Brotherhood Initiative 2022-2023 Impact Report
Letter From the Director
Dear Brotherhood Initiative Supporters,
2022-2023 was a terrific year for the UW Brotherhood Initiative. Our students engaged in learning experiences that spanned the University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, and Rome, Italy. Through close partnerships with the Foster School of Business, Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship, and UW CoMotion, we continued to offer unique, interdisciplinary, and project-based experiential learning. Innovations like our study abroad trip and the Positive Social Change Challenge are part of our holistic theory of action, where “high impact practices”, in addition to traditional coursework, play a critical role in helping historically underserved populations achieve positive academic and career outcomes. These innovations are funded through generous donors like you, and you can read more about them through this year’s Impact Report.
Beyond the students we serve through our cohort activities, the Brotherhood Initiative is committed to scaling our promising practices across the UW and the country. We take seriously our mission to improve graduation and persistence rates for men of color, and we hope to see our impact reflected in the graduation and persistence rates for the UW and other predominantly white institutions (PWIs). On behalf of the entire Brotherhood Initiative project team, we are grateful to work in collaboration with you and our educational partners to create equitable outcomes for all. Thank you for being part of our community!
With gratitude,
Dr. Joe Lott
Faculty Director
Note: This is a new format for our Annual Report – we hope this will make it easier for you to read and share with others.
During the 2022-2023 academic year…
152
students participated as BI scholars
51%
of BI students were eligible for the federal Pell grant
70%
of BI students were first- generation college students
BI Scholars Race and Ethnicity
- 27% Hispanic or Latino
- 4% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
- 9% Two or more races
- 1% American Indian or Alaska Native
- 11% Southeast Asian
- 48% Black or African American
The Brotherhood Initiative serves a diverse community of men, including first-generation, low-income students from a variety of cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
Impact in Action
BI Peer Mentoring
In fall 2022, the BI formally launched our Peer Mentor Program. The Peer Mentors work directly with first-year BI students, collaborating with lead supervisors to provide support and foster community among students through critical mentoring. They engage first-year students in learning to navigate the UW by helping to lead the BI freshman orientation, the new scholars retreat, and assisting in the first-year seminar class. Additionally, they create a sense of belonging through regular communication and interactions at BI-organized events and programs. As we embark on our third year of this program, your support sustains these empowering mentors and enriching scholar experiences.
Study Abroad in Rome
The BI has seen a transformative impact through its partnership with the Office of Global Affairs, particularly with the Education Rome program. This three-week study abroad experience focuses on gender, multiculturalism, and education in Italy. Over the four years of the program, participation from Black, Latinx, Native American, and Pacific Islander students has grown significantly from 6 to 20 per cohort. This growth underscores the accessibility and support that cohort-based programs offer, enabling historically underserved students to engage in high-impact practices like study abroad while building a strong community network.
Impact in Numbers
Graduation Rates
By year 7, the graduation rate for BI students surpassed the rate for all other groups of male students.
4 year graduation rate (Cohort 3)
6 year graduation rate (Cohort 2)
7 year graduation rate (Cohort 1)
*Source: UW Profile
The BI aims to narrow the graduation gap for men of color and support scholar retention at UW until degree completion. Our first three cohorts show promising progress, with Cohort 1 outcomes surpassing all men at UW, driven by our focus on student persistence.
Retention
BI students had higher retention rates than all other groups of male students in the 2022-23 academic year
Alumni Spotlight: Jefferson Nguyen
Meet Jefferson Nguyen, a BI alumnus from Cohort 1, whose journey through academia and medicine is intertwined with a deep sense of community and purpose. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of Washington (UW) in 2020, Jefferson has been working as a clinical research coordinator at Seattle Children’s Hospital for the past several years, and will begin pursuing his M.D. at the UW School of Medicine this fall.
Hailing from Seattle with roots tracing back to Vietnam, Jefferson’s upbringing is a testament to perseverance. Despite economic hardships, his family found strength in their community, instilling in Jefferson values of compassion and service that would shape his future endeavors. As an undergraduate, he was initially drawn to journalism and photography, until he ultimately discovered his calling in medicine. The BI served as a key foundation for Jefferson’s academic journey by providing mentorship and belonging. As a first-generation student, he was able to form bonds with fellow BI members who shared similar struggles, and create a strong network of support.
Reflecting on the impact of the BI, Jefferson shares, “Going to college with other motivated people is really valuable. I know that every single member of my cohort is contributing in their own unique way, and actively making a difference in our community right now. Supporting the Brotherhood Initiative expands those opportunities, helping students like me who are eager to make a meaningful contribution.”
As Jefferson navigates his path in medicine, his dedication to serving marginalized communities and promoting mental health awareness remains unwavering. With his commitment to making a difference, Jefferson guides the way for future generations to forge transformative change.
Donor Spotlight: Rebecca Benaroya
Last year, Mrs. Benaroya made a transformational commitment to the UW Brotherhood Initiative, ensuring the program’s impact and Dr. Lott’s vision will endure well into the future. Mrs. Benaroya established a $3 million endowed professorship named the Rebecca and Jack Benaroya Distinguished Endowed Professorship for Equity in Education and a $2 million fund called the Rebecca and Jack Benaroya Fund for Excellence for the UW Brotherhood Initiative. They mark the largest philanthropic support the BI has ever received.
Thank you to all of our donors!
- African American Heritage Fund
- American Family Insurance Group
- Anonymous
- Ballmer Group
- Rebecca Benaroya
- Black Future Co-op Fund
- Ken and Mary Denman
- East Seattle Foundation
- Ellison Foundation
- Rudy and Rupa Gadre
- Grousemont Foundation
- Mary and Allan Kollar
- Microsoft Corporation
- Ms. Foundation for Women
- Satya and Rao Remala Foundation
- James and Janet Sinegal
- Susan Elizabeth Foundation
- Sherrelle and Clyde Walker
- The Seattle Legacy Fund
- Washington State Employees Credit Union
- David Zapolsky and Lynn Hubbard
- Olga Yang
- Nancy and John Zevenbergen
*this list represents donors who have invested $10,000 or more in the Brotherhood Initiative.
Annual Reports
The Brotherhood Initiative Annual Reports provide a summary of our events and activities of the year, an overview of program outcomes, and highlights of student accomplishments. Copies of our previous Annual Reports are available for download: