Awards and Accolades

By Andy Ober, University Communications
Nov. 4, 2024


Delgado elected president-elect of national risk management association

Miguel Delgado, Chief Risk Officer

Miguel Delgado, Chief Risk Officer

Miguel Delgado, chief risk officer for the university, has been elected president-elect of the University Risk Management and Insurance Association. He will serve as president-elect for the next year before taking over as the association's president in October 2025. He previously served a three-year term on the organization's board of directors.

Delgado joined the university in 2017 as assistant director of insurance programs before being promoted to director in 2020. He was appointed chief risk officer in 2021. Delgado oversees functions including the university's institutional insurance, claims management, fleet safety, fire safety, occupational safety and environmental compliance programs.

URMIA is a professional association dedicated to promoting the advancement of higher education risk management principles and best practices. The association represents about 3,100 professionals at nearly 900 higher learning institutions and more than 140 partner companies and organizations.

Delgado took office on Oct. 1 at URMIA's annual conference in New Orleans.

Daniel Asia becomes member of American Academy of Sciences and Letters

Daniel Asia, Professor Emeritus of Music

Daniel Asia, Professor Emeritus of Music

Daniel Asia, professor emeritus of music, has been named a member of the American Academy of Sciences and Letters, recognition of distinguished contributions to human learning.

Asia joined the university in 1988 and retired earlier this year. He was a professor in the Department of Composition, Musicology and Theory and head of the music composition program. His numerous honors include a United Kingdom Fulbright award and a Guggenheim Fellowship, awarded by the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation to those who have "demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts."

The American Academy of Sciences and Letters promotes scholarship and honors outstanding achievement in the arts, sciences and learned professions. Asia was honored alongside other new members at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., last month.

Barak Orbach wins Mallen Award

Barak Orbach, Robert H. Mundheim Professor of Law and Business at the James E. Rogers College of Law

Barak Orbach, Robert H. Mundheim Professor of Law and Business at the James E. Rogers College of Law

Barak Orbach, Robert H. Mundheim Professor of Law and Business at the James E. Rogers College of Law, has won the Mallen Award, which recognizes business and economics published works that make an extraordinary scholarly contribution to the field of motion picture industry studies. The Mallen Scholars and Practitioners Conference in Filmed Entertainment Economics says Orbach was selected for his "lifetime published scholarly contributions to motion picture industry studies."

Orbach joined the university in 2005. His research on the entertainment sector focuses on offering practical insights for digital age content industries, like streaming services. His published papers address issues including pricing of movie tickets, anticompetitive practices and movie censorship.

The Mallen Conference is an invite-only annual meeting of scholars and industry leaders to discuss how to better understand processes contributing to the creation, management and marketing of entertainment.

Orbach was honored in September at the 2024 Mallen Conference in Cambridge, England. The award is named for the conference's founder and long-time chair, Bruce Mallen.

Travis Burchett elected president of military education advisory council

Travis Burchett, military alliance manager at the University of Arizona Global Campus, has been elected president of the Mid-South Advisory Council on Military Education. The organization serves Kentucky and Tennessee, connecting educational institutions and military education counselors to better serve military-affiliated students.

Travis Burchett, Military Alliance Manager, University of Arizona Global Campus

Travis Burchett, Military Alliance Manager, University of Arizona Global Campus

Burchett joined UAGC in March 2023. He served in the U.S. Army for 22 years, with his culminating assignment being the chief operating officer and chief of staff for the Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Georgia, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

UAGC says the achievement aligns with its goal of offering high-quality, flexible education to military service members and their families. More information on Burchett and the appointment is available on the University of Arizona Global Campus website.

University PR professionals honored by Southern Arizona chapter of the Public Relations Society of America

Lisa Romero, associate vice president for research communications and marketing, received the Career Impact Award from the Public Relations Society of America's Southern Arizona chapter during its annual awards ceremony, held Oct. 22. The award honors public relations professionals who distinguish themselves through their body of work, their impact on the profession and their dedication to PRSA.

a woman holds a glass award with decorative green paper inside

Lisa Romero, associate vice president for research communications and marketing, with her Career Impact Award from the Public Relations Society of America's Southern Arizona chapter.

Romero called the honor "incredibly humbling and meaningful."

"Throughout my career, I've had the good fortune to elevate businesses and organizations using the power of effective communications and public relations, and I'm deeply grateful for this recognition," Romero said.

Jessa Turner, associate vice president for marketing and communications with Tech Parks Arizona, received the PR Pro of the Year award, which recognizes excellence in public relations and those who serve as a role model to fellow practitioners.

"As someone passionate about building the community through university-based economic development, it's a joy to share the incredible stories happening here," Turner said. "For 20 years, I've worked at the intersection of innovation and the university to advance business through the power of Tech Parks Arizona."

In addition, several University of Arizona projects received IMPACT awards, which honor excellence in communications and public relations projects.

"We have very talented creative teams working every day with the U of A faculty, staff and students to tell the impactful stories of the achievements and discoveries that happen here at our institution," said Steve Voeller, vice president for communications and government and community relations. "I am proud of the individuals and teams honored by PRSA this year. Their work to create stories often happens behind the scenes and they deserve this recognition."

The winning entries and their categories are listed below.

Best in Show

AI Update, Institute for Computation and Data-Enabled Insight, newsletter category

Awards of Excellence

Certificates of Excellence Merit Awards

  • OSIRIS-REx, University Communications, media placement category

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 by filling out this submission form.

Please be prepared to submit 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@arizona.edu.

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