After three decades at UW Tacoma, Associate Professor Cheryl Greengrove has helped build science programs, mentor generations of students and study the changing waters of the Salish Sea. Now, an unusual bloom of harmful algae in Hood Canal has presented a new mystery: one that challenges what scientists thought they knew about a toxin-producing organism called Alexandrium. For Greengrove, the unanswered questions are exactly what make the work worthwhile.

From Tacoma Husky to Survivor finalist, Sage Ahrens-Nichols (MSW ‘24) has never followed a conventional path. Long before the final elimination, Sage was getting acquainted with the human condition by studying social work at UW Tacoma. Those lessons helped her compete on one of television’s toughest stages.

As a student, Diana Algomeda (BA '19, M.Ed. '22) emerged as a compassionate and effective leader on campus. Today, as the latest recipient of UW Tacoma’s Distinguished Alumni Award, she continues to champion equitable access to education through her career.

At UW Tacoma, undergraduate students have ample opportunities to engage in research that tackles complex questions and creates tangible community solutions.