Graduate School Public Lectures are brought to the community through three very generous private endowments:
- Walker-Ames Fund
- Jessie and John Danz Fund
- Mary Ann and John D. Mangels Fund
Walker-Ames Fund
The University of Washington Walker-Ames Fund was established in 1936 by a bequest from the estates of Maud Walker-Ames and Edwin Gardner Ames. Since 1936, the fund has been used to bring many outstanding scholars in the academic profession to the University of Washington campus. These scholars present public lectures about their respective fields of expertise and also work with groups of graduate students during their stay.
Jessie and John Danz Fund
John Danz, veteran motion picture theatre owner and philanthropist of the Pacific Northwest, and his wife, Jessie, made a gift to the University of Washington in 1961. This gift was used to establish the John Danz Fund. This fund, an enduring benefit to the University and the state, brings to the University of Washington campus and Seattle community lecturers of national and international reputation. Specifically, the gift is intended to enable the University of Washington to bring ‘distinguished scholars who have concerned themselves with the impact of science and philosophy on man’s perception of a rational universe.’
Mary Ann and John D. Mangels Fund
The Mary Ann and John D. Mangels Endowed Lecture Series was established in 1990 to honor the retirement of John D. Mangels, former chair and CEO at Security Pacific Bank of Washington (now Bank of America). Administered by the Office of Graduate Student Equity & Excellence (GSEE), The Mangels Lectureship, in cooperation with academic departments and programs, brings to the UW campus scholars whose research, teaching, or public service advances understanding, equity, and inclusion — and of individuals who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to creating accessible, welcoming, and intellectually rich experiences for students, the campus community, and the broader public.
A Note of Thanks
We are deeply grateful for the generosity of our endowments and the steady support of UW leadership, whose partnership makes this program possible. Together, they allow the Graduate School to bring some of the most thoughtful voices in our country and our world to the UW and Puget Sound community — and, thanks to livestream and recording technology, to audiences far beyond our region. We hold this privilege with gratitude and are thankful every day for the partnerships that sustain it.