Renowned marine scientist and former NOAA chief Jane Lubchenco to speak at 2021 commencement

University of Washington alumna and former head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Jane Lubchenco will deliver the 2021 UW virtual commencement address on June 12. Lubchenco, now a professor at Oregon State University, was recently tapped by President Joe Biden to serve in an historic, newly created role as Deputy Director for Climate and Environment in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, which has been elevated to the President’s Cabinet.

College supports Native Gardens in honor of new graduates

Three graduates seated in the audience at UW Commencement

It is graduation season, and with that comes well wishes for our graduates and an opportunity to shine a light on their accomplishments. In appreciation of their contributions to enriching the College of the Environment in numerous ways, the College has decided to fund a project jointly with the Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF). Recognizing our students are the next generation of leaders in environmental science and decision-making, we believe this is a contribution that showcases our collective commitment to the sustainability and the well-being of our Husky Community and our planet.

Maya Tolstoy named dean of the UW College of the Environment

Maya Tolstoy, incoming Maggie Walker Dean of the UW College of the Environment

Maya Tolstoy has been named the Maggie Walker Dean of the College of the Environment, University of Washington Provost Mark Richards announced today. Tolstoy’s appointment as dean, set to begin Jan. 1, 2022, is subject to approval by the UW Board of Regents. Tolstoy succeeds Lisa J. Graumlich, who is stepping down at the end of the 2020-2021 academic year to serve as president-elect of the American Geophysical Union.

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May 25, 2021

College of the Environment

Reflecting on more than a decade: a Q&A with Dean Lisa Graumlich

After serving as the inaugural dean of the College of the Environment, Lisa Graumlich will step down at the end of the 2020-2021 school year. Graumlich first joined the University of Washington in the 1980s as a graduate student in what is now the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, returning to her alma mater to unite earth sciences units and departments within the University of Washington to form the biggest College of its kind in the nation.

Approaching SciComm with the end in mind: what impact do you want?

SciComm—shorthand for science communication—is a term we’re hearing more and more these days. Classes in SciComm are offered in university settings; new professional societies are emerging around the topic; large organizations, like AAAS and AGU, offer tools and training to build communication skills; and more scientists are valuing the role science communication can play in their own work, especially outside of academia.