We are thrilled to celebrate James Sherrell, Program Specialist at EthnoMed for winning prestigious University of Washington Award of Excellence in Global Engagement, one of the UW’s highest honors. President Robert Jones presided over the awards ceremony at Meany Hall, where James was surrounded by family and EthnoMed colleagues to mark this momentous occasion.
This is an incredibly well deserved recognition. James demonstrates a leadership style rooted in empathetic listening and a sophisticated, multi-lens approach to problem-solving. Rather than imposing top-down directives, he excels at facilitating solutions that harmonize the diverse needs of multiple stakeholders. This collaborative mindset allows him to navigate complex organizational dynamics with ease.
As a strategic thinker, James possesses the vision to see the “big picture” while remaining grounded in the practicalities of project implementation. He builds immense trust within his teams by fostering an environment of inclusion and mutual respect. James is particularly masterful at ensuring that all perspectives are considered, often “raising up the quiet voices” to ensure that community insights inform the final outcome. This generosity of spirit and his habit of giving credit where it is due instills a deep sense of confidence in those he works with.
What stands out most is James’s ability to build sustained, professional partnerships that are truly collaborative rather than merely transactional. He is incredibly agile when moving between different cultural and educational contexts, consistently fostering mutual understanding regardless of the setting. His leadership is defined by a rare combination of high-level expertise and a genuine, adaptable nature that makes him an asset to any collaborative effort. This is the essence of meaningful ‘Global Engagement‘.
Most recently, James partnered with the UW Global Health class to lead a project creating in-language Health Hubs in seven languages. He’s transforming EthnoMed into the top practicum site for UW Global Health and Public health students, we have a packed summer ahead! James is also setting the groundwork to train and partner with residents and physicians across UW Medicine. We are so proud to have James on our team and to celebrate this incredible professional milestone with him.
Congratulations James!
