7 University employees make this year's '40 Under 40' list

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The University is well represented in this year's "40 Under 40" list, which recognizes Tucson professionals under the age of 40 for leadership, character and service.

Seven University employees are on the year's list, which is presented by the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Arizona Daily Star and Snell & Wilmer. The honorees will be recognized on Dec. 7.

Among this year's honorees is Eric Smith, executive director of the University of Arizona Center for Innovation, which is the University's startup incubator network. He says the honor illustrates what he tells entrepreneurs and young professionals about the Tucson community.

"I'm a local," Smith said. "I decided to stick around Tucson and make a go at it here, and I spend a lot of my time in the community trying to show others that you can make a career here in Tucson, and you can do so relatively early in your professional life."

Leslie Farland, assistant professor of public health and a member of the BIO5 Institute, says the recognition allows her to shine a spotlight on the work she does on women's gynecologic and reproductive health.

"Women's health research is often overlooked and often underfunded," Farland said, "so getting this honor means having a platform to talk about the important work that I do on a daily basis. Hopefully, it also means that more people will be exposed to this work and more people will participate in this kind of research."

The other employees on this year's list are:

• Adam Begody, Associate Director of Development, Eller College of Management.
• Bethany Bruzzi, Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, and Chief Medical Officer – Clinical Efficiency, Banner University Medical Center.
• Elise Lopez, Director, Consortium on Gender-Based Violence, and Assistant Professor of Practice, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.
• Alex Robie Harris, Senior Project Director, Office of University Initiatives.
• Laura Stephens, Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology.

Also on this year's list: Precious Craig, a doctoral candidate in the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy.