Autumn 2022

Welcome to the new academic year! I hope you are all well as we all adjust to a return to more in-person work, while continuing to provide virtual availability. 

This issue offers a variety of program updates and events as well as inspiring student profiles. As always, I hope you enjoy and find them interesting and informative.  

As we bring the quarter to a close, UW Admissions and UAA Advising will host Transfer Student Preview Day (TSPD) for the fourth consecutive year. This event will be held on December 15th, 2022 in the HUB on the UW-Seattle campus. 

I hope everyone has a safe, healthy, and memorable holiday season!

—Tim McCoy

UW Transfer Student Celebration Week

Greetings, and welcome to a new academic year! This year, Undergraduate Academic Affairs hosted the second Transfer Student Celebration Week, October 17-21st. 

Our Transfer Student Celebration Week was once again inspired by and held in conjunction with National Transfer Student Week

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Student Profile: Eddie Gammon, UW-Seattle, College of Built Environments, Construction Management Major

Student Profile: Eddie Gammon

  • Major: Construction Management
  • Year: Junior
  • Transferred from: Tacoma Community College

Tell me a little about yourself

I am from Chicago Illinois and I have been married to my wife Shawn for 20 years next September. I have a 7-year-old son named Brandon. I am a veteran of the US Navy, serving during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm from 1991-1995. In 2001 I completed the Lathing, Acoustical, Drywall Systems (LADS) Apprenticeship program at Renton Technical College where I journeyed as a carpenter, working in commercial construction until an injury forced me out of the field in 2016. I decided to use my previous experience in construction to further my career by going back to school to work on a degree in construction management to become gainfully employed.

What has your educational journey looked like prior to transferring to UW?

Prior to UW, I obtained an Associate in Business from Tacoma Community College (TCC) in 2019. Before TCC, I was a non-matriculated student at UW for the Certificate Program in Construction Management in 2008. This was proceeded by completing the LADS Apprenticeship Program at Renton Technical College. Prior to that, I graduated high school and US Navy firefighting/gunners-mate school respectively.

What influenced your decision to choose this major?

I chose Construction Management because of my previous years of employment in the field after an injury.

What has been the hardest part about transferring?

The process is not hard; it is more about becoming comfortable with new surroundings as with anything dealing with change.

What is something that surprised you about the transfer experience?

The amount of time that I spend commuting, and keeping that balance with family time has been challenging.

What has been your favorite part of the department so far?

That would be the instructors and the vast amount of knowledge within the built environments. A personal favorite is that I get to attend classes in many of the buildings that I have worked on through my twenty years working in Western Washington.

What experiences have been the most impactful for you outside the classroom?

When traditional students tell me that they respect me for returning back to school at my age.

Do you have any advice for transfer students?

Manage your studies and workload with family and friends – a healthy balance.

Currently, what are your future goals?

Graduate first and foremost, find employment, and hopefully have an opportunity to be self-employed again.

Updates/Information: School of Social Work and Criminal Justice at UW Tacoma

The School of Social Work and Criminal Justice at UWT offers an accredited (through the Council on Social Work Education) Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare that admits for autumn quarter only.  Our 2023 BASW program application will open on January 3rd for the Autumn 2023 admission cycle.  Applications received by March 15th will have priority review.  The program will continue to review applications completed after this deadline, on a space-available basis.  Please visit our website for more information: BASW Admissions | School of Social Work & Criminal Justice | University of Washington Tacoma (uw.edu) 

Our school also offers a unique Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice.  Offered in both on-campus and fully online formats, the Criminal Justice degree offers a multidisciplinary understanding of crime and justice within the framework of broader social processes within our society.  Our Criminal Justice campus program application remains open and is accepting applications for winter and spring 2023.  Our Criminal Justice online program application is also open and accepting for winter and autumn of 2023 (note that we do not admit to CJ-Online for spring quarter).  Please visit our website for more information: Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice | School of Social Work & Criminal Justice | University of Washington Tacoma (uw.edu) 

Information sessions will be offered in upcoming months for all of our majors, please subscribe to our program updates to be on the mailing list for the BASW program or the CJ Program  You can view our already scheduled upcoming events on our calendar [trumba.com]

National First-Generation College Celebration: Cynthia Anderson and Andrea Pardo, Advisers in the UW-Seattle College of Arts and Sciences Featured

Cynthia Anderson: Comparative History of Ideas (UW 2006)

https://artsci.washington.edu/news/2022-11/national-first-generation-college-celebration

When I was in high school all my friends were applying to colleges and filling out scholarship notebooks and I didn’t even know where to start so I went to the school guidance counselor and asked if she could help me. I will never forget her response which was, “has anyone in your family ever gone to college” and when I nervously answered no, she said, “well, if nobody in your family has gone to college, do you really think you will?” The applications were on paper at that time, and she gently took the applications I had chosen for schools out of my hand and let me walk out of her office. It took me six years to gain the courage to ask for help again but when I did, I enrolled at Seattle Central College.

I had a hard time acclimating to higher education at first, often feeling embarrassed as one of the older students in the class but I also knew that I deserved to have the same academic experience as my fellow students. I started to visit my academic adviser often, talked to the counselors in the scholarship office at least a few times a quarter, and went to my professor’s office hours telling anyone who would listen that my goal was to transfer to the University of Washington and that I needed their help to make that happen. And when some of them asked if I was the first in my family to go to college, this time I proudly said yes and was surprised when they wanted to help me.

I have found that there are some things in my life that I am stronger for having tackled on my own but navigating the bureaucracy of my education is not one of them and it shouldn’t be for anyone. What I didn’t know until I started sharing my personal story and my goals is that there’s an entire support system set up for all transfers and specifically for people just like me who are non-traditional, underrepresented, and first generation to help me succeed. A faculty mentor told me to connect right away with my departmental adviser which was great because that adviser helped me continue research at UW on many of the ideas I had first explored at Seattle Central. I earned my Associates Degree from Seattle Central in 2004 and then transferred to the University of Washington and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in the Comparative History of Ideas (CHID) in 2006. I have worked at UW as an Academic Counselor for now 17 years and am currently earning my master’s degree in Cultural Studies with a 2023 graduation planned.

As I reflect on what my high school guidance counselor said to me, I know that if I had listened to her I wouldn’t be where I am today. I tell students this story of her sometimes to encourage them to reach out often, even if one door closes, and share who they are and what they need. Advisers and counselors know the road of a transfer is not the same for everyone, they are ready to listen and help navigate it with you.

Andrea Pardo: Microbiology

https://artsci.washington.edu/news/2022-11/national-first-generation-college-celebration

Transferring from a CC to the UW for me looked like pages and pages spread over the dining room table, notes scribbled everywhere. The laptop open – UW requirements up on the screen and my Green River Community College (GRCC – Go Gators!) paper course schedules out. I’m sure that’s somewhat familiar to any transfer student, and the experience can be cumbersome and really confusing, however, the perseverance of transfer students is common knowledge to all of us who have been one, and worked with many who have made it to their University. There is something about “starting small” and taking those next big steps that keep us going. Being a first generation student and not having familial support to navigate any of these transitions is always hard, but here comes perseverance again, just that nagging push forward that keeps us going! Lean on those who can help, and use the advisers both at your current school and your university of choice to get the answers you need. You’re not bothering us – really- its our job! Many times, I find myself advising a student saying “I say this as a former transfer student myself.....” and I say it proudly, because it was a journey, as a first generation student, I will never take for granted.

Student Profile: Rachel Santika, UW-Seattle, College of Built Environments, Real Estate Major

What school did you transfer from? Edmonds College

What is the name of your hometown or city? Jakarta, Indonesia

Tell us about your background – what drew you to apply to UW as a transfer student? I am an international student from Indonesia, I came to the United States when I was 17 years old and since the first time I arrived in Seattle, I fell in love with UW's beautiful campus. In addition to that, I also hear a lot of good things about UW, it's programs, events, and guidance for our future career post graduation. 

Why did you choose Real Estate as a major? My dad is my inspiration to choose Real Estate as my major. My dad is a real estate developer, and ever since I was just a kid, he always bring me everywhere to his meetings with clients, suppliers, and others and I learned a lot about it and my interest about real estate started growing. Also, I choose Real Estate as my major as I want to learn more in-depth about real estate, and I hope I could apply my knowledge to my dad's business later when I go back home. 

So far, what has been the greatest lesson/s you have taken away from your time at UW as well as with the Real Estate program? That we have to have a good time management in order to be successful and it is okay to fail or get rejected, we should work even harder and try again, do not give up easily!

Now that you are currently studying Real Estate, what would you say is the biggest misconception about the Real Estate Major? That the only career related to real estate is being real estate agents. 

How has life at UW been different from your previous institution? What adjustments did you have to make as you transferred from one school into another? Of course the workload is different here in UW. 

What advice would you give a prospective student looking to transfer into UW? Work hard on your time at college, also be more active in organizations or volunteering as UW will look at that too and build a lot of connections there. However, don't forget to have fun too! balance is key. 

 Where is your favorite go-to spot on campus, to relax, study, hang out, eat, etc? definitely odeegard to relax and study, and hub to hang out with friends and eat! 

As you look ahead to your future, post UW, what are some of your career aspirations, and how will your Bachelor of Science in Real Estate, lead you to achieve them? I look forward to working as real estate consultant or jobs that are related to marketing/sales post graduation as my first working experience. After that, I want to go back home to my country and help out my dad's business. I hope that from what I learn here in UW and from getting my Bachelor of Science in Real Estate I could apply my knowledge and what I learn from all the classes and experience of joining and volunteering in different organizations on campus, I could make his company more successful.   

UW Bothell School of Business-Re-launches the Eastside Leadership Center on the Bellevue College campus

The UW Bothell School of Business is re-launching our Eastside Leadership Center on the Bellevue College campus beginning Winter Quarter 2023. The program creates a solid pathway for Bellevue College alumni to earn a UW Bothell Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration in the already familiar environment of Bellevue College. The ELC is open to any transfer students, not just Bellevue College alumni, and is especially convenient for those who live and/or work near Bellevue. ELC students will have access to many resources and services (e.g., library, wifi access, etcetera) of both UW Bothell and Bellevue College campuses.

The ELC runs on a cohort model with classes held on a consistent schedule — ideal for working students who cannot easily alter their schedules every quarter. Classes typically run Monday and Wednesday afternoons or evenings. The cohort model appeals to students who enjoy learning within a group and seek camaraderie, interaction, and support from others.

The ELC offers an Option in Supply Chain Management or a Concentration in Entrepreneurship. If ELC students seek other areas of study, they can take courses at the UW Bothell campus (or even the Seattle campus) after completing their core Business courses at the ELC.

Below are a couple links to press releases about the ELC.

https://www.uwb.edu/business/news/partnership-with-bellevue-college [uwb.edu]

https://www.bellevuecollege.edu/news/2022/08/03/uw-bothell-and-bellevue-college-partner-for-business-student-success/ [bellevuecollege.edu]

Undergraduate Research Program Flyer

Undergraduate Research Program

Student Profile: Sana Newad, UW-Seattle, College of Built Environments, Construction Management Major

Sana Newad joined the University of Washington this autumn as a junior in the College of Built Environments. In our interview, Sana offers insight into the transfer student experience and what led her to pursue construction management at the UW.

Major: Construction Management

Year: Junior

Transferred From: Bellevue College

What led you to pursue construction management?

My original interest actually wasn’t construction management. I went to Inglemoor High School and did multiple business-based clubs, like DECA and FBLA. After graduating, I attended Bellevue College, where I wanted to pursue a degree in Finance. Going through the classes, I realized I had an interest in my personal finances, but not the degree.

I realized I wanted to pursue a STEM-based degree and found that my skills, knowledge, and interest align with civil engineering. I went on to complete the prerequisites. During the time of transferring and researching schools, I found Construction Management on the website and started researching. I appreciated it by mixing my interest in business and my chosen degree in Civil engineering into something I want to pursue.

What interests you about construction management?

I like how something can originate with a mere idea and then through the process of design, planning, and collaboration you observe a structure come to fruition.

What challenges have you encountered as a transfer student?

Since transferring to the UW, I have had challenges with getting accustomed to the fast paced life of the university. Being remote for school with three or four classes, I wasn’t used to being at school all day. It's been a 180 degree change from the pandemic to being in person.

Is there anything that has surprised you as a transfer student?

The transfer process is about fulfilling prerequisites, submitting applications, and writing essays - just picking away at it for a year. Then you finally get here and your idea of the UW and what it’s like actually being here are just two different things. There’s so much more to learn and take away. There’s so many components of the degree and where it

expands to that I never could have imagined. I had a very telescopic perspective of the degree and it’s just getting bigger and bigger as I go through classes and network with people.

Are there parts of your major or the College that you particularly enjoy?

I’m really liking AGC (Associated General Contractors). I haven’t done a whole lot with them, but going to the meetings has been enjoyable. I also just went to the CM Career Expo. The opportunity to have informal meetings with people in the industry has been my favorite part of the program so far. There’s much to learn beyond what’s inside of a book - not that they don’t offer a lot - but I think real world experience is what we all crave.

Are there any classes or professors you have especially enjoyed or are looking forward to?

My professor for construction industries - Darlene - has worked in the construction industry for decades and has traveled the world. She’s worked in China, Saudi Arabia, Spain - she’s touched base everywhere and had the most amazing experiences.

When you think about construction, you don’t usually think about it on an international level. I enjoy traveling, so the idea of moving around and having such a worldly experience in this career really excites me.

What experiences have been most impactful for you outside of the classroom?

It’s actually something that hasn’t happened yet, but that I’ve been offered. I was offered an internship position with Turner that I’m really looking forward to. Going through the interview and meeting the team, I am excited to learn from them and get to know the people in the industry.

Do you have any advice for students thinking about transferring to the UW?

Talk to the advisor of the department you’re interested in at the university, and also one from the place you’re transferring from. A huge mistake I made at community college was coming in with an ‘I can do it by myself, I shouldn’t ask for help’ attitude. If I had talked to more people and gotten to know what the transfer process was, I could have transferred earlier. But since I didn’t communicate and didn’t ask for help until the last minute, there weren't many things they could do. Ask for help early on and reach out even if your goals end up changing. It’s better to get all the information than to wait until it’s too late and end up having to delay the process for an entire year.

What are your future goals?

I’m still figuring things out, but I’m hoping to graduate in two years and have a job. I’d like to be a project manager in five, which I think is pretty standard. Eventually, I hope to go into real estate. It’s something that’s always piqued my interest, and even if it’s just commercial real estate, I’d like to find a pathway into that.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I have a lot of compliments from the department. Rachel, the CM advisor, was the most helpful person I met at the school. I stopped her a couple of times, and she heard me each time. She’s someone who listens to you and understands your frustrations. She’s genuinely one of the best advisors I could possibly have, and I am very grateful to have them.

I wanna exaggerate knowing your advisors. They are good resources and great people to reach out and get help on your educational journey.

Student Profile: Callum Crist, Food Systems, Nutrition and Health Major, UW-Seattle School of Public Health

Student Profile: Callum Crist

  • Major: Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health 
  • Year: Senior
  • Transferred from: North Seattle College
  • Hometown: Stayton, Oregon & Seattle, Washington

Why did you choose UW?

I have been dreaming of going to UW for the past 5 years. I chose UW for many reasons, but in some ways UW chose me. The Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health major opened around the time I started becoming interested in nutrition as a career and I didn’t have many other schools in mind. I knew that this program was right for me. The campus is incredibly beautiful, urban but with strong ties to nature everywhere. It is an honor to be aHusky.

What aspect of the major interests you most and why?

I love food, like most people. I never really thought about how much impact food systems in general has on our planet because we mainly think about only the physical dietary consequences.This major is kind of like Pandora's box, revealing to me many puzzles and problems that we face as a society, sometimes without even knowing. I like to imagine different policies or legislation I would create if I was in a position to do so. Maybe I could provide more funding to urban farm creation or create education protocols on food nutrition and waste. There is so much need and untapped potential, so many complex problems in our society that revolve around food where we need help and support from people who understand how to create balanced solutions.

What do you like to do for fun outside of class?

I love weight lifting, riding my motorcycle, and listening to music, or spending time with my niece, Zion. I also enjoy playing piano to destress or just eat poke, matcha ice cream, and play video games. My family and church community bring a lot of joy to my life and keep me grounded in my studies.

What advice would you give prospective students considering a major in Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health?

Some career fields will teach you how to serve others, and some will teach you how to serve yourself. Some decisions we make create a lifestyle where we are alone,and some bring us together and build community. The Food Systems major has taught me how to better understand how to solve the needs of others and also enjoy building a healthier atmosphere. Each day I learn I see more possibilities I can impact my surroundings in a positive way, even if it's just spreading awareness. If you're considering this major, know that it has knowledge that you can use for your whole life, not just when you clock in at work. I am grateful to be a part of the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health major, and that it found me at the right time.

Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies: Undergraduate Student Resources

To Access Academic Resources:

Career and Internship Center

Scholarship Office

To Access Health and Wellness Resources:

Health and Wellness Resources at UW

Academic Success Programs (Academic Success Coaches, Clue tutoring)

http://www.academicsupport.washington.edu/

Writing Resources for JSIS students: Writing Center - POL S, JSIS, LSJ (UW) (washington.edu)

Student Profile: George Fennell, Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering

Student Profile: George Fennell

  • Major: Materials Science and Engineering
  • Year: Senior
  • Transferred from: North Seattle College

George joined the MSE program after completing his Associate of Science, with a focus in engineering, physics, and computer science. In his free time, George is an avid chef (he shared that Nanaimo and Shoofly Pie are next on his to-make list), reader, and gamer (his favorites are The Outer Wilds and Disco Elysium). Once at UW, George became an active member of – among several involvements – Materials Advantage, a career preparatory and networking organization for MSE students. Materials Advantage is involved in K-12 outreach and programming that is dedicated to increasing awareness of and interest in materials science & engineering. Through his studies in MSE, George discovered a passion for battery and fuel cell manufacturing; he hopes to cultivate this interest with a pursuit of a PhD in materials science and engineering.

What was your experience like at community college?

I was two years out of high school when I started community college. I have been interested in technology since I was a kid, but I felt locked out of STEM by bad grades, and I was initially planning to study to be a fiber optic technician. My teachers at North Seattle College were incredibly supportive, and by studying harder than I’d ever studied in my life I got my Associate of Science degree. I also participated in an undergraduate research program, which reaffirmed for me that STEM is what I wanted to do.

How did you learn about MSE @ UW and what made you decide to apply?

UW was my #1 choice, it’s an R1 university with a lot of resources for getting internships and doing undergraduate research and being in-state made it affordable. I had never heard of MSE until about a month before the application deadline. I was initially interested in applying to the physics and chemical engineering departments. I was afraid that majoring in physics wouldn’t give me the same job security as an engineering degree if I wanted to go into industry, but chemical engineering might take me down a career path I wasn’t passionate about. Now I know that you have a lot of flexibility to customize your experience no matter your department, but when I read about MSE I was really interested in the incredible variety of careers available to material scientists.

How do you think your experience in community college impacted your journey and transition to UW, both personally and academically?

I was anxious about the classwork being more difficult in UW, and that fear has been proven to be totally unfounded. I have never had a class as difficult as the Calculus 2 class I took at my community college. I think the most significant academic difference has been that it’s more difficult to get to know professors because class sizes are so large, but you can usually rely on TAs to help in a tough class. UW students have been a lot younger on average, and many are less mature about staying on top of classwork.

What advice would you give to other community college students who are considering applying to MSE?

There are a lot of transfer students in the MSE department, so while you might not know anyone at first, a lot of other people are in the same boat, and for junior year all MSE students are in the same classes as a cohort. It’s easy to get to know people when you’re with them five hours a day for nine months. Meet with a departmental advisor to plan out your courses at community college as soon as possible, even before you transfer. I couldn’t do an internship this summer because I had to take summer classes to graduate on time. I highly recommend checking out the Registered Student Organizations (RSOs), they’re a great opportunity to meet people and network, explore different career paths, and beef up your resume. After more than a year in MSE, I know for certain that I made the right choice. I feel I have an incredible degree of freedom in what I want to do after college, I have the experience to make an informed decision, and I've been able to tailor my experiences towards my areas of interest.