Next Wednesday, March 1, 2017, I retire from the University of Washington. I joined UW in April, 1995, when Kyle was two and Leigh was four. They are now 24 and nearly 26, just about 10 years younger than I was when I went to work at UW.

Aside from a three-year stint at the Gates Foundation from 2002-2004, I have worked at UW these 22ish years, helping people use data to make better decsions. More recently I helped run Lake Union Crew Outreach Foundation as we completed 6 overseas construction projects on 4 continents, supported an HIV/AIDS testing and education facility in Lesotho, and provided computers labs in various countries around the world.

Along the way I learned that I loved to work side by side with others. Whether in athletic endeavors, in the workplace, or during overseas service projects, I discovered being part of a close community focused on a common goal was my passion.

On March 19th I will turn my passion to Doctors Without Borders, as I depart for Tajikistan on a year long assignment to help reduce sickness and death in children with HIV/AIDS. A life of experiences will help me manage logistics for this project – everything from HR to construction. I tell my family I feel a little like Radar from M.A.S.H.  My sister reminded me I don’t have mind-reading down yet. I’ll work on that.

I’m not much of a writer, but I plan to post musings about my travels here. Hope you enjoy reading them. I know I’ll enjoy living them.

Ann