There was much to celebrate at the end of the 2021-2022 academic year.

Graduates, family, and friends gathered at the Hec-Edmundson Pavilion for Biology Commencement on June 10, 2022.

On June 10, 2022, after two years of virtual ceremonies, the UW Department of Biology held its graduation ceremony in-person at the Alaska Airlines Hec-Edmundson Pavilion. In addition to conferring degrees on the Class of 2022, we welcomed alumni from the 2020 and 2021 graduating classes to finally celebrate their graduations in-person as well. 

The space was abuzz with the families, friends, and supporters of our graduates who joined us for this joyous occasion. This year, we conferred 628 undergraduate degrees and 7 doctorate degrees (four of whom were hooded at the commencement ceremony).

Almost half of our graduating seniors are the first in their family to attend college – a very special moment to celebrate! Our commencement speaker, Dr. Corey Welch, similarly was a first-generation college student.  Dr. Welch grew up in Billings, Montana as a proud member of the North Cheyenne tribe. As he describes it, his love of nature took him from a trailer park through multiple science degrees (including his Ph.D. in Biology from our department) to his current position as Director of the STEM Scholars Program at Iowa State University, a program that “aims to diversify who succeeds in science.” Dr. Welch spoke on the importance of having diverse scientists, biologists, doctors, and biomedical engineers, which benefits not just STEM disciplines but our whole society. 

Chair and Professor David Perkel with Dr. Corey Welch.

Dr. Corey Welch delivering the 2022 Biology Commencement Address.

Congratulations to our Biology graduates!