washington business
In Their Words
University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce ( pron . “ cowsay ”) is the first woman appointed to permanently head the state ’ s largest college , and the first Latina to sit in the president ’ s chair . Raised in Miami , Dr . Cauce is the child of Cuban immigrants who fled the country during the revolution . She is a beloved leader on the university ’ s campus , remaining close to the students and working collaboratively with lawmakers and stakeholders to lead one of the nation ’ s top colleges today and into the future . Staff Writer Bobbi Cussins asked her to share her vision for the university , how her background influenced her and her career , and how three decades at the university and in the Pacific Northwest has impacted her work and life .
You have earned a special place in the history of the University of Washington , being the first woman and Latina to permanently fill the role of president . What does that mean to you and , perhaps , your students ?
I ’ m very gratified if my accomplishments can inspire others to view their futures as boundless and without limits . Our world is facing great challenges , and we won ’ t be up to them unless our students can contribute at their fullest potential . I ’ m also very proud to be president because the UW and Seattle are my home . I came to the UW in 1986 to teach in the psychology department as a clinical psychologist . I was new to Seattle and the Pacific Northwest , and at the time , I assumed this would be a stop on my career path , but probably not the destination . Then I fell completely in love with the UW , with Seattle and with the Pacific Northwest , because I quickly came to realize the potential for doing big things here — things with the power to dramatically impact the world in positive ways . And in 30 years , that intuition has been borne out again and again in the achievements of the UW community — most especially our students .
You have a tremendous life story — the daughter of Cuban immigrants that fled the island nation during the revolution . How did that brave , and likely dangerous , move by your parents influence you ?
My parents ’ experience taught me many things that influence my approach to life and work . They started over from scratch , and through hard work and determination they built good , decent , rewarding lives for themselves and a strong foundation for their children ’ s future . On some level , I ’ m not too afraid of risk or failure , because I know it ’ s possible to start over again . I also know that titles and positions are ephemeral , that what ’ s important are the work and vision . They also taught me that education , which is not the same as a degree , is something you always carry with you , that it makes your life richer , and allows you to better contribute . Even while holding low-level , minimum-wage jobs , my parents were involved in their community ,
Dr . Ana Mari Cauce
whether as house parents on the weekends for the “ Peter Pan ” kids — Cuban children sponsored and housed by the Catholic Church who were sent to the U . S . unaccompanied by their parents — or by developing programs for Cuban youth to learn about their heritage .
The University of Washington is recognized as a leading-edge institution that has a global impact born of commitment to innovation . What do you envision are the next steps in making the university even more innovative and cutting-edge ?
A large , public research institution like the UW has tremendous power not only to encourage innovation , but to do so in ways that benefit the public . I often talk about the importance of practicing “ inclusive innovation ,” a form of innovation that is both more democratic — by considering the voices and contributions of people who have historically been marginalized — and more conscious of the outcomes and implications of innovation . For example , one of most important ways the UW can innovate in the service of public good is to marshal our collective talents and network of partners to improve the health and well-being of people in the Pacific Northwest and all over the world . Work in this area , known as population health , encompasses not just physical health and freedom from disease , but also the factors that influence those issues , many of which are interrelated with issues of race and equity . Our shared vision will involve students , faculty and staff , as well as many local , regional and global collaborators , and it ’ s a prime example of what the UW can aspire to accomplish through innovation , partnership and service to our public mission .
Diversifying the university ’ s faculty and staff has been one of your efforts during your tenure . What , in your view , needs to be done to ensure more inclusion on campus ?
As a public university , the UW has a particular obligation to make our campuses inclusive and accessible to all students . Our university ,
22 association of washington business