I have been a Husky for as long as I can remember.

My mother loved the University of Washington dearly and volunteered with the MESA and minority engineering programs. She would take me to the events she worked at, and I learned quickly there was a lot more to the UW than just getting a good education. My family has deep roots at the UW, and I saw at a young age how strong this community can be and how hard Huskies work for one another.

Now, I’m the UW Alumni Association president and am giving back in my own way. This is a wonderful honor for me and I am excited about this new chapter of my UW life.

I recently spent an afternoon on the UW campus with Columns Editor Jon Marmor and photographer Karen Orders. We must have taken 600 pictures, but it was a beautiful day and I was happy to be among the icons we love so much—Suzzallo Library, Drumheller Fountain, Grieg Garden. I couldn’t help but feel like I am going back to school. Like many of you, the UW has been a big part of my life. My parents and older sister are all UW alums, and my 4-year-old son is already a huge Husky fan. My hope is that someday he, too, sees the value of giving back to his community.

As we prepare for another school year, this blog is one example of how I plan to stay in touch with you. There will be a lot to discuss over the next year, and I hope we can use this space to talk about the UW’s future and our shared roles in the alumni community. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity. Go Huskies!