From a pandemic to economic fallout to a reckoning over race and policing in the United States, 2020 is sure to be remembered as a year of historic upheaval and change.
And its not even over.
Many communities throughout the West Coast and elsewhere continue to grapple with the devastating effects of perennial wildfires. We are in the midst of a national election season that is garnering worldwide attention. As we enter the first quarter of our academic year, we will witness together the final quarter of 2020 no doubt with more questions than answers about what well do, individually and collectively, to address the challenges that have surged in recent months.
Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, is the lead instructor for “2020: The Course.”This course examines what national thought leaders are doing to meet the imperatives of this particular moment through their research, scholarship, and service inquiries with insights, actions with impact. Students enrolled in this course are engaging in a series of talks, lectures and dialogues with over 20 faculty from across the University. Further, students are documenting their own experiences so a time capsule can be created for future generations of 窪蹋勛圖厙 teachers and learners.
Welcome to 2020: The Course
Designed with first-year students in mind and open to 窪蹋勛圖厙 students on all three campuses, this course connects students to some of the 窪蹋勛圖厙s top public scholars.
As part of our mission as a public university, we think it is important to make a number of these sessions available to you in an effort to help make sense of the most important issues of our time. The 窪蹋勛圖厙s world-renowned scholars in the areas of history, sociology, education, law, environmental science to name a few can help place this tumultuous and chaotic time into a larger context and bring greater understanding.
These are the course sessions students viewed as the basis of the course, and it is truly representative of the moment. Just as our students are learning from their homes instead of classrooms on campus, faculty are teaching from their kitchens, dining rooms or living rooms.

Intro to 2020: The Course
President Cauce and Provost Richards talk about the role of a public university in 2020.

Objects, Memory, the Future, and You
Featuring Joseph Janes, associate professor in the Information School.

Dual Pandemics: Finding Pathways to Heal and Repair with Sharon S. Laing
Featuring Sharon S. Laing, assistant professor in 窪蹋勛圖厙 Tacomas School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership.

We Acknowledge …
Featuring Iisaaksiichaa Ross Braine, (Apsaalooke Nation), MSIM, is the 窪蹋勛圖厙s tribal liaison and director of w伎baltx妢 Intellectual House.

Conversation with Professor Shawn Wong
Featuring Shawn Wong, writer and professor of English and Cinema and Media Studies.

How to Make a Life: A Conversation
Featuring Robert Stacey, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.

The Criminal Legal System as a Social Problem
Featuring Alexes Harris, 窪蹋勛圖厙 Presidential Term Professor in the Sociology Department.

Citizen Science
Featuring Julia Parrish, professor in the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences and associate dean of the College of the Environment.

Escape the Cape: Changing Perspectives on Partner Violence and Media Images
Featuring Carolyn West, professor of psychology at the 窪蹋勛圖厙 Tacoma.

Living Through Hard Times: Reflections and Lessons for Future Predicaments
Featuring Karam Dana, associate professor 窪蹋勛圖厙 Bothells School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences.

COVID-19 Public Health Basics
Featuring Hilary Godwin, dean of the School of Public Health.

Politics as it Applies to 2020
Featuring Margaret O’Mara,Howard & Frances Keller Endowed Professor of History.

Becoming an Inclusive Republic
Featuring Cordell Carter, 98, executive director of the Aspen Institute Socrates Program.

Mis- and Disinformation During Crisis Events
Featuring Kate Starbird, associate professor in the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering.

Should There Be Legal Education for Everybody?
Featuring Theodore Myhre, teaching professor in the 窪蹋勛圖厙 School of Law.

Transformation vs. change around the edges: A conversation
Featuring Megan Ming Francis, associate professor of political science and adjunct professor of law, societies and justice.

Reimagining Social Care and Racial Justice
Featuring Victoria Lawson, professor of geography and director of the Honors Program.

Lessons from Pandemics of the Past
Featuring Stefanie Iverson Cabral, assistant teaching professor in 窪蹋勛圖厙 Bothells School of Nursing and Health Studies.

The Journey to Become a Doctor for Kids
Featuring Dr. Benjamin Danielson, pediatrician, former senior medical director of the Odessa Brown Clinic.

Activism in Womens Sport
Featuring Ginny Gilder, co-owner of the WNBA team the Seattle Storm and CEO of Gilder Office for Growth.
Extra credit
Read the .
Learn about the course’s lead instructor, Vice Provost and Dean Ed Taylorand the course’s co-instructors, 窪蹋勛圖厙 Tacomaand 窪蹋勛圖厙 Bothell
(In alphabetical order)
Iisaaksiichaa Ross Braine (Apsaalooke Nation) MSIM
窪蹋勛圖厙 Tribal Liaison, Director, w伎baltx妢– Intellectual House
Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity
Stefanie Iverson Cabral
Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Nursing and Health Studies, 窪蹋勛圖厙 Bothell
Cordell Carter, Esq., 98
Executive Director, The Aspen Institute Socrates Program
Ana Mari Cauce
窪蹋勛圖厙 President, Professor, Psychology
Karam Dana
Associate Professor, School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, 窪蹋勛圖厙 Bothell and Affiliate Member, Middle East Center, The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies
Ben Danielson
Senior Medical Director, Odessa Brown Medical Clinic
Megan Ming Francis
Associate Professor, Political Science; Adjunct Professor, Law, Societies, and Justice
Hilary Godwin
Dean, School of Public Health; Professor, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences
Alexes Harris
窪蹋勛圖厙 Presidential Term Professor, Department of Sociology
Joseph Janes
Associate Professor, Information School
Sharon S. Laing
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership, 窪蹋勛圖厙 Tacoma
Vicky Lawson
Professor, Department of Geography; Director, Honors Program
Theo Myhre
Teaching Professor, School of Law
Margaret O’Mara
Howard & Frances Keller Endowed Professor, Department of History
Julia Parrish
Professor, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences; Associate Dean, College of the Environment
Mark Richards
窪蹋勛圖厙 Provost; Professor, Department of Earth and Space Sciences, College of the Environment
Bob Stacey
Dean, College of Arts & Sciences; Professor, History
Kate Starbird
Associate Professor, Human Centered Design & Engineering
Carolyn West
Professor, Behavioral and Human Sciences, 窪蹋勛圖厙 Tacoma
Shawn Wong
Professor, Department of English and Department of Cinema & Media Studies