
Liberal Arts & Applied Studies
Liberal Arts and Applied Studies (LAAS) is an academic department whose research focus serves and informs the teaching of adult learners. We provide education to adult learners, undertake scholarship on teaching and learning related to professional development and lifelong learning, and conduct outreach on issues of societal importance.
Selected Research, Teaching, and Programs
- Beyond the Skills Gap: Preparing College Students for Life and Work
- Teaching 21st-Century Skills in College Courses Certificate
- The Odyssey Project
- Odyssey Beyond Bars
- Odyssey Junior
- Onward Odyssey
- The College Internship Study
- Tuesday Morning Booktalks
- University of the Air
- “Finding Fulfillment Through Language Learning”
- “New $3 Million Endowment Will Enable UW Odyssey Project to Continue to Combat Iniquities”
- “Specialized French Course Helps Epic Employees Thrive”
Our Team
Emily Auerbach
Professor of English; Executive Director of the UW Odyssey Project
Emily Azad
Program Manager, UW Odyssey Project
Nidia Bañuelos
Assistant Professor
Brian Benford
Success Coach, UW Odyssey Project
Erin Celello
Teaching Professor; Director of Odyssey Beyond Wars, UW Odyssey Project
Christine Cina
Odyssey Navigator; Academic Advising Manager
Missy Clemens
Research Program Associate Director
Gwendolyn Coale
Odyssey Assistant Coordinator
Karen Dreyfuss
Director, Odyssey Junior
Jennifer Fandel
Odyssey Beyond Bars Instructor & Tutor Coordinator
Ben Garrison
Budget Planning Manager
Sage Goellner
Associate professor of French and continuing education
Jamie Henke
Distinguished Teaching Professor
Matthew T. Hora
Professor
Baron Kelly
Professor, Theatre and Drama; Affiliate Faculty, LAAS
Taylor Kirby
Assistant Program Manager for Odyssey Beyond Bars
Sarah Lensmire
Odyssey Assistant Program & Development Manager
Adam MacKay
PEI Site Coordinator
Bryn Martyna
PEI Operations Director
Peter Moreno
Director, Prison Education Initiative and Odyssey Beyond Bars
Kevin Mullen
Assistant Professor, DCS; Director of Adult Education, UW Odyssey Project
Jenny Pressman
Director of Development & Community Partnerships
Megan Reading
Program Director HIV Outreach Project
Rachel Ritacco
Odyssey Beyond Bars Program Coordinator
Ben Shannon
Teaching Faculty, UW Odyssey Project
Tina Smith
HIV Outreach Project Program Coordinator
Read LAAS Stories

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Our academic advising manager shares tips from learners for adult students returning to school this fall. Have a great year!

To celebrate National Higher Education Day, we talked with one of our education experts out how adult students can better access higher ed.
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