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2021 Mathematics Newsletter

Message from the Chair

Welcome to the Winter 2022 Department of Mathematics Newsletter! COVID is certainly keeping us busy — we returned to in-person classes in fall, but the latest variant led to Winter quarter courses starting online. As in last year's newsletter message, I want to acknowledge all of the work that our faculty, staff, postdocs, and students do to make all of these transitions.

In other news, Jack Lee retired last year, and John Sylvester just retired a few weeks ago. Jack joined the department in 1986, John in 1987. Congratulations to both of them on long and successful UW careers, and we wish them the best as they step away from the duties as regular faculty members.

We hired two new permanent faculty this year: Ricky Liu and Cynthia Vinzant join us as new Assistant Professors. Both come to UW from previous positions at NC State. Andrea Ottolini, Hadrian Quan, and Xueying Yu arrived in the fall as new postdocs. In addition, Sheela Devadas and Timothy Duff have National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellowships which they have chosen to hold here. Welcome to all of our newcomers!

You will also see articles about some other exciting developments in UW Math: Tatiana Toro has been named the new director of MSRI, the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute; this is a very prestigious mathematics institute. She takes over in the coming year, and we look forward to her leadership. Jayadev Athreya is the Interim Director of PIMS, the Pacific Institute of Mathematical Sciences, also a prestigious institute; he started in the fall, so he is hard at work in this role already. Also, the University of Washington has joined the Math Alliance as a partner institution. The Math Alliance is an organization devoted to diversity in the mathematical sciences, especially among students in PhD programs. We are excited to be part of such an important organization.

I encourage all alums and friends of UW math to send us their news. We'd love to hear from you!

- John Palmieri

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