Awards and Accolades

By Andy Ober, University Communications

Today

DellaGiustina honored with AAS lectureship

Dani Mendoza DellaGiustina, assistant professor in the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, has been honored with the Fred Kavli Plenary Lectureship by the American Astronomical Society. She will deliver the lecture Jan. 5 at the society's 247th meeting in Phoenix.

DellaGiustina is the deputy principal investigator for NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, which sent a spacecraft to collect samples from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu. She is principal investigator of OSIRIS-APEX, an extension of the mission that will study the asteroid Apophis after its close approach to Earth in 2029.

In selecting DellaGiustina, the AAS cited her role in "providing groundbreaking insights into the origins of the Earth and other solar system bodies" through the OSIRIS-REx team's work.

Established in 1899, the American Astronomical Society aims to enhance and share the scientific understanding of the universe. Its membership includes about 8,200 physicists, mathematicians, geologists, engineers and others whose research involves the astronomical sciences.

Faculty members, startup company receive AZBio awards

The Arizona Bioindustry Association will recognize two University of Arizona faculty members and a startup company that originated at the university at its annual AZBio Awards banquet Oct. 15 at the Phoenix Convention Center.

Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz, professor in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the College of Medicine – Phoenix and member of the BIO5 Institute, will receive the Biosciences Researcher of the Year award. Her research is focused on understanding the microbiome and host-microbe interactions in the female reproductive tract as it relates to gynecologic and oncologic health outcomes.

LifeSpan Digital Health, a startup launched through Tech Launch Arizona, the U of A's commercialization office, will receive a Fast Lane award. The company developed a software platform to alleviate burnout among physicians and health care professionals.

Dr. Eric Reiman, associate research professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the College of Medicine – Phoenix and chief executive officer at the Banner Alzheimer's Institute, will receive the Pioneer Award for Lifetime Achievement. Reiman and his colleagues established the Alzheimer's Prevention Initiative, which includes public-private partnerships, prevention trials and biomarker development programs in cognitively unimpaired people at high risk for Alzheimer's disease.

The Arizona Bioindustry Association is a statewide advocate and professional association for Arizona's bioscience industry.

Read more about the awards in a story on the Research and Partnerships website.

Lett wins faculty advocate award

Sylvia Lett, associate clinical professor in the James E. Rogers College of Law, is the inaugural recipient of the Faculty Advocate Award from the National Association of Law Student Affairs Professionals.

The national award recognizes an outstanding professor who demonstrates exceptional partnership and collaboration between faculty and staff to foster a positive and supportive environment for students. Only one faculty member is chosen each year from among the association's member law schools.

Lett, who joined the university in 2005, serves as faculty advisor to both the Black Law Students Association and the Law Women's Association student groups.

The National Association of Law Student Affairs Professionals is a nonprofit membership organization for student affairs professionals working in law schools.

Read more about Lett's work and the award in a story on the James E. Rogers College of Law website.

Matt Mars wins research award

Matt Mars, professor and interim head of the Department of Public & Applied Humanities, received the 2025 Ted K. Bradshaw Outstanding Research Award from the Community Development Society. The award recognizes research that exemplifies and positively impacts community development practice.

Mars' research explores how visual narratives influence the creation and identity of local consumption spaces such as coffee shops, craft breweries and farmers' markets. The organization described his work as "theoretically rich, methodologically innovative and deeply engaged with real-world community issues."

The Community Development Society is a nonprofit established to "strengthen and advance community development policy, practice, learning and research through educational and scientific means," according to its website.

Read more about Mars' work and the award in a story on the College of Humanities website.

Courtney Friesen wins book award

Courtney Friesen, professor in the Department of Religious Studies and Classics, received the Frank W. Beare Award from the Canadian Society of Biblical Studies. The award recognizes an outstanding book in the areas of Christian origins, post-Biblical Judaism and/or Graeco-Roman religions.

Friesen's "Acting Gods, Playing Heroes, and the Interaction Between Judaism, Christianity, and Greek Drama in the Early Common Era" explores religion and the receptions of classical theater in the early centuries of the Common Era. Judges wrote that the book is "well-argued, breaks new ground and overturns the traditional view about early Christian opposition to theater."

The Canadian Society of Biblical Studies is a humanities academic society dedicated to the academic study of the Bible in its literary and historical context.

Read more about the award in a story on the College of Humanities website.