About Us
The Simpson Center for the Humanities seeks to advance vital research and spirited intellectual exchange on questions of broad and pressing concern through and across the academic fields of the humanities and the humanistic social sciences. As a research unit within the Humanities Division of the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Washington, the Simpson Center supports scholarship that draws on the core areas of humanistic inquiry and beyond. Both basic and socially-engaged research are central to its mission which is expansive and interlocking:
- to support crossdisciplinary research
- to underwrite initiatives at the leading edge of change
- to offer innovative courses at the graduate level, and
- to foster work that is public facing, with a priority being the integration of research, teaching, and public scholarship.
Key to the Simpson Center's vision is the development of a culture of collaboration. Multi-year, intellectually ambitious, and socially compelling collaborative projects include “Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History,” “Biological Futures in a Globalized World,” "New Geographies of Feminist Art: China, Asia, and the World," “Women Who Rock,” “Transformative Education Behind Bars,” “Capitalism and Comparative Racialization,” and “Humanitarianisms.” All of these projects integrate research and teaching, and possess a public dimension.
We are currently accepting reservations for Spring and Summer 2023.
Welcome. Our space is for you, the University of Washington campus community. We make our meeting spaces available free of charge for activities that contribute to the intellectual life of the university.
First priority goes to Simpson Center projects and activities, second to other scholarly groups related to the humanities, broadly envisioned. When space is available, we welcome other UW and community groups, including reading groups, workshops, seminars, dissertation defenses, and departmental retreats. We ask that you follow our guidelines and leave the space as you found it.
Learn about our rooms and reservation process below. If you’d like, call us first at 206.543.3920 to see if your dates are available. Not sure if you’re eligible? Please ask.
Facilities Reservation
To reserve our facilities, submit a room reservation request.
Our Spaces
- Lecture Hall (Communications 120) [Capacity 95] - Available at 3:30 pm M-F
- Seminar Room (Communications 202) [Capacity 35]
- Reception Room (Communications 204) [Capacity 35]
- Meeting Room (Communications 218D) [Capacity 18]
- Classroom (Communications 226) [Capacity 50] - Available at 3:30 pm M-F
Maps and Directions
We are located on the second floor of the Communications Building on the University of Washington campus at 4109 E Stevens Way NE, Seattle, WA 98195. For directions to our building on campus, view the campus map. For resources on visiting campus, including parking and transportation, we recommend the "Visit the UW" resource page.
COVID Prevention
As we re-open to events, The Simpson Center for the Humanities will be following the University of Washington requirements for in-person events. Visitors to the Simpson Center must follow UW COVID Prevention Guidelines.