity and conversation!

Bring your own crafting materials, and we will provide tea and treats!

No idea what you would bring? Not particularly crafty? No problem! We’ll also provide some coloring books, pencils and pens for you to use and enjoy if you don’t want to bring your own materials.
We hope you can join us for creative fun with your Honors community!
Have questions? Email uwhonors@uw.edu

Dream Big with Neal Dempsey (full)
2024-05-02 15:00 - 16:00
Honors students from all majors and backgrounds are invited to a fun, fast-paced talk with venture capitalist Neal Dempsey (yes, like Dempsey Hall), a partner at Bay Area Partners investment firm, responsible for growing over 100 companies in the Silicon Valley. Although he and his wife, Jan, are based in Northern California, they are both UW alumni who make frequent visits to campus and are enormous supporters of UW’s growth and innovation.
Neal loves to visit with Honors students who are always surprising him with great ideas and questions.
The RSVP deadline has passed for this event.

Crochet 101
2024-05-14 14:30 - 16:00 | 211 Mary Gates Hall
Join Honors on May 14th from 2:30-3:30 PM in MGH 211 (the Honors Suite) for Crochet 101 with fellow Honors student, Sarah Tottori! Sarah will be leading a beginner-friendly tutorial on granny squares, a versatile crochet building block that introduces many of the stitches and skills needed to begin crocheting. Supplies will be provided by Honors, so no need to bring your own hook and yarn, though you are welcome to bring your own materials. If you plan on attending, please fill out this RSVP form so that we can keep track of any supplies needed.
Already know how to crochet or just want to hang out with fellow Honors students? Your attendance is more than welcome! You can work on independent craft projects, chat with fellow Honors students, or use this time to unwind and relax.
Sarah is a first-year student planning on studying Biology with minors in Bioethics and Education, Learning, & Societies and is an officer for the Yarn It! RSO. Sarah absolutely loves crochet and fiber arts and enjoys making anything from sweaters and clothing to stuffed animals, and even tapestries for final projects for Honors courses. She is so excited to support students in picking up crochet!
We hope that you’ll join us for this event! Again, no experience is required and supplies will be provided!

Portfolio Presentations - public/MGH 211
2024-05-20 11:30 - 12:50, 2024-05-22 15:30 - 16:50, 2024-05-29 15:30 - 16:50 | 211 Mary Gates Hall
Final Honors Portfolio presentations for interdisciplinary students completing their capstone Honors requirements. No RSVP needed for this open, fun community event.
All of the celebrations will be in the Honors suite. Room assignments for presenters will be on site.

It's Just...Coffee and Donuts
2024-05-21 09:00 - 10:00 | 211 Mary Gates Hall
Join us for a refreshing interlude amidst the demands of the upcoming dead and finals week! On 5/21/2024, at Mary Gates Hall 211, experience the delightful synergy of coffee and donuts starting at 9 AM. Indulge in the complimentary offerings as we provide a respite from your academic pursuits. No need to RSVP—simply drop by, enjoy the moment, and fortify yourself for the challenges ahead. Let’s foster a supportive study environment together!

LaShawnDa Pittman Book Launch
2024-06-06 16:30 - 19:00 | UW Communications Building: Room 120
Join LaShawnDa Pittman for a book launch to celebrate her book, Grandmothering While Black: A Twenty-First Century Story of Love, Coercion, and Survival. This book explores the lives of Black grandmothers raising their grandchildren in skipped-generation households and the struggles they face while maneuvering around legal and social barriers. Dr. Pittman is an Associate Professor of American Ethnic studies and has recently been awarded the Hanauer Professorship.
The first half of the event will be dedicated to a discussion about the book, including a Q & A with the author and a book signing. Be sure to RSVP for the second half of the event, the reception, to make sure there is enough snacks to go around!
RSVP here to make sure you get a spot!

Interdisciplinary Honors Huskies Graduation (class of 2024)
2024-06-08 09:30 - 12:00
Due to space constraints, this event is invitation-only. Honors Huskies from this graduating class should see email invitations in mid April, 2024. Contact uwhonors@uw.edu after April 19 if you did not receive an invitation but wish to attend.

Interdisciplinary Honors Prospective Students Information Session
2024-09-10 17:00 - 18:00, 2024-10-02 17:00 - 18:00, 2024-11-04 16:30 - 17:30 | Virtual
Interdisciplinary Honors Prospective Students Information Sessions
There are many pathways through the University of Washington, including the Interdisciplinary Honors track. As you’re considering your post-high-school options, learn more about this small community of multidisciplinary learners in the PNW’s flagship public university by joining an info session.
All of these online sessions contain the same info, so you only need to sign up for one! Space is limited so register now for your preferred session.

Tuesday, September 10, 5:00-6:00 pm – register here
Wednesday, October 2, 5:00-6:00 pm – register here
Monday, November 4, 4:30-5:30 pm – register here

Screening - The Ride Ahead (UW community)
2024-10-10 15:00 - 18:00
“The Ride Ahead” Film Screening
In honor of Disability Awareness Month, The UW Disability Staff and Faculty Association (DSFA) is partnering with DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology), the UW Disability Studies Program, and the UW Honors Program to host a virtual screening of an incredible award-winning film: The Ride Ahead. The film by 21-year-old Samuel Habib documents his journey into adulthood and finding community, largely shown from the point of view of two GoPros attached to his wheelchair.
It is incredibly rare to see authentic disability representation in media, especially when disabled people are involved both on screen and behind the scenes. Whether you are disabled-identifying or not, this film encompasses countless themes that touch on all our experiences, while highlighting the importance of disabled community, insights, joy, and building solidarity in an ableist world.
Please RSVP to join us for the screening on October 10th on Zoom from 3:00pm – 5:00pm, with an optional community discussion from 5:15pm – 6:00pm. There is also a flyer attached for you to print or share with colleagues.
Event Information
What: The Ride Ahead film Screening
When: Thursday, October 10th 3-5pm with an optional community discussion 5:15pm-6pm.
Where: Streaming it to viewers via Zoom with a 1,000 person capacity, RSVP here.
Who: Available to all UW staff, faculty, and students
Accessibility information: Open captions and audio description will be available during the screening of the film and Zoom automated captions will be available during the introduction and optional community discussion afterwards. If you need any other accommodations in order to participate (ASL interpretation, CART captions, etc.), please contact Christine Lew at lew32@uw.edu as soon as possible.

The Role of Public Research Universities (FREE/PUBLIC)
2024-11-13 18:00 - 20:00
Global Challenges—Interdisciplinary Thinking on…
The Role of Public Research Universities
Wed, Nov 13, 2024, 6-8pm in Kane Hall, Seattle, WA

CLICK HERE for EVENT RECORDING

Event Description
Joseph Janes (evolution and cultural impacts of information sources), Megan McCloskey (international human rights law and disability rights), and Ed Taylor (leadership, social justice and critical race theory in education) along with Interdisciplinary Honors student moderator, Jaya Field, discussed the many purposes of public research universities like the University of Washington in our world today.
About Our Speakers
(Moderator) Jaya Field is a third-year student and former Peer Educator in the Interdisciplinary Honors Program. She is currently studying international policy and systems, legal frameworks and advocacy, and human rights. Jaya’s published research explores the degree to which European Union member states institutionalize the rights of their queer populations.
Joseph Janes is an associate professor in the iSchool whose teaching and research examines the evolution, history, impacts, and uses of information resources and other documentary forms. He is also the creator of the podcast “Documents that Changed the World” and a former chair of the UW’s Faculty Senate.
Megan McCloskey is a Ph.D. Candidate in the School of Law and Graduate Student Lecturer in LSJ. Her research and advocacy are focused on assessing the effectiveness of international human rights law and development policy in recognizing and advancing the rights of women and girls with disabilities.
Ed Taylor is a Professor of Education and holds two key UW leadership positions as Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. His research and teaching examine international comparative education and the ethical dimensions of learning and social justice in higher education. He convenes challenging, inclusive conversations that shape our institution, including his asynchronous course “2024: Dialogue, Disagreement and Democracy.”
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This event was free and open to the public because of gifts to The Friends of Honors fund. We thank our donors and community partners for contributing to the health and learning of our community.
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Group Advising: Study Abroad 101 + preview upcoming Honors programs
2024-12-04 11:30 - 12:30 | 211 Mary Gates Hall
Join experts from UW Study Abroad and the Honors Program for a special information session to find out how (and why) you can earn credits and meet Honors requirements through faculty-led immersive international learning opportunities. You’ll hear about program types, timelines, credits, funding & scholarships, as well as the locations and topics of upcoming Honors Program offerings.
Wednesday, 12/4/24, 11:30-12:30 p.m. in the Honors suite, 211 Mary Gates Hall.
Preview the Honors Study Abroad offerings for 2025: honors.uw.edu/study-abroad

Cultural Outing: Manisha Sinha @Central Public Library
2024-12-05 19:00 - 20:30 | seattle central library, 1010 5th Ave, Seattle, WA, United States
The Bullitt Lecture in American History presents Dr. Manisha Sinha @Seattle’s Central Public Library
Thursday, December 5, 2024, 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Manisha Sinha, this year’s SPL Bullitt American History Lecturer will read from her book, The Rise and Fall of the Second American Republic: Reconstruction, 1860-1920 (New York: Liveright, 2024).
Registration required on the SPL web page. Click here for more details and to register.
Email uwhonors@uw.edu if you plan to attend this event and would like to sit with a group of Honors Huskies.

REGISTRATION CLOSED - Cultural Outing: Megan Ming Francis at Town Hall
2025-01-15 18:30 - 20:30 | Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Ave, Seattle, WA, 98101, United States
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS FULL.
PLEASE JOIN US AT ANOTHER UPCOMING HONORS EVENT.
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Honors Huskies Cultural Outing
“Autopsy of an Election” by Megan Ming Francis
Jan 15, 2025, Town Hall, Seattle

The environment surrounding the Harris and Trump campaigns revealed that we are living in an anxious and confusing time in politics. The past year of political upheaval has thrust into the spotlight long simmering debates about the vulnerable nature of democracy, the perils of money, and the malleability of the rule of law. How should we make sense of this last presidential election? Is political violence increasing? Who are the winners and losers?

Ahead of the presidential inauguration, Professor Francis will reflect on the lessons of the 2024 election and will point to possibilities to reimagine a more just future.
All Honors Huskies are invited to join Honors Program Director Stephanie Smallwood for this Town Hall event.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Dr. Megan Ming Francis is the Delsman Associate Professor of Political Science and an Associate Professor of Law, Societies, and Justice at the University of Washington. She specializes in the study of American politics, with broad interests in Black political activism, constitutional law, critical philanthropy, and the post-civil war South and is the author of the award-winning book, Civil Rights and the Making of the Modern American State.
Ming Francis also spoke in Honors’ 2018 Global Challenges/Interdisciplinary Thinking event on “The Question of Rights.”

This cultural outing is supported by the UW Graduate Schools Public Lecture Series. Click Here to visit their page for more great opportunities to explore voices and perspectives connected with the UW’s mission, vision and values.

Lunch & Learn w/Tony Lucero (students)
2025-01-30 12:00 - 13:30 | Mary Gates Hall 211
Honors students, join Tony Lucero and Stephanie Smallwood for a special lunch & learn adding to our conversation on the role of public universities and to hear about his book with Michael Steven Wilson: WHAT SIDE ARE YOU ON. This lunch is an especially great opportunity for students who missed Dr. Lucero at our 2024 Global Challenges event (or who loved learning with him at Global Challenges 2023 or in one of his great Honors courses).
Mary Gates 211, noon-1pm.

Second-Year Admissions Info Session
2025-02-03 13:30 - 14:30 | 211 Mary Gates Hall
Second-year Admission

Political Prisoners Event (HOPE/BSU collab)
2025-02-03 16:30 - 17:30 | HUB 337, 4001 E Stevens Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States
Join HOPE in Prisoners Solidarity Month from January 13th to February 10th!
We aim to create a month of intentional programming to uplift voices from inside prisons, jails, and detention centers and spread awareness on the political struggles of those behind bars. We hope to shed light on inhumane practices within carceral institutions, and uplift how people are resisting through community, education, and organizing. As practitioners of Transformative Justice, we believe in addressing cycles of harm and violence and not solely responding to them, which means supporting grassroots education on the inside and outside.
We are collaborating with other RSOs on campus to look at mass incarceration through an intersectional lens. Exploring the ways that our current criminal legal system exploits and weaponizes certain identities before, during, and after incarceration.
We welcome you to join us during our weeks of solidarity in whatever capacity you are able to and work with us to build a future to break all cages and free all prisoners across the globe.
If you have any questions feel free to email hopeuwseattle@gmail.com.

Unseen and Unsafe: Barriers to Asylum for Refugees with Disabilities (hybrid)
2025-02-07 13:00 - 14:00
You’re invited to a special presentation by students who participated in the Disability Inclusive Development Initiative (DIDI) project for UNHCR last winter/spring. Several of these students presented findings at the UN to inform policy to better support and protect disabled refugee populations.
Friday, February 7, from 1-2 pm Hosted by the Disability Studies Program, this event will provide an in-depth look at the project and its impact on global human rights advocacy.
The presentation will be held in person at the D Center, HUB 327, and will also be accessible via Zoom:
Zoom Link
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the intersection of disability, migration, and human rights from your peers!
RESEARCH TEAM: Taylor Arredondo, Stuart Asplund, Alice Bruil, Koschei Budkar, Alexandra Crooks, Zak Osborn, Vanessa Pankaj, and Carlos Yanez Navarro. Research assistant: Kaden Kaeo. Project Advisors: Megan McCloskey, Johanna Mora, Mostofa Md. Golam Hasan, and Rhoda Adeke.
EXCERPT FROM RESEARCH BRIEF: Although the circumstances in the countries under study are diverse and each face challenges particular to their political, economic, and social contexts, the study finds that none are effectively meeting the needs of refugees with disabilities or fulfilling the promise of international human rights law to the most vulnerable. In short, to meet the present moment and truly commit to protecting the human rights of all, governments and humanitarian actors must do more.

Group Advising: Get Involved in Undergraduate Research!
2025-02-26 15:30 - 16:30 | 211 Mary Gates Hall
Interested in research at the UW? Wondering where to start? Join your advisers from Honors and the Office of Undergraduate Research for a group advising session on getting started with undergraduate research! We’ll spend time discussing ways to explore research at the UW, how to get involved, and helpful resources to utilize. You’ll also get to hear from Undergraduate Research Leaders as they share their research experiences and answer your questions.
When and where? Wednesday, February 26th, 3:30 PM- 4:30 PM in MGH 211 (Honors Main Suite)

Cultural Outing: Victor Luckerson at Town Hall (Full)
2025-02-26 18:30 - 20:00 | Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Ave, Seattle, WA, 98101, United States
Victor Luckerson, “A Scheme to Forget, a Demand to Remember: The Century-Long Battle Over the Memory of the Tulsa Race Massacre”
Feb 26, 2025, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall, Seattle

The Honors Program is proud to co-sponsor this important talk by Victor Luckerson, a journalist and author who works to bring neglected black history to light.
Tulsa’s Greenwood neighborhood was an ascendant black business district when it was burned to the ground by a white mob in 1921. Since the days after the destruction, people in power have been trying to erase the memory of the Tulsa Race Massacre, going so far as to rip pages from the historical record to hide what unfolded. This purposeful forgetting continues today, as state governments in Oklahoma and elsewhere limit what histories can be taught to children in schools. But all along black Tulsans have provided their own historical ledger, through oral histories, legal battles, and the black press. They demand that the city and the nation remember. In his lecture, Built From the Fire author Victor Luckerson will explore this century-long battle over the “terrain of the mind” in Tulsa. His talk will explore why the story of Greenwood has been wiped from the American consciousness for so long, and the ongoing efforts by black Tulsans to make that legacy more widely known.
Thanks to Honors Director Stephanie Smallwood, Professor LaShawnDa Pittman and student co-host Tanvi Penubothu for organizing this cultural outing, which is now at capacity.
If you want to join our waitlist, email forcarey@uw.edu.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Victor Luckerson’s first book, Built From the Fire, is a multigenerational saga of a community in Tulsa’s “Black Wall Street,” that in one century survived the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, urban renewal, and gentrification. Victor is now busy at work on his second book project. He travels the country speaking about the history of Greenwood at colleges and venues such as the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African History and Culture. He also continues to work as a journalist, freelancing for outlets such as The New Yorker, the New York Times and Smithsonian magazine.
This cultural outing is supported by the UW Graduate Schools Public Lecture Series. Click Here to visit their events page for more great opportunities to explore voices and perspectives connected with the UW’s mission, vision and values.

Second-Year Admissions Info Session
2025-03-04 16:30 - 17:30 | Mary Gates Hall 206

Honors Huskies Events in the Bay Area
2025-03-13
The Honors Program has thousands of grads in the Bay Area from different majors, years, and backgrounds. We’re excited to reconnect alumni and friends at two different venues on March 13. Hopefully one of these will work for you!
SanFrancisco: light brunch & talk at Steuart Tower from 11am-12:15pm
Join fellow UW Honors alumni for a light brunch followed by an exclusive tour of Novo Holdings, a global leader in life sciences investing, hosted by Honors alumnus, Roman Camarda. Connect with peers from all industries and backgrounds around tech, investing and life sciences while gaining insight into the work shaping healthcare innovation in San Francisco.
Palo Alto: happy hour pre-func at Hidden Tap & Barrel from 4-5:30pm
Join alumni from Honors and Undergraduate Research at a mixer with free (early) dinner and drinks at Hidden Tap & Barrel before we dive into “Trust, Safety, and Info in the Age of AI,” an engaging conversation between multidisciplinary UW panelists at the Palo Alto Women’s Club around the block.*
Click here for more details and to RSVP for either/both Honors-hosted events on March 13.
email forcarey@uw.edu with questions.
*See details and register separately for “Trust, Safety, and Info in the Age of AI” with UWAA.

Second-Year Admissions Info Session
2025-04-04 15:30 - 16:30 | Virtual event
Second-year Admission

https://washington.zoom.us/j/92463933909

Multidisciplinary Teach-In (public/rsvp required)
2025-04-11 12:30 - 15:30 | Kane Hall 225
How We Got Here: Critical Reflections on Racism, Deportation, and Transphobia

TEACH-IN EVENT
Friday, April 11, 2025
12:30pm – 3:30pm; doors at noon.
Kane Hall, Room 225 (Waker-Ames Room)
Faculty from a range of UW departments — American Ethnic Studies; American Indian Studies; Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies; History; Jewish Studies; Labor Studies; and Middle East Studies — and the Law School* come together to frame and understand the current moment.
Registration Required. Click here to register.
*The University Honors Program is a proud co-sponsor of this free/public teach-in event.

Honors Huskies Alumni Happy Hour
2025-04-30 16:30 - 18:30 | Big Time Brewery & Alehouse, 4133 University Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98105, United States
Happy Hour for Honors Huskies Alumni (old and new)
April 30, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. @Big Time Brewery
Honors Huskies from the Class of 2025 are guests of honor at this annual alumni celebration. Let grads from years before welcome you into the warm embrace (figuratively speaking) of your fellow UW Honors Alumni.
Don’t imagine a networking event, this is a straight up party celebrating the continuum of infinitely curious Honors Huskies from all majors who continue to show up in this community long past graduation. It’s a great chance to congratulate your fellow grads and to meet new people, too.

This is a no-host bar but snacks will be generously provided by Friends of Honors. RSVP so we reserve enough space and order enough food!
Click Here to RSVP
