Calendar with number 2021 superimposed, story images embedded

Looking Back at 2021

December 29, 2021

Fourteen stories from the past year that showcase the best of UW Tacoma.

As has become our tradition, at the end of 2021 we present a round-up of stories we think speak best to the mission of UW Tacoma.

Many of our stories this year began with what are by now familiar themes: unprecedented times; the COVID battleground; and the constant ingenuity of our students, faculty and staff in overcoming seemingly insurmountable barriers and achieving their goals.

Enjoy!

Preserving Nihonmachi

Jan. 27, 2021

In their new book, Mary Hanneman and Lisa Hoffman share the history of Tacoma's Nihonmachi and the Japanese Language School once located on what is now the UW Tacoma campus.

Read the story

Founding Stories: The Black Student Union

Feb. 28, 2021

Linda Ishem, Lisa Faircloth, Jaime McGee and Chana Lawson talk about the Black Student Union, the first student organization at UW Tacoma.

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Engineering Something Amazing

Feb. 26, 2021

Heather Dillon is a big believer in human-centered design, and student-centered engineering education.

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Two UW Tacoma Juniors Selected as Truman Scholars

April 14, 2021

Chanise Jackson and André Jimenez plan to go to graduate school and dedicate their careers to public service.

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Without a Safety Net

May 6, 2021

UW Tacoma Professor Carolyn West has spent her storied career asking hard questions and exploring difficult subjects.

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The Next Stage

May 13, 2021

Senior Teresa Dennerlein grew up in isolation, then got a chance to see the world before finding what she needed at UW Tacoma.

Read the story

The Class of 2021

June 10, 2021

Members of the Class of 2021 can hold their heads high as survivors and achievers. We present a sampling of their stories.

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Always Thinking Ahead

Aug. 12, 2021

Expanding support for college-bound Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is a top priority for Patrick Pow.

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Reset and Redefine

Aug. 19, 2021

ASUWT President André Jimenez sees the pandemic as an opportunity to rethink the student experience at UW Tacoma.

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The Knowledge Generators

Sept. 2, 2021

A new research Ph.D. at UW Tacoma is a major milestone for campus, the community and the donors that are helping make it possible.

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Filled With Joy

Sept. 29, 2021

As Chancellor Sheila Edwards Lange begins her new role, she reflects on her personal journey and her vision for UW Tacoma's future.

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The Sky's the Limit

Oct. 21, 2021

Alumna Lan Allison's experience working with the Global Innovation and Design Lab opened multiple doors, including with United Way of Pierce County.

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Creating a Community of Fixers

Oct. 28, 2021

Dr. Emese Hadnagy and her new faculty colleagues are designing UW Tacoma's new civil engineering program to be inclusive and engaged.

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Aboard the Adventuress

Nov. 19, 2021

Take a deep dive into a research/instructional cruise on Commencement Bay. See science being done on an historic two-masted schooner.

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Edited by John Burkhardt

Administration

Advancement

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Campus planning

Community partnerships

Community support

Equity & Inclusion

Faculty Profiles

Global Innovation & Design Lab

Graduate education

Library

Milgard School of Business

Native & Indigenous Initiatives

Research

School of Engineering & Technology

School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences

School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership

School of Social Work & Criminal Justice

School of Urban Studies

Staff Profiles

Student Affairs

Student profiles

Undergraduate education

Veteran & Military Affairs

Recent news

UW Tacoma Enrollment up 4% for Autumn 2024

UW Tacoma enrolled 4,980 students for Autumn 2024, the first significant increase since 2020.

Gathering Strength

UW Tacoma's new Office of Indigenous Engagement is a dedicated space aimed at fostering connections, providing support, and expanding educational opportunities for Indigenous students throughout the region.

Celebrating First Gen

To celebrate National First Generation College Day on Nov. 8, we asked some our first-generation students, faculty, staff and alumni for their advice on what it takes to achieve your educational dreams.

More Recent News

UW Tacoma in the News

ISSIP Elects Haluk Demirkan Vice President for 2025

The International Society of Service Innovation Professionals (ISSIP), the non-profit organization advancing innovation to better serve people, business, and society, announced that Dr. Haluk Demirkan, has been elected to serve as Vice President for 2025, (and succeed to the role of ISSIP president in 2026).

EIN Presswire

November 12, 2024

East Pierce County is becoming more and more diverse. How about its elected leaders?

Professor Katie Baird is quoted in this article on the changing demographics of East Pierce County and whether its elected leaders reflect those changes.

The News Tribune

October 30, 2024

Washington Chief Justice Calls Diversity 'Critical' For Courts

Washington State Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven Gonzalez spoke at UW Tacoma on what diversity in cultural perspectives can bring to classrooms and courtrooms alike.

Law360

October 30, 2024

More UW Tacoma in the News

Looking Back at 2021

Preserving Nihonmachi

Jan. 27, 2021

Founding Stories: The Black Student Union

Feb. 28, 2021

Engineering Something Amazing

Feb. 26, 2021

Two UW Tacoma Juniors Selected as Truman Scholars

April 14, 2021

Without a Safety Net

May 6, 2021

The Next Stage

May 13, 2021

The Class of 2021

June 10, 2021

Always Thinking Ahead

Aug. 12, 2021

Reset and Redefine

Aug. 19, 2021

The Knowledge Generators

Sept. 2, 2021

Filled With Joy

Sept. 29, 2021

The Sky's the Limit

Oct. 21, 2021

Creating a Community of Fixers

Oct. 28, 2021

Aboard the Adventuress

Nov. 19, 2021

Recent news

Main Content

UW Tacoma Enrollment up 4% for Autumn 2024

Main Content

Gathering Strength

Main Content

Celebrating First Gen

UW Tacoma in the News

Main Content

ISSIP Elects Haluk Demirkan Vice President for 2025

Main Content

East Pierce County is becoming more and more diverse. How about its elected leaders?

Main Content

Washington Chief Justice Calls Diversity 'Critical' For Courts