Campus colors

The trees in Gateway plaza add a touch of fall color to campus.

The Newman family: Kuma (Alaskan Malamute), Leslie (Husky), Jordan (Coug), Joe (Coug), and Natali (Beaver)

5 Qs for Leslie Ann Newman ’01

Each issue we’ll ask an alum to tell us a bit about themselves with a few questions. This issue we’re talking to Leslie Ann Newman ’01 (Gender/Ethnic Studies). Leslie went to Highline and Green River community colleges before coming to UW Tacoma. She lives in West Seattle and is a real estate broker with RE/MAX.

Alumni E-news: Why did you choose UW Tacoma?
Leslie: UW Tacoma chose me. The Seattle campus was not interested because I had not taken a physics class. Honestly, I was really disappointed, but then I was really glad that I was at Tacoma for a number of reasons, not to mention commuting and parking.

Alumni E-news: What kind of impact did UW Tacoma make on your life?
Leslie: Continued to instill in me a lifelong love of learning. What I really learned is that I need to set aside my paradigms and judgments and be open to all around me. What was really interesting: The beaded, pierced, tattooed students who were not (in my opinion) polished were some of the smartest, most well-reasoned students. This was a big shift for me.

Alumni E-news: What was the most surprising thing you learned?
Leslie: Read, read, read some more, listen, don’t be arrogant. Verify for myself. I learned that I really enjoyed and excelled at writing research papers.

Alumni E-news: Does your education help you now?
Leslie: Every day. What was really beneficial is the fact that my two daughters, who at the time were in elementary school, saw their mom in school and their mom’s value placed on education. Today my daughters are a junior and a freshman in college and are both excelling. They mention my example and recently said they know how important it is for them to follow the example and graduate.

I tell my daughters all the time to use their schools. I let them know that universities today are set up to help kids soar and succeed. I tell them to use every resource at their disposal on campus and beyond.

Alumni E-news: What's it like to live in a houseful of non-Huskies? [Her family members have allegiances to other schools.]
Leslie: Go Beavers, Go Cougs, and Go Dawgs! I just love being part of the Pac 10. I think we have a great conference and some amazing institutions of higher learning.

Enrollment up, transfers up

Autumn 2010 enrollment at UW Tacoma rose 7 percent over the same quarter in 2009, with a headcount of 3,331 students, compared to last year’s headcount of 3,111. This marks the sixth straight year of increases in fall enrollment.

"We're continuing to see a strong response in applications, particularly among transfer students from Washington community colleges,” said Derek Levy, associate vice chancellor for Enrollment Services. Transfer applications were up 6.8 percent over last year. Levy noted an upward trend in full-time students (72 percent).

UW Tacoma is experiencing a high percentage of returning students, indicating more students continuing to graduation. Last spring, UW Tacoma’s largest graduating class, almost 1,100 students, surpassed the 10,000 graduates mark.

Gear Up for Apple Cup 2010

Q: How do you tell a Husky fan from a Cougar fan?

A: The Huskies have all the good tables at the Harmon on Apple Cup day!

Scores of UW alumni and fans will descend on the Harmon Brewery on the UW Tacoma campus to watch the annual Apple Cup grudge match between the Cougs and Dawgs on Saturday, Dec. 4. As this newsletter reaches you, the kick-off time has not been announced, but check back later on.

WSU alumni and fans also attend and sit in their own section, allowing plenty of opportunity for friendly rivalry during the 103rd playing of the game.

And, what could be even better than shouting encouragement for your favorite football team in a room full of other people shouting encouragement for your favorite football team? It’s FREE to anyone in Husky gear. Appetizers (think beef, chicken and veggie nachos!) and non-alcoholic drinks are on us. The cash bar is open to fans of legal drinking age, of course. Family members and friends accompanying Huskies will have to choose allegiances at the door.

Reserve your seat at Harmon’s and don’t forget to wear purple and gold!

You don’t need safety goggles for this

Tacoma Science Café, a new free, monthly program sponsored by the Pacific Science Center and KCTS 9, features scientists talking about local, cutting-edge subjects on a level we non-scientists can understand.

The talks begin with a 20- to 30-minute talk by a local scientist, followed by a Q&A session. The inaugural Science Café earlier in November featured UW Tacoma’s Julia Masura, environmental science lecturer, who talked about microplastics, tiny particles of plastic in the oceans that get into the food chain.

On Dec. 2, another UW Tacoma faculty member, George Mobus, associate professor in the Institute of Technology, will talk about "Energy and the Economy."

Tacoma Science Café is held at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month at The Harmon. Learn more about Science Café.

Call for Nominations: 2011 Distinguished Alumni Award

Do you know of any outstanding alumni who've risen above the crowd and made a real impact? Tell us about it!

Established in 2004, UW Tacoma's Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes outstanding women and men who have inspired UW Tacoma students and/or have made significant contributions in their careers and community service.

Learn more about the award, past winners, selection criteria and how to nominate your distinguished alumni candidate.

Interim president takes charge

Mark Emmert stepped down as UW president on Oct. 1, leaving the university in the capable hands of Interim President Phyllis Wise. Prior to assuming that role, Wise served as provost and executive vice president.

Wise is a professor of physiology, biophysics, biology, obstetrics and gynecology. She has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Swarthmore and a doctorate in zoology from the University of Michigan. The Puget Sound Business Journal selected her as one of its 2008 Women of Influence.

Watch President Wise’s annual address to the university.

Water Undone

An hour-long documentary written, produced and filmed by UW Tacoma faculty, staff and students, lays out the case: To clean up Puget Sound, to prevent flooding of homes and businesses and to protect drinking water, start with the watersheds.

The Puyallup River watershed, a major source of fresh water into Puget Sound through Commencement Bay in Tacoma, suffers from “land use favoring paving and shingles,” according to the documentary Water Undone: The Effort to Save the Puyallup River Watershed.

Read the rest of the story...

Busy autumn

Here are a few highlights of fall events on campus:

Senior Class Clock
Mike Painter ’95, (Liberal Studies), Doug Smith ’06 (CSS) and Wil Johnson ’08 (IAS; pictured above), were on hand to lead the dedication of the Senior Class Clock, a gift to the university of the Classes of 2005 through 2008. The unique clock is mounted on the glass wall of Philip Hall, and can be seen from inside or outside the building.

20th anniversary
Founding faculty member Mike Allen kicked off the festivities for the 20th anniversary celebration, telling stories about the university’s early days. People representing UW Tacoma’s past, present and future added their remembrances, described their pride in the school and shared their hopes. Speakers included UW President Phyllis Wise; Pat McCarthy ’00, Pierce County Executive; Chancellor Pat Spakes; Herb Simon, chair of the UW Regents; Congressman Adam Smith; a surprise phone call from Congressman Norm Dicks; student president Nauman Mumtaz; student Daniel Liang; and Kathleen Deakins, chair of the UW Tacoma Advisory Board.

The Great State Income Tax Debate
UW Regent Bill Gates Sr. (above right) and Slade Gorton, former Washington senator and attorney general, faced off over Initiative 1098, which would have placed an income tax on Washington’s richest 1 percent. With help from supporters Nick Hanauer, a partner at venture-capital firm Second Avenue Partners on Gates’s side and Matt McIlwain, managing director of Madrona Venture Group on Gorton’s side, the debate in Philip Hall looked at both sides of Initiative 1098. The initiative was voted down on Election Day, Nov. 2.

The degree that keeps on giving

Your ability to stay connected with your alma mater and your alumni network is your most valuable UW Tacoma asset—right up there with your UW Tacoma degree.

More than 55,000 of your fellow Husky alumni maintain their connection to each other and to the university through the UW Alumni Association. Here are some of our favorite reasons for joining.

Read about UWAA member benefits...

Class Notes

Janet Runbeck opens a free clinic to help people with chronic diseases, two nursing grads are finalists for Nursing Excellence Awards, Carrie Waffle joins the Bates Technical College Foundation Board, and much more in our all-new Class Notes site.

This way for more Class Notes...

• How to submit your news and pictures
• Update your contact information
• Alumni directory (UWAA members only)