In addition to attending ongoing legislative meetings in Olympia in regards to Gov. Christine Gregoire's budget proposal, in the past two weeks UW President Mark Emmert connected with UW students, made progress in both his short-term and long-term goals outlined previously and found time to donate to a charitable organization.

With the biennium Washington state budget not yet approved by legislators, Emmert continued to focus on working with presidents of four-year community colleges, giving testimonials in front of committees and meeting with several staff members in Gregoire's office.

"The past couple of weeks have been dominated by [the] legislative process," he said. "But we will do what we can to get the governor's budget approved."

Emmert spoke and held an open question-and-answer session with the ASUW Senate Jan. 9 and spent individual time talking with ASUW President Cullen White four days later.

"I took student government President Cullen White and his sister to lunch and the Husky basketball game," Emmert said.

Continuing to reach out to UW students, Emmert gave the commencement speech for Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the HUB ballroom Jan. 15 and met with honors students in Lander Hall Jan. 16.

When not involved in legislature or student body-related matters, Emmert continued to work on his short-term goals for the University.

He attended a cabinet meeting held in the Safeco building to discuss potential uses for the space and held a phone meeting to discuss the interconnection between universities and states.

"I worked on the phone with people in North Carolina for [the] roles of universities in supporting state economies," he said.

Emmert is also in the process of recruiting of a team of faculty members from an undisclosed Ivy League university.

He spent time in several other various meetings during the two-week period.

"On the 9th I had a Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce meeting," he said. "On the 10th I went to Bellevue to speak at the Toastmasters Club and later that night I had dinner with two interesting people working on Middle East peace who are interested in doing things for the University."

Also keeping his long-term goals in sight, Emmert met with the University medical board to discuss the future of the UW hospital Jan. 8.

Emmert met with local business leaders interested in athletics at the UW and with a group of Tyee board members to discuss the future of Husky stadium.

On Jan. 12, Emmert met with Snohomish County officials to discuss the possibility of expanding the UW campus.

"Officials there are very interested to start another university in the Everett community," he said.

Despite his hectic schedule, Emmert still combined fun and community service by attending a fundraiser for the Woodland Park Zoo.

"My wife DeLaine and I were involved with Woodland Park Zoo Jungle Party," he said. "It was great fun and we met a wonderful scientist who worked on sustaining habitats for African elephants."

Reach reporter Nathan Lee at news@thedaily.washington.edu