Category: Uncategorized

Hello Student Life! I am so thrilled to have an opportunity to get to know and serve this community. I really appreciate the warm welcome I received and the great introduction. I just wanted to follow up and let you know a little bit more about me, what I hope to do and how to reach me.

So, I’m Allison Briscoe-Smith and use she/her pronouns. I am Black and am part of a multiracial family (my 3 children are mixed-Black, Mexican and White). I am originally from Hawaii- or as I like to say- “I am from and and for Hawaii!” and am deeply indebted to the kānaka maoli on whose land I lived and thrived. Almost ⅓ of my high school graduating class went to UW and it’s been great to connect up with so many high school friends as I moved up here. I’ve spent my entire adult life in Oakland Bay Area becoming and working as a child psychologist.

In particular I have focused on trauma and issues of race. In my clinical service I get to work with kids and families who are coping with unimaginably difficult things. I get to bear witness and at times help folks develop the gumption, resilience and strength to overcome. I’ve spent much of my career as a professor and administrator, or as a leader of clinical services. But all the way through I’ve had the opportunity to teach, train, support and facilitate opportunities for justice.

I am looking forward to expanding my skills and knowledge with the large and vibrant UW community. In the next few weeks I hope to get a chance to meet more of you and listen to your needs as I help support the actualization of your Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI) plans. Specifically I will be providing support for various Division DEI Taskforce work; working with the Strategy Map Implementation Teams; implementing recommendations from various work groups in the areas of DEI; creating and infusing a culture of inclusion and support in the Division; and working on the next iteration of our strategic initiatives. I’d also love to hear from you directly if possible. You can reach me at briscoea@uw.edu.

Thanks again for the warm welcome – and I’m ready to get to work!

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Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith is working with the Division of Student Life to help lead our ongoing division-wide efforts for staff around issues of equity, social justice, and belonging. Her responsibilities include providing support for various Division Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Taskforce work; working with the Strategy Map Implementation Teams; implementing recommendations from various work groups in the areas of DEI; creating and infusing a culture of inclusion and support in the Division; and working on the next iteration of our strategic initiatives.

An update from Vice President Denzil Suite

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith to the Student Life team. Dr. Briscoe-Smith will help lead our ongoing division-wide efforts for staff around issues of equity, social justice, and belonging.

Dr. Briscoe-Smith will report directly to the Vice President for Student Life. Among her responsibilities will be providing support for various Division Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Taskforce work; working with the Strategy Map Implementation Teams; implementing recommendations from various work groups in the areas of DEI; creating and infusing a culture of inclusion and support in the Division; and working on the next iteration of our strategic initiatives.

Dr. Briscoe-Smith currently serves as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Wright Institute and will be working with us on a consulting basis until that work wraps up early in the new calendar year. She will then take on a staff role in the Division to help ensure that we continue to advance programs and priorities that are commensurate with our commitment to inclusion and support. You can read her background and work here.

I am sure you will all join me in welcoming Allison to our team.

From the UW Career & Internship Center

On February 9th and 10th, 2022, the Career & Internship Center will be hosting a Grand Opening event for our new Husky Career Closet where students can ‘shop’ for clothes to support their job and internship search process, free of charge and with the support of Career & Internship Center staff members, all year-round. We want our students to feel confident and prepared as they attend career fairs and interviews or start new jobs and internships. For some, the workplace attire component of feeling confident and prepared can prove prohibitively expensive, and we want to help.

We know you already make incredible contributions of time and resources to the University of Washington community, but we’re hopeful you might help us continue this successful initiative. We’re looking for help in the following areas:

• Donations of new or gently used clothes: Click here for a list of suggested items.
• Donations of funds (no amount too small!): Click here to donate. Career & Internship Center team members will be thrifting in the weeks leading up to the event to fill clothing gaps and ensure that a diversity of item type and size are available for shoppers.
• Share this donation opportunity with your networks: We’d love your help in spreading the word to potential donors!

Donations can be dropped off at the Career & Internship Center in 134 Mary Gates Hall anytime between 9am – 4pm, Monday-Friday. Please note, the physical office space of the Career & Internship Center will be closed from December 20th – 31st, 2021. To receive a tax receipt, please complete and provide this Donation Form upon dropping off your donated items at the Career & Internship Center.

Thank you for considering, and for all that you already do to support our Huskies! Questions? Please don’t hesitate to contact cicevents@uw.edu.

This message was sent to UW Student Life staff from Vice President for Student Life Denzil Suite on June 3, 2020.

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Dear Student Life Colleagues,

I realize I have sent you more emails over the last few months than I have done in the years past. However, I wanted to offer some personal reflections on the circumstances in which we find ourselves.

The tragic killings of Black Americans in recent months, most recently George Floyd, and the ensuing response have profoundly shaken our society at a national level and throughout our local communities. I know they’ve shaken me deeply. This comes on top of a pandemic which has resulted in deaths coupled with xenophobic and hateful acts directed at those perceived to be of Asian descent.

In the midst of this pain, I desperately hope this moment also shakes awake a broader and deeper conversation and understanding of the challenges our country faces; a new sense of urgency; a greater sense of responsibility for being active participants in our democracy and compelling the changes that we so desperately need.

I hope this moment shakes away complacency, apathy, or obliviousness with regard to the epidemic of inequity and injustice that has long plagued communities all around the US, including in our own community.

I am also painfully distressed by the opportunistic acts of violence that dilute, distract from, and ultimately hijack the message and the meaning at the heart of this movement.

Even before the murder of George Floyd and the pain, outrage, and actions that have followed, the last few months have been marked by unprecedented personal and professional challenges for all of us. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: I have been thoroughly impressed and so grateful for the many ways in which staff across the Division have adapted and risen to the occasion in the name of supporting our students, their families, and our UW community.

I have been particularly impressed by the efforts of our Counseling Center and Hall Health Mental Health counselors, CIRCLE, Housing & Food Services, medical providers, and so many others. Additionally, our very professional UW Police Department team has been out on the front lines during the pandemic and is now facing challenging civil unrest with care and empathy. These are just a few examples of great work that you all have continued to do while wrestling with your own feelings and reactions to what’s happening in society.

What I really ask of you now is that you be good to yourself and to each other. For some, the recent high-profile murders as well as their aftermath are acutely triggering due to personal experiences or traumas that span generations. For others, the cumulative effects of grief and uncertainty from the present intersection of natural and manmade tragedies feel altogether overwhelming. For all, there is an undeniable undercurrent of stress and emotional fatigue in these times that is constant and very real.

It is also important that we remain vigilant and present for our students and our community. The Counseling Center has compiled resources for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students in response to these recent traumas. Instructors have been asked to be mindful of how we are supporting our students, including recognizing that students are affected by these events in different and sometimes profound ways. Finally, the Race and Equity Initiative’s COVID-19 Resources page hosts valuable resources and information for all students, with a focus on helping students who face challenges and barriers to belonging based on their marginalized identities.

Most importantly, you cannot be your best for the people you care about if you’re not caring for yourself. Staying connected with each other, being present for one another, and approaching others with compassion and open-mindedness is more important than ever. Please know that CareLink connects UW staff with a variety of helpful resources and services for staying well, including confidential counseling.

While the landscape looks again different today than when I last wrote, the core message is the same: now is the time for unity, self-compassion, and empathy for others. We are better when we are there for each other and help one another out. And, during the time in which I have had the privilege of working with you all, never has that been more important than right now.

With gratitude,

Denzil J. Suite
Vice President for Student Life