Awards & Accolades
Journalism professor Jeannine Relly is being lauded for a book about journalists working in Mexico that she co-authored.
Jeannine Relly, professor of journalism
Lisa Rulney, senior vice president for business affairs and chief financial officer
Jessa Turner, director of communications, Tech Parks Arizona
Book about journalists working in Mexico wins multiple honors for professor
Jeannine Relly, professor in the School of Journalism, has won the Frank Luther Mott – KTA Journalism & Mass Communication Research Award, for the book "Surviving Mexico: Resistance and Resilience among Journalists in the Twenty-First Century," which she co-authored. The award is presented by Kappa Tau Alpha, the national college honor society for scholarship in journalism and mass communication.
The Mott award recognizes "the best research-based book about journalism or mass communication published each year" and includes a $1,000 prize.
"Surviving Mexico" examines how journalists in Mexico – one of the most dangerous countries in the world for reporters – have resisted mounting constraints and, in the process, have strengthened individual and collective levels of resilience.
The book has also won the Tankard Book Award and the Knudson Latin America Prize, both presented by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. The Tankard Book Award recognizes outstanding books in the field of journalism and communication that embody excellence in research, writing and creativity. The Knudson award honors excellence in books or projects covering Latin America.
All three awards will be presented in August at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication conference in Detroit.
Relly shares the honors with co-author Celeste González de Bustamante, who until recently was a professor in the School of Journalism.
Lisa Rulney among 'Most Influential Women in Arizona Business'
Lisa Rulney, senior vice president for business affairs and chief financial officer, is among AZ Big Media's Most Influential Women in Arizona Business for 2022.
A board consisting of 12 former honorees selected this year's list of 36 women from a field of more than 1,500 women. The new honorees will be recognized at a dinner in Phoenix next month.
Rulney joined the University in 2001 and served in several leadership roles before being appointed to her current position in April 2019.
AZ Big Media produces publications including Az Business, AZRE, Ranking Arizona and Experience AZ. It also has a news website.
BizTucson names Jessa Turner a 'Next Gen Leader'
BizTucson magazine has included Jessa Turner, director of communications for Tech Parks Arizona, on its "Next Gen Leaders 2022" list. The publication says the list honors 22 "business-builders, changemakers, community creators and problem solvers who are working toward a prosperous future for Tucson and Southern Arizona."
Turner has worked with Tech Parks Arizona since 2004 and took on her current role in 2014. She is also president of the Southern Arizona chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.
In its bio of Turner (page 161), BizTucson praised her for being "passionate about building the community through university-based economic development activities."
Tech Parks Arizona helps advance the innovation and commercialization University-related technology through the tech parks at Rita Road and The Bridges as well as through the University of Arizona Center for Innovation, a technology business incubator network.
Center for Innovation wins 'Soft Landings' award
The University of Arizona Center for Innovation – a technology business incubator network operated by Tech Parks Arizona – has been recognized for helping international companies have a smooth entry into the United States.
The award, called the Soft Landings Designee of the Year, is given by the International Business Innovation Association. It was presented last month at the 36th International Conference on Business Incubation, held in Atlanta.
To be eligible for the award, an organization must have previously earned the association's Soft Landings designation, which requires an organization to prove its capability to meet the needs of international companies looking to do business in a foreign country. UACI earned the designation in 2020.
The University of Arizona Center for Innovation has locations throughout Southern Arizona and has worked with more than 200 companies since it was created in 2003. The network provides startups with access to resources such as mentors, interns and service providers plus office and lab space.
The International Business Innovation Association is a global nonprofit with more than 1,200 members representing incubators, accelerators and coworking centers in more than 30 countries.
Admitted Student Day program wins Eduventures Innovation Award
The University's Admitted Student Day program received an Innovation Award from education technology company Encoura. The company praised the University's collaboration with more than 50 units and 100 volunteers from throughout campus to interact with 4,845 students – nearly double the pre-pandemic average attendance – with about a quarter of them taking action to enroll the following week.
Admitted Student Day, organized by the Office of Admissions, allows students who have been admitted to the University – but haven't necessarily committed to attend – a chance to meet faculty, staff and fellow students and learn about the academic and recreational programs the University has to offer.
Encoura, a research and advisory firm serving the higher education sector, presented the award last month at its Eduventures Summit in Boston. The event brings together hundreds of higher education leaders to discuss innovation in the sector. The company says the award recognizes institutions that find novel ways to strengthen student retention and success.
We want to know about your good news. If you, your team or a colleague has won any major awards, been honored nationally or internationally, or accomplished some other major feat that deserves recognition, let us know about it.
To submit your news, please send us an email with the following information:
- Name of the person, team or unit receiving the honor with full University titles.
- Information about the award/honor and the organization that granted it. Please include a link to the official announcement of the award/honor.
- When the honor was announced and when it will be presented (or was presented).
- A photo of the honoree. If others appear in the photo, please provide their names and identifying information, such as their University title or other affiliation.
Questions? Contact Lo Que Pasa at uaatwork@email.arizona.edu.