Since September 2005, 31 new staff members have joined the UW Tacoma team. They'll be honored at the annual New Faculty and Staff Reception at 4:30 p.m. today, Tuesday, Sept. 19 in the bookstore. Here is your chance to get to know them a little better ahead of time. We're introducing these new staff members in this issue of Inside Track.

Just click the link below or any of the pictures above to see photos and bios of our new colleagues.

Look for profiles of UW Tacoma's 21 new faculty members in the October edition.

Meet the new staff

Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Alan Wood leads a moment of silence as UW Tacoma staff, faculty and students mark the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. About 50 people gathered for the brief remembrance in Gillenwater Plaza.

New master's programs in Education, Social Work

UW Tacoma will expand its educational opportunities for teachers and social workers in January 2007 with two new master’s degree programs.

Master of Education in Secondary Science: This program was developed in response to a need in the educational community for more teachers who are qualified to teach science at the secondary level. Students in the program will study current methods of science education and intern as student teachers in a secondary science classroom. Applications are being accepted now for the 2007 program. Learn more about this program at the Education Program Web site.

Advanced Standing MSW: Designed for qualified students with a bachelor’s degree in social work or social welfare, the program allows students to bypass the first year of the three-year MSW curriculum and earn their degree in two years. UW Tacoma is one of only two universities in Western Washington to offer this program. The 2007 program is full, but applications are currently being accepted for 2008. Learn more about this program at the Social Work Web site.

Team UWT walks for AIDS/HIV research

More than 60 students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends joined Team UWT at the annual Pierce County AIDS Walk Sept. 9. The walk, which started on the UW Tacoma campus this year, raised more than $117,000 for the Pierce County AIDS Foundation. The UWT team raised nearly $4,700, ranking in the top five fundraising teams.

New students learn about UW Tacoma at Orientation

Environmental Science Lecturer Lia Wetzstein helps incoming freshman Cynthia Woytovech read her handheld GPS unit during a high-tech scavenger hunt at New Student Orientation Thursday. Groups of freshmen used GPS and a list of questions to track down campus-related clues that led them to a book in the UW Tacoma library.

More than 400 new students and 150 family members visited UW Tacoma for New Student Orientation last Thursday and Friday, including more than 100 of the university's first group of freshmen.

Dozens of UW Tacoma staff and faculty members participated in the two-day event, leading discussion groups and seminars and volunteering at the three-hour “Taste of UW Tacoma” festival Friday.

Students weren't the only new faces on campus last week — 21 new faculty members were introduced to UW Tacoma Thursday and Friday at their own orientation event.

See a group photo of UW Tacoma's first freshman class

Van Natta named vice chancellor for advancement

Carol Van Natta's title was changed to vice chancellor for advancement on Sept. 1, part of an effort to bring UW Tacoma's administrative structure more in line with that of traditional colleges and universities. Van Natta, who is responsible for the university's development, communications, alumni relations and constituent relations offices, has been assistant chancellor for advancement since 2004. She joined UWT in 2002 as director of development and alumni relations.

Lincoln comes to the university

Film crews prepare to shoot commercial footage of a Lincoln Continental and other cars in the Lincoln line Saturday, Sept. 16. Intrigued by the urban renewal theme of Tacoma’s university and museum district, two crews filmed nine cars along the main campus walkway and around the Mattress Factory building, as well as around the Convention Center, on Dock Street in front of Thea’s Landing condominiums and on Pacific Avenue in front of the Tacoma Art Museum and Union Station. UW Tacoma facilities and security staff said the crew was one of the nicest and most organized groups they’d ever worked with on campus. The footage will appear in television commercials in four to six weeks.

UW Tacoma in the news
News and projects of interest to the UW Tacoma community.

• UWT librarian Justin Wadland penned an op-ed in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer about the role of libraries in promoting civic engagement through endeavors such as the September Project.
• Social Work professor Charles Emlet wrote about the graying of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
• Executive Editor David Zeeck praised an Institute of Technology graduate's internship work in The News Tribune.

Faculty and staff notes

Weight Watchers at Work: UW Tacoma will host a second session of Weight Watchers at Work starting this fall. UWT faculty, staff and students are eligible to join this group, which supports weight loss through weekly on-site meetings led by a Weight Watchers leader. The cost is $176 for 17 weeks. For more information or to sign up, contact Iris Marx.

Two new babies have joined the UW Tacoma family this summer: Hailey Simonsen was born July 29 to Terry Simonsen (Social Work) and her husband, Barry. Hailey weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces. Caden Avery Ferguson was born Sept. 3 to Melody Ferguson (Enrollment Services) and her husband, Pat. Caden weighed 8 pounds, 13 ounces. Both families are doing well.

Administrative Snapshot: A look at issues and projects at UWT

If you are working on a project of interest to the UWT community, tell us about it at uwtnews@u.washington.edu.

Choose a topic:

• Longshoremen's Hall
• Continuing Studies moves to Carlton Center
• Fitness Center
• Student health care
• UWT working to improve pedestrian safety
• Assembly Hall
• Campus growth
• Court 17