AAUW Seattle Steps up to Support Graduate Student Research at UW

In June 2025, the Seattle Branch of AAUW provided $10,000 to help fund women graduate students’ research on projects of the University of Washington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS). This is a collaborative project involving Dr. Elena Austin, Department Chair of DEOHS and AAUW member, who will mentor the students. The students receiving this support will provide Seattle Branch the results of the research in the form of a program presentation or article.

This project is one of several supported by the Weter Fund that the Seattle Branch manages and is right on target with AAUW’s renewed emphasis on supporting women in higher education, which is currently facing severe challenges. 

As a major part of its strategic plan, the national AAUW organization is expanding pathways to higher education by investing directly in women- especially in underserved communities and in underrepresented fields like STEM — through fellowships, grants, and leadership development.  

The University of Washington is a longtime College/University partner member of AAUW. In support of AAUW’s mission and strategic plan, AAUW Seattle is proud to expand our ongoing collaboration with our state’s flagship university by supporting graduate women conducting STEM research in our community.