糖心vlog视频

Nicole Sanderson, IAS 鈥�04, discovered her interest in facilities through a part-time campus job when she was in college.

She began as a student employee answering phones and processing work orders 鈥� a job Sanderson thought would be temporary. Instead, it launched a career: She now serves as associate vice chancellor for Facilities, serving both the 糖心vlog视频 and Cascadia College, which is co-located on the same campus.

After starting her college career at Cascadia College, Sanderson transferred to UW Bothell where she majored in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Global Studies. She said also discovered a supportive faculty, small classes and a sense of belonging that has shaped her life ever since.

In this Q&A, she reflects on her student experience, her career path and why UW Bothell鈥檚 community continues to inspire her.

What first brought you to UW Bothell?聽

In high school,聽I thought聽I鈥檇聽go to Western聽[Washington University], but I聽wasn鈥檛聽admitted. Instead, I聽started at Cascadia, then transferred to聽UW聽Bothell after completing my associate鈥檚聽degree. At first,聽it felt like a second choice, but once I was here, I realized it was where I was meant to be. UW Bothell is such a special place.听

What聽stood聽out from your experience聽in聽the聽Interdisciplinary Studies聽program?聽

The small class sizes and the ability to really connect with professors. They were approachable and generous with their time.听

One of my favorite memories was the 顿.颁.听贬耻尘补苍听搁颈驳丑迟蝉听厂别尘颈苍补谤 in my senior year. We visited the Pentagon and other sites, and I聽don鈥檛聽think I fully appreciated how unique that opportunity was until later.听It鈥檚聽something that has stuck with me.听

How did you get involved with facilities as a student?聽

I was working for Cascadia聽College in the聽president鈥檚 office when someone mentioned that UW Bothell鈥檚 Physical Plant was looking for student help. I聽didn鈥檛聽even know what that meant at the time! I started by answering phones and handling work orders 鈥� and I loved it. The people were welcoming, the culture felt like family, and I could see that my work mattered.听

That sense of belonging drew me in and kept me here. 

How did that student job lead to your career?聽

I discovered I loved helping others.听Even as a student, staff聽would come to me with a problem, and聽I鈥檇聽get to help solve it. After graduation, I stayed on full-time,聽and my responsibilities kept evolving. I聽transitioned from fiscal work to project management, then聽to budget oversight and聽ultimately into聽my current role.听

I鈥檝e been fortunate to have mentors who trusted me to try new things and supported me along the way. 

What has it been like to watch UW Bothell grow over the years?聽

When I was a student, the campus was small 鈥� we only had juniors and seniors. Since聽then,聽I鈥檝e聽seen new buildings, residence halls and even major infrastructure like the south entrance take shape.听

What hasn鈥檛 changed is the culture. UW Bothell still feels like one big family. Even as the 鈥渇amily鈥� gets bigger, the sense of community has endured. 

UW Bothell still feels like one big family. Even as the 鈥榝amily鈥� gets bigger, the sense of community has endured.

What makes you proud to be both an alum and a leader here?聽

I鈥檓 proud that my own journey started here and that聽I鈥檝e聽been able to give back in a meaningful way. Facilities work is often behind the scenes, but聽it鈥檚聽vital 鈥� from聽maintaining聽safe, clean spaces to supporting new construction that meets students鈥� needs.听I鈥檓聽proud of my team and the work they do every day to make UW Bothell a place where students can thrive.听

What message would you share with fellow alumni?聽

UW Bothell聽isn鈥檛聽just where you studied for a few years 鈥� it can be part of your life long after graduation. For me, it became a career, but for all alumni, it can be a place to return to, stay connected and take pride聽in.听

This campus is unique, and the community is something special we all share.

Want to share your own UW Bothell story? Connect with us at聽uwbalumn@uw.edu.听