Dear Members of the Seattle University Community,

One of the most important developments for the future of Seattle University is the Center for Science and Innovation which is currently under construction and slated to be completed by the end of May. This new center will include several departments of the College of Science and Engineering, the Amazon Computer Science Project Center, the Microsoft Café, the Art and Dorothy Oberto Commons, two large classrooms, the president’s dining room, the Center for Community Engagement and KXSU. It will become one of the most vibrant buildings at Seattle University. This is a great hope for our future, for our students and for all of us.

At this time I am pleased to be able to announce, based upon the resolution passed by the Board of Trustees, that we will name this new facility the “Jim and Janet Sinegal Center for Science and Innovation.” We are thrilled the Sinegals have accepted that our university bear their family name. Jim, the co-founder of Costco, has been involved with Seattle U for the past 27 years. He has served as chair of the Board, co-chair for our capital campaign, is a co-founder of the Seattle University Youth Initiative (SUYI), and co-founder of the Costco Scholarship Fund, which benefits so many of our underrepresented students. In a similar way, Jan has been a key person fostering Seattle Children’s Medical Center, along with Jim has supported our College of Nursing, and together they have been some of the most generous and involved citizens of our region. We are thrilled that Seattle University will have the Sinegal Center.

I am also very glad to communicate to you that because of Professor Carolyn Stenbak’s work as the Faculty Shepherd for development of the Center for Science and Innovation, we are naming in her honor the “Carolyn Stenbak Study” on the fourth floor of the Sinegal Center. So much of the success in the development of this remarkable educational facility is owed to the dedicated work of Carolyn, from the time of the design of the building through its construction. I am pleased to let you know how much her colleagues advocated that a special part of the center be named in recognition of her.

We look forward to the completion of the Sinegal Center and its opening in the Fall 2021. At another time, I would like to express the university’s gratitude for all who have collaborated in the bringing about this largest construction project ever of Seattle University which is so important for our future.

Sincerely,

Stephen V. Sundborg, S.J.
President