Overview

During these two events, we invite local and state government agencies or non-profit organizations serving the pubic to collaborate in small group project teams with University of Washington academics (usually 5-7 people). Projects provide unique opportunities for networking, advancing research, and learning new things.

List of Projects

Here is our current list of projects for our April 24, 2026 and May 22, 2026 Accelerate Policy and Research for Greater Impact 2026:

Team Name	Project Leads
Build 2 Lead and UW	Build 2 Lead: Jimmy Brown, Dairyona Thompson, and Najmah Messiah UW: Kristian Jones and LaTonya Trotter
Community Center for Education Results and UW	Community Center for Education Results: Kristin McCowan, Kevin Liao, and Jordan Nishimura UW: Dan Goldhaber and David Knight
Leave and Care Programs, Washington Employment Security Department and UW	Leave and Care Programs: Rebecca Grady, Selin Karabulut, and Katherine Geist UW: Stipica Mudrazija, Melissa Knox, Tracy Mroz, and Jing Li
Program Evaluation, Research, and Assessment, Washington Employment Security Department and UW	Program Evaluation, Research, and Assessment: Olga Kondratjeva, Morgen Johansen, and Ying Liu UW: Michael Schultz, Rachel Erstad, and Sofia Ayala
Seattle City Light and UW	Seattle City Light: Traea Vaillancourt, Alex Porteshawver, and Tarney Sheldon UW: Patrick Greiner and June Lukuyu
Sound Transit and UW	Sound Transit: Juliana Borges, Daniel Thiel, and Rebeca DeBuen UW Cynthia Chen and Kyle Crowder
Walk about Yakima, Community Peace Center of Central Washington and UW	Walk about Yakima: Sam Decker, Alfredo Orozco, and Carolyn Thruston UW: Ali Rowhani-Rahbar
Washington Attorney General’s Office and UW	Washington Attorney General’s Office: Lauren Vlas UW: Avanti Adhia, Alice Ellyson, and Jessica Godwin
Washington State Center for Court Research, Administrative Office of the Courts and UW	Washington State Center for Court Research: Patrizia Chirco, Karl Jones, and Frank Thomas UW: Karin Martin, and Danieli Evans