Awards and Accolades
Desireé Reed-Francois named Hispanic Business Woman of the Year
Desireé Reed-Francois
R. Ken Coit Director of Athletics Desireé Reed-Francois has been named Hispanic Business Woman of the Year by the Southern Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
She was recognized along with with other honorees this month at the 2026 Legacy and Light Gala at Casino Del Sol Resort and Spa.
The awards gala celebrates leaders, organizations and businesses whose leadership, service, innovation and community impact have strengthened Southern Arizona.
Since Reed-Francois arrived at the U of A in 2024, Arizona Athletics’ achievements include a Men’s Basketball Final Four appearance, a College World Series appearance, two national championships in triathlon, and multiple conference titles. The department has also achieved record revenue and academic outcomes, including securing $87.7 million in combined venue naming rights in just over one year.
The Southern Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is a business advocacy organization dedicated to fostering economic growth by connecting and supporting businesses and consumers throughout the region.
The Arizona Board of Regents recently approved a contract extension Reed-Francois, keeping her leading Arizona Athletics through 2032.
Tech Parks Arizona and UACI leader receive national recognition
Casey Carrillo
Tech Parks Arizona is among the innovation districts recognized for their achievements in a national report from the George W. Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative.
The report examined 42 innovation districts and research parks across the U.S. Tech Parks Arizona was one of only six recognized for strong performance in housing and neighborhood stability.
Tech Parks Arizona, which operates the UA Tech Park and UA Tech Park at The Bridges, has an annual economic impact of $2.6 billion and supports economic growth by helping businesses launch and expand.
In a separate honor, Casey Carrillo, chief innovation officer at the University of Arizona Center for Innovation, was named the 2026 Rising Star: Next Gen Innovation Leader by the Association of University Research Parks.
Carrillo was recognized for her work strengthening Southern Arizona's entrepreneurial ecosystem and expanding opportunities for emerging companies. She oversees day-to-day operations of UACI, a startup incubator network that is part of Tech Parks Arizona.
U of A earns multiple honors at 2026 AZBio Awards
Vignesh Subbian
The U of A was well represented at this year's AZBio Awards, with BIO5 Institute Interim Director Vignesh Subbian receiving the Michael A. Cusanovich Bioscience Educator of the Year award and startup Precision Epigenomics winning a Fast Lane Award.
The awards, presented by the Arizona Bioindustry Organization at an Oct. 7 ceremony in Phoenix, celebrate the work of researchers, educators, leaders and companies across Arizona making a difference in the life science industry.
Subbian is being recognized for his work in research and mentorship, including establishing three research training programs with built-in mentorship and helping grow existing BIO5 training programs.
Precision Epigenomics is being recognized for its significant strides in transforming cancer diagnostics. The startup, formed with support from Tech Launch Arizona, builds on the research of professor of pathology and company CEO Mark Nelson and others associated with the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, BIO5 and the University of Arizona Cancer Center.
AZBio supports Arizona’s life science industry through advocacy, educational and networking events and professional development resources.
Read more about these honorees in a story on the BIO5 website.
Dr. Daniel J. Derksen receives Arizona Public Health Association award
Daniel Derksen
Dr. Daniel J. Derksen, Walter H. Pearce Endowed Chair and director of the Center for Rural Health, received the Arizona Public Health Association’s 2026 Senator Andy Nichols Honor Award.
The award recognizes individuals for their leadership, service and contributions to improving public health.
Derksen also serves as senior advisor of the Arizona Area Health Education Center Program and associate vice president of rural health workforce development initiatives, and is a professor in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and the College of Medicine – Tucson. His current work focuses on developing Arizona's rural health workforce to ensure well-trained health professionals are available throughout the state, including rural and underserved communities.
Derksen will be honored at the AzPH's annual award event on Oct. 29 in Tempe.
AzPHA brings together public health professionals to improve the health of Arizona communities through public health assessment and policy development.