Alumni

Prepared with knowledge from world leaders in welfare, business, and gender equity, our alumni pursue twenty-first-century careers in academia, law, international business, STEM, and other industries.

We'd love to hear what our former students are up to!  Fill out the alumni update form to send us your news, and tell us if you'd like to be included in our Alumni Profiles section. You can also follow us on LinkedIn and visit our Stay Connected page to learn about other ways to connect with our department.

Recent Alumni News

Marletta Iwasyk, 84, the longest-serving teacher in Seattle Public Schools (Courtesy of the Orca K-8 PTSA)

Scandinavian Studies Alum Retires from Orca K-8 as Seattle Public Schools' Longest-Serving Teacher

Marletta Iwasyk, a Scandinavian Studies alum, retired last week after over 50 years of teaching, making her Seattle Public Schools’ longest-serving teacher. This article really says it better than we could:  https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/seattle-public-schools-longest-serving-teacher-retires-from-orca-k-8/ One way her time… Read more
L to R - Top: Olivia Gunn, Marianne Stecher-Hansen, Inga Daraskiene; Bottom: Andrew Nestingen, Tapio Hokkanen, DUBS, Guntis Smidchens, Liga Miklasevica (not pictured: Lauren Poyer, Colin Conners, Amanda Doxtater)

2024 Graduation!

Yesterday, June 6th, we had the pleasure of celebrating our 2024 graduating students.  This year we had one graduate student receiving her Master of Arts degree in Scandinavian Languages and Literature (with an emphasis in Norwegian), as well as 8 undergraduate majors in: Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and Scandinavian Area Studies, and 15 undergrads receiving a minor in: Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, and Scandinavian Area Studies.   We were able to celebrate our students'… Read more
Laura Simeon, Mia Spangenberg, Lotta Gavel Adams, and Elizabeth DeNoma

National Nordic Museum Panel on September 9th

This coming Saturday, September 9th, the National Nordic Museum will be hosting a panel discussion on the topic of Bringing Nordic Children's Literature to an English Readership.  But the most exciting part?  It will involve not one, not two, but THREE UW Scandinavian Studies alumni and/or Emeritus Professors!   The panelists are Laura Simeon, alumna Mia Spangenberg, Professor Emerita Lotta Gavel Adams, and moderated by alumna Elizabeth DeNoma. You can register for this (… Read more
Rosie Runs cover

Department Alumna Mia Spangenberg Reads 'Rosie Runs' at the National Nordic Museum next Thursday!

Get ready for a fun event with your young (preschool-aged) children or young child friends -- next Thursday, September 7th, our own department alumna Mia Spangenberg will be reading her translation of Marika Maijala's award-winning children's picture book 'Rosie Runs', which is out this month from Elsewhere Editions, at the National Nordic Museum! This is part of the Nordic Museum's monthly Nordic Stories program, which is specifically geared towards preschool-aged children and their… Read more
Husky Giving Day graphic

Thank you to everyone who helped make Husky Giving Day a success!

Due to the participation of so many of you, whether it was by sharing social media posts, sending the link to our fundraising page to friends and family, or generously making donations yourselves, we ended Husky Giving Day with 36 donations for our Department!  That is a resounding success, and we could not have done it without your support.  Thank you so much for supporting our students and faculty, and coming together to form a community with us.   Thank you! Ačiū! Aitäh!… Read more
Husky Giving Day graphic

Husky Giving Day is April 6th!

Thursday, April 6th is Husky Giving Day, the day you can join together with other alumni and friends of the UW to help support the Department of Scandinavian Studies!   Our page can be found HERE, where you will also be able to see updates and news about the department, our faculty, and our students in the coming days.   Please, check back in… Read more
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Seattle Public Schools’ longest-serving teacher retires from Orca K-8

After more than 50 years in the classroom, Seattle Public Schools’ longest-serving teacher is retiring from the post she’s held teaching kindergartners at Orca K-8 for almost a half-century. Marletta Iwasyk, 84, started teaching in Seattle at age 28 after she graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Norwegian. Featured… Read more
Birgitta Steene (1928-2023)

Birgitta Steene (1928-2023)

Professor emerita of Scandinavian Studies, Cinema Studies, Comparative Literature, and Drama at the University of Washington Kerstin Birgitta Steene died on November 1, 2023. She was born in Uddevalla, Sweden, on October 7, 1928. She was predeceased by her father Ragnar (1889-1961), mother Katrine (Kathe) (1903-1994), and son Mikael Steene (1962-2015). Professor Steene was known as an international authority on the films of Ingmar Bergman and the writings of August Strindberg, topics she… Read more
Husky Giving Day badge

Husky Giving Day!

This April 6th was our first year participating in the UW's Husky Giving Day, a 24-hour fundraising initiative where all Husky fans and friends of the UW can celebrate and support their favorite causes across the UW. Your generosity helped support students like Bryce, a current senior majoring in Norwegian and Scandinavian Studies, and minoring in Baltic studies, who said: "Studying within the department has allowed me to get closer to my Norwegian heritage. The Scandinavian… Read more
Georg and Nina Pedersen with Professor Marianne Stecher-Hansen

The Georg and Nina Pedersen Endowed Professorship

At a Celebration of Life for Georg E. Pedersen (1934 – 2022), held on 15 January 2023 at the National Nordic Museum, it was announced that Nina Pedersen has fully funded an endowment to the professorship level ($500,000) in honor of her late husband.  This recent and very generous gift establishes The Georg and Nina Pedersen Endowed Professorship in Danish Studies at the UW. The professorship will enhance the University’s ability to recruit and retain faculty in the field… Read more
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