University of Washington's Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity

OMA&D announces Diana Betancourt Macias, ’17, ’20, as the 2025 OMA&D Spark Award recipient. Betancourt Macias, a dedicated community organizer and advocate for undocumented students, exemplifies the spirit of the Spark Award through her tireless efforts to create equitable opportunities and support for marginalized communities. Introduced at the onset of OMA&D’s 55th year, the Spark Award honors the accomplishments of a University of Washington alum who graduated within the last decade, whose diversity, equity, and inclusion leadership inspires early-career changemakers and exemplifies the spirit of the Charles E. Odegaard Award. The Spark Award will be presented to Betancourt Macias at OMA&D’s Annual Celebration on May 21, 2025.

Read more: https://www.washington.edu/omad/2025/03/03/diana-betancourt-macias-to-receive-the-omad-spark-award/

University of Washington UW Alumni Association

OMA&D announces acclaimed journalist Angela King, ‘94, as the next recipient of the 2025 Charles E. Odegaard Award, the University of Washington’s highest community-awarded honor. King will be recognized with the Odegaard Award for her work advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. For three decades, King has produced hard-hitting reports on race and equity, exposed white supremacist organizations in the Pacific Northwest, and has long been a champion of diversity and inclusion in the newsroom. In addition, King has selflessly given back to the University of Washington and is a long-time advocate of OMA&D. The Odegaard Award will be presented to King at OMA&D’s Annual Celebration on May 21, 2025. University of Washington KUOW Public Radio

Read more: https://www.washington.edu/omad/2025/02/21/angela-king-to-receive-charles-e-odegaard-award/

's Readiness for Islander Success in Education (RISE) conference took place earlier this quarter and featured an engaging student panel, inspiring guest speakers, and even some karaoke! Always wonderful to have our WA Pacific Islander high school students come out and join us on campus!

In addition to OMA&D's commitment to College Access and Student Success, we have resources devoted to institutional support for faculty, staff and students across all three UW campuses. OMA&D's Education and Training offers coursed to help the UW community learn more about topics such as Navigating Accessibility, Land Acknowledgements, and more!

Find out more about OMA&D and the work we do in our 2024-2025 Fact Sheet. https://ow.ly/bHnt50UGuTS

OMA&D's Student Success programs are a suite of holistic services that support more than 6,500 UW undergraduate students academically through supplemental instruction and advising, as well as emotionally by providing spaces where students feel a stronger sense of belonging. Last year alone, our academic counseling services saw 15,465 student appointments for academic and career planning.

Find out more about the transformative work done within OMA&D in our 2024-2025 Fact Sheet. https://ow.ly/nYeX50UGrWT

For 56 years, OMA&D's mission has been steadfast in creating pathways for MORE students to attend college, and our commitment to student success once they're here.

To learn more about the work of OMA&D and the ways in which we impact over 25,000 Washington k-12 students annually, or how we support the academic excellence of more than 6,500 UW undergrads each year, check out our 2024-2025 Fact Sheet. https://ow.ly/N5zX50UGrnF

Are you an alumni of the UW, were affiliated with OMA&D, or were you a MOR ambassador as a student? YOU ARE INVITED to attend an event with OMA&D's Multicultural Outreach and Recruitment (MOR) team as they celebrate 25 years of the MOR Student Ambassador Program!

Enjoy an evening of reminiscing, networking and fun as we honor the past and look to the future. Don't miss your chance to connect with fellow past ambassadors, alumni, and OMA&D supporters. Let's celebrate 25 years of community, leadership and growth together!

Dinner and refreshments will be served.

RSVP required at https://ow.ly/eFRr50U2xV5

UW OMA&D Multicultural Outreach & Recruitment

Congratulations to OMA&D EOP alumnae, Judge Lauren J. King (Muscogee) on her selection to the U.S. District Court in Western Washington! She is the first Native American federal judge in Washington state and one of four American Indian judges in the country.

Find out more about Judge King's selection at:
https://www.wsba.org/news-events/latest-news/news-detail/2021/10/07/washington%27s-first-native-american-federal-judge-appointed

If you live in Washington, you have until 8PM TODAY to return your ballots to a drop box location or get them postmarked. For information about voting or ballots, visit the Washington State Secretary of State's Office. https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections

We were truly honored to have Dr. Millie Russell as a valued member of our community for many years. If you would like to celebrate her remarkable legacy and learn more about the Millie Russell Scholarship Endowment, we invite you to reach out to the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity at [email protected]. https://www.washington.edu/giving/make-a-gift/?source_typ=3&source=RUSSCH

We look forward to seeing you at the 2024 Samuel E. Kelly Distinguished Faculty Lecture on Past, Present and Future Demographic Diversity in the U.S. and Washington, featuring Dr. Sara Curran. The lecture will take place on Thursday, October 17, 2024. Registration includes a lecture reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages.

Established in 2005 and named in honor of the UW’s first vice president for the Office of Minority Affairs, the annual Samuel E. Kelly Distinguished Faculty Lecture is dedicated to acknowledging the work of faculty whose nationally-recognized research focuses on diversity and social justice.

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

Join us as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Leadership Without Borders! This year marks a major milestone having the first established undocumented student serving center in the state of Washington. As we honor and commemorate our past supporting and assisting undocumented students at the University of Washington, we look forward to the future to continue to welcome and support students regardless of immigration status!

We are hosting a celebration on October 24, 2024 from 5pm-7pm at the Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center Unity Suite. We will have refreshments and hors d’oeuvres.

Register here: https://ow.ly/aBjR50TK5Tq