On June 7, 2024 SEFS faculty, staff and the families of SEFS grads came together to celebrate the class of 2024. SEFS Director, Dan Brown made introductory remarks that celebrated and honored the hard work and tremendous accomplishments of SEFS students. Congrats SEFS class of 2024! We can’t wait to see what you do next. 

“I am in awe of the environmental and societal challenges we face collectively, but also of the hard work and tenacity our students have put in to get here, and of the potential for creative problem solving this group represents. SEFS graduates are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and passion needed to tackle the complex challenges posed by climate change, biodiversity loss, and increased human demand for the natural goods and services.”

Dan Brown, SEFS Director 

Maya Tolstoy, Dean of the College of the Environment also attended the ceremony to share a few words with the graduates and their families. Dean Tolstoy announced that the SEFS class of 2024 will be honored and remembered with the gift of the UW Farm Wapato Pond that’s currently being funded in part by the College of the Environment. The Wapato Pond is an expansion of the wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ Native Garden and will house Wapato as well as other aquatic crops. 

The SEFS class of 2024 is an impressive group! Their academic achievements of this graduating class is incredible. The class of 2024 faced challenges in learning under circumstances most of us can’t even fathom and they persevered. 

SEFS Grads by the Numbers

The ceremony’s keynote speakers were Andrea and Erik Anderson of Westcott Bay Shellfish Co. They are alums from the SEFS program, formerly known as the College of Forest Resources, where they met in 1981 as students. They’ve been together ever since! Learn more about the Anderson’s incredible journey to becoming shellfish farmers. 

We also had the pleasure of hearing from two graduates, Don Radcliffe who completed his Doctor of Philosophy degree and undergraduate student, EmmaRose Lowery, who completed her ESRM degree with a minor in Quantitative Science. 

After the ceremony everyone met at the Anderson Hall courtyard for a light reception. It marks the last time we’ll celebrate a commencement ceremony in the courtyard before Anderson Hall undergoes renovations this month. 

Congratulations to the class of 2024!