University of Washington President Cauce to retire in 2025

University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce announced Wednesday that she will retire from the role next year. The transition to UW's next leadership begins now.

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"Serving as president of the UW is a joy and a privilege, including through some very tumultuous periods and transformative events that have shaped our University and our world," Cauce said in a statement emailed to the UW community Wednesday. "I’m incredibly proud of the amazing impact that UW faculty, staff, students and alumni create throughout our community, state and world, and I’m deeply grateful to be a Husky."

Cauce noted that this move has been "long planned" with UW’s Board of Regents. She will officially step down once her second five-year term ends. Cauce will not cut her ties with UW completely. Instead, she will move back into her faculty position as a professor of psychology.

"There will be time for farewells later," she said. "My energy, enthusiasm and attention are squarely focused on our public mission and on the students, patients and communities the UW has served for so many generations. Throughout the remainder of my term — and my life — I will do everything in my power to ensure the UW continues to support learning, discovery and service now and for all the generations to come."

Cauce first came to UW in 1986 as an associate professor. She got tenure in 1990, and eventually worked up to dean of the University of Washington College of Arts and Sciences. She became provost in 2012. The Board of Regents appointed her as president in 2015. In her two terms as president, she has navigated controversies, safety issues, protests, the pandemic, and a range of opinions about how the university should operate.

In her announcement, Cauce marked multiple, notable firsts for the longstanding institution, as the first female, the first openly lesbian, and the first Latina president of UW.

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In her final year on the job, Cauce said she has specific priorities she plans to focus on.

"Our world faces serious challenges, including here in Washington. The UW is a vital resource that prepares students for professional opportunities and lives that change the world. In the coming year, I will continue to focus on ensuring and expanding educational access for students across our state, regardless of their background or resources. This will also be an important year in the evolution of our 'impact ecosystem.' By leveraging our interdisciplinary expertise, research and innovation in collaboration with business, government and community organizations, our University is uniquely positioned to tackle challenges like population health, climate change and inequality, and I will be working to solidify and advance this work. And as a public university, we rely on public support to fuel our public mission, and so I will also be focused on advocating for forward-looking investment in students and our institution by the state legislature in this coming year’s budget session."