
University of Washington
Read the proposal that we shared with the University of Washington, one of the world’s leading public universities, to execute Bonds of Union’s vision for the future of teaching, learning, and research in higher education.
We aim to build a national R&D infrastructure across all regions of the U.S. to solve the challenges that threaten the continued health and prosperity of our democratic republic.
Bonds of Union aims to serve as the innovation engine to confront persistent
challenges facing the health and continued prosperity of our democratic republic. We develop, incubate, and implement bold ideas that yield meaningful social benefit in vulnerable communities and disadvantaged regions across the country. Bonds of Union is working to build a national aR&D infrastructure that leverages higher education institutions across different regions of the U.S. Each of Bonds of Union’s regional offices will be focused on a narrow, well-defined set of challenges facing the health and prosperity of our country. BoU identifies the best and the brightest to dedicate their intellectual energy to solve an important national challenge. Teams are comprised of leaders from for-profit, nonprofit, and government entities who dedicate expertise, knowledge, and know-how to support specific projects. Students from partnering higher education institutions also participate alongside BoU’s expert, cross-sector teams as a core component of theiracademic work. Faculty from partnering universities and from across the country collaborate with our team across the entire spectrum of BoU’s R&D life cycle.
Bonds of Union’s national strategy develops higher education partners across nine regions. Within a given region, we will have university partners that are central to how BoU executes its R&D efforts. Here is how it works:
● BoU brings together higher education institutions within a given region. Based on strategic
considerations, BoU will identify a lead higher education partner that will host the BoU office in
that region.
● Faculty, staff, students, and other for-profit and nonprofit partners in the region will focus their
efforts on solving a specific, narrow challenge for a period of three to five years.
● University students from both the lead partner institution, as well as other universities in the
area, will have an opportunity to apply to work alongside BoU’s cross-sector, expert teams on a
given area of focus.
OUR MISSION
Do you want to get involved, share an idea, or just learn more about our efforts? We want to hear from you!

Read the proposal that we shared with the University of Washington, one of the world’s leading public universities, to execute Bonds of Union’s vision for the future of teaching, learning, and research in higher education.

Learn about how we are leveraging our vision to support ASU, a leader in higher education innovation, as it implements a pioneering model for teaching and learning and empowers students and faculty to solve complex, interdisciplinary challenges.

Learn about our collaboration with the University of Cincinnati in Ascend, our initial pilot initiative and how we leveraged our broader vision for the future of teaching, learning, and research in higher education.
We build cross-sector teams in regions across the country that generate breakthrough innovations to solve critical challenges. Learn more about our innovative approach and process.
We aim to build a national R&D infrastructure across all regions of the U.S. to solve the challenges that threaten the continued health and prosperity of our democratic republic.
Alula has dedicated his life to renewing hope and prosperity in marginalized communities in the U.S. Prior to founding Bonds of Union, Alula served as Director of Special Initiatives and Special Assistant in the Office of Innovation & Improvement at the U.S. Department of Education. In this role, Alula helped to oversee the design and implementation of competitive programs such as the Investing in Innovation Fund (i3) and Promise Neighborhoods, and closely advised the Assistant Deputy Secretary of Innovation & Improvement on matters of policy and R&D. Previously, he was the Founder and Executive Director of the UW Dream Project, a Seattle-based college access and retention program for low-income and first-generation high school students. Alula received a B.A. in English Literature and Political Science from the University of Washington, an MPhil in Politics, Development, and Democratic Education from the University of Cambridge, and a J.D. from Yale Law School.
Approach
Process
R&D Engine
Ascend Initiative
Regional Efforts
Ohio valley Pilot
Higher Education
Arizona State University
University of Cincinnati
University of Washington
Insights