University of Washington's Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity

The inaugural Spark Social will bring together recent UW alums, students, and community members to celebrate leadership and community and connect with the next generation of changemakers. Join us for a social hour and honoring of this year’s Spark Award Recipient: Julia Jannon-Shields!

$35 General Admission / Complimentary Tickets for Students
Register today: https://bit.ly/4uIoKPY

There are moments in our work when simply being together reminds us why community matters. The inaugural 2026 Odegaard Legacy Luncheon was one of those moments—a gathering filled with warmth, shared purpose, and a powerful sense of belonging. It was an afternoon that honored leaders and celebrated the shared values that continue to shape the work of OMA&D and the University of Washington.

Read our recap and view more photos of the Odegaard Legacy Luncheon on the OMA&D Blog: https://bit.ly/3NOv2wM

The University of Washington Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity (OMA&D) is honored to announce that UW President Emerita Ana Mari Cauce will receive the 2026 Charles E. Odegaard Award. The awardee is selected by Friends of Educational Opportunity Program (FEOP) Board of Trustees and is the most significant recognition of leadership in diversity, equity and inclusion at the UW.

Learn more about Dr. Cauce's legacy and impact at the UW: https://bit.ly/3MTGmr1

Congratulations to this year’s Spark Award Recipient, Julia Jannon-Shields! Julia has demonstrated powerful leadership in advancing equity and community-centered change at UW and beyond.

Learn more about Julia in the OMA&D Blog: bit.ly/4axwlrc

Come celebrate the UW first-gen community with us at the first-gen photobooth!

We have two first-gen photobooths coming up:

November 6th
11 AM – 2 PM
Mary Gates Hall, 141

November 7th at the UW vs. MSU volleyball game
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Section 2, Alaska Airlines Stadium

We are proud to announce the 2025 Samuel E. Kelly Distinguished Faculty Lecture on Beyond Status: Living Undocumented in Disruptive Times. This year's lecturer, Dr. Carolyn Pinedo-Turnovsky, invites us to explore undocumented immigration status, identity and the human experience.

Beyond Status: Living Undocumented in Disruptive Times
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Reception: 5:00 PM | Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center
Lecture: 6:00 PM | Alder Hall Auditorium

Dr. Pinedo-Turnovsky’s lecture will be followed by a Q&A session.
Advance registration is required; space is limited. Please register by October 19, 2025.
Registration includes a lecture reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages.

Register here: https://www.washington.edu/omad/samuel-e-kelly-lecture/

Congratulations to all the graduates! We are so proud of you.
We are thrilled to celebrate the achievements and contributions of our brilliant students. This year's graduation celebrations were marked by powerful themes, insightful keynotes, and joyful times shared with family, friends, mentors, and the community.

Thank you for making OMA&D’s 54th Annual Celebration a huge success!
We celebrated community, leadership, and academic excellence, raising over $475,000 for the Educational Opportunity Program and student success! We are grateful to all of our supporters, partners, community leaders, and our remarkable students for being with us and making this year’s event an evening to remember.

Poly Day 2025 at UW was a beautiful celebration!
With powerful cultural performances and resource workshops to delicious food, giveaways, and community vibes all around, we celebrated Pasifika excellence, unity, and culture on campus. Big love to everyone who showed up!

40 years strong! On May 17, WA MESA celebrated four decades of empowering underrepresented students in STEM at the University of Washington. The night was filled with inspiring student stories, recognition of trailblazing leaders, and hope for the future of STEM in Washington.