About POD
We’re a small team of trainers, consultants, and administrative professionals whose mission is to foster positive change in individuals and organizations at the University of Washington. We accomplish our mission by partnering with organizations across the University and by providing training, coaching, and consulting to hundreds of UW leaders, staff, and faculty each year.
| Ujima Sands (Donalson) | Assistant Vice President and Inclusion Strategist |
| Catherine Bachy | Senior Organizational Development Consultant |
| Caitlin Brief | Equity & Access Development Coordinator |
| Darlene Cheatham | Leadership Training and Operations Manager |
| Lesley Clarke | Diversity Recruiting Consultant |
| Virginia Frausto | Diversity Equity & Inclusion Specialist |
| Bethany Hamamoto | DEI Workforce Analyst |
| Catherine Kinyua | Equity & Access Development Coordinator |
| Max Lane | Assistant to the Director |
| Jeff Leinaweaver | Sr. Organizational Development Consultant |
| Jeff Lesh | Consultation Services & Training Site Coordinator |
| Lisa Lewis | Training Program Manager |
| Jay Maulsby | Training Coordinator |
| Bryan Nelson | Web Information Specialist |
| Lee Riley | Training & OD Consultant |
| Skyla Savitch | Training & Onboarding Specialist |
| Jamie Wilson | Assistant Director |
| POD Affiliates | |
| Dr. Anu Taranath | UW Consultant and Teaching Professor, English and Comparative History of Ideas (CHID) |
Our classes are designed to allow adult learners to quickly build knowledge, skills, and abilities. Through all of our training, coaching, and consulting offerings, we strive to equip UW employees and organizations with the tools, methods, strategies, and inspiration to put learning into action and truly effect change.
Fee-based programs and services
The majority of our programs and services do not receive University of Washington or State of Washington funding. To cover direct costs and operational overhead, we must charge fees for our self-sustaining programs and services:
- Coaching and consulting through the University Consulting Alliance
- Customized training
- Quarterly training classes
- Strategic Leadership Program (Level 2)
- Support Professionals Spring Retreat
- Various special events
Supported programs and services
We receive funding to support administration and facilitation of the following programs:
POD classrooms
Most POD classes are held at our training facility in the Roosevelt Commons East building, but occasionally we hold classes in other locations. Check your POD registration confirmation email to confirm the location of your class.
Roosevelt Commons East is four blocks west of campus, near the UW Tower. The building entrance is on 11th, just north of NE 43rd Street. The POD classrooms are on the first level in suite 120; this includes rooms 120A and 120B.
Contact us if you need help finding your class location.
Parking and transportation options
We do not provide parking for POD course participants. Roosevelt Commons is well-served by transit (including HS Express), and you may be able to walk or take a bus to class. The building also has covered bicycle parking in the garage.
If you choose to drive to class, there is metered street parking nearby as well as several pay lots in the area. If you have a valid UW parking permit, you may request an out-of-area permit in the UW Tower Garage (W46) by visiting a gatehouse. Please park only in designated permit holder spaces. Those with U-designator permits are allowed to park out-of-area in the W46 lot without visiting a gatehouse. Be aware that some spaces in W46 may be restricted so you will need to park in a unrestricted space to avoid being ticketed. The tower garage (W45) also has pay station parking as well.
For complete information about parking on campus and other transportation options, visit Transportation Services.