SENATE RESOLUTION
8625
By Senators Valdez, Pedersen, Saldaña, King, Orwall, Slatter, Braun, Nobles, Dhingra, Alvarado, Kauffman, and Hansen
WHEREAS, The University of Washington Board of Regents selected Ana Mari Cauce as the UW's 33rd President on October 13, 2015, after serving as Interim President for several months, beginning a groundbreaking presidency in the University's history; and
WHEREAS, Cauce previously held the position of provost and executive vice president; served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Chair of American Ethnic Studies, Chair of Psychology, and Director of the UW honors program; and has been a member of the UW faculty since 1986; and
WHEREAS, For nearly 40 years, Cauce has championed access to higher education, including through the Husky Promise which provides full tuition to eligible Washington students who otherwise could not attend college; and
WHEREAS, Raised in Miami, Florida, after emigrating with her family from Cuba, Cauce earned a B.A. in English and psychology from the University of Miami and a Ph.D. in psychology, with a concentration in child clinical and community psychology, from Yale University; and
WHEREAS, For her teaching, scholarship, and advocacy, Cauce has received numerous awards, including the Dalmas Taylor Distinguished Contribution Award, the Luis Fernando Esteban Public Service Award, the James M. Jones Lifetime Achievement Award of the American Psychological Association, the Grace Hopper Exemplary Leadership Award, and the Distinguished Contribution Award from the Society for Community Research and Action; and
WHEREAS, In 1999, Cauce was awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award, the highest honor the University of Washington gives to faculty members for their work with students in and outside the classroom; in 2020, she was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and in 2022, she was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in recognition of her leadership in health education, research, and service systems, as well as her own pioneering research in behavioral health; and
WHEREAS, Cauce is a highly accomplished researcher whose work focuses on adolescent development, with a special emphasis on at-risk youth; she is also a strong advocate for women and underrepresented minorities to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Her legacy includes many accomplished individuals who benefited from her teaching and mentoring; and
WHEREAS, Cauce fostered positive and collaborative relationships with higher education leaders across public four year, community, and technical colleges, and independent colleges; and
WHEREAS, Cauce served as a mentor to countless University of Washington students, faculty, and staff members and fostered those relationships regardless of her role at the University; and