The University of Arizona will celebrate the accomplishments of its Alumni of the Year award recipients on Feb. 27, from 2 to 5 p.m., in the Student Union Memorial Center Grand Ballroom.

The honorees were nominated by their colleges and formally approved by the Alumni Advisory Council, a volunteer board of 19 members who advise on alumni engagement and outreach efforts.

This year's recipients include leaders in academia, scholarship supporters and mentors, including a mathematician who has advanced supercomputing; business owners, entrepreneurs and advocates in the fields of engineering, optics, administration, technology, architecture, pharmacy and education; an internationally renowned horse trainer; an NBA champion; and medical professionals who have dedicated their lives to health services and education.

"Our Alumni of the Year award winners embody the values, dedication and passion that define what it means to be a Wildcat," said Jonelle Vold, senior vice president for alumni engagement and prospect development at the University of Arizona Foundation. "We congratulate each of the winners on this well-deserved honor and thank them for continuing to be excellent representatives of the University of Arizona."

Alumni of the Year Award winners

W.A. Franke Honors College: Victoria DeFrancesco Soto, Class of 2000, is a professor and dean of the Clinton School of Public Service at the University of Arkansas, where she is dedicated to blending academia with real-world impact. An award-winning educator, she specializes in civic engagement, immigration, Latinos and political psychology.

James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences: Joseph Shaw, Class of 1996, is a leading expert in developing optical instruments to study the natural environment,blending nature photography with optical science. Author of "Optics in the Air," he is a distinguished professor and directs Montana State University's Optical Technology Center, which has fostered numerous optical companies in Montana.

Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health: Mary Foote, Class of 2007, is an infectious disease physician. As medical director for New York City's Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, she has led outbreak responses for COVID-19, mpox, measles and Ebola. Her innovative initiatives, including New York City's Nurse Call Line and same-day antiviral delivery, have shaped national public health policy and earned her the New York BIO COVID Hero of New York award.

College of Fine Arts: Joan Ashcraft, Class of 1974, 1976 and 1986, is the director of fine and performing arts for the Tucson Unified School District, overseeing arts education, mentoring and multicultural resources. She co-created and directs Opening Minds through the Arts, a nationally recognized program integrating arts into student learning.

College of Nursing: Cecil Drain, Class of 1976 and 1980, is a retired U.S. Army colonel who has dedicated over five decades to nursing and health care education. Honored with the Legion of Merit and Meritorious Service Medal, he later became a faculty member at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center and Virginia Commonwealth University. An accomplished author, he has contributed extensively to textbooks and professional journals.

Eller College of Management: Callie Groth, Class of 2010 and 2014, is the CEO of BlackBar Engineering, specializing in tactical aerial systems and autonomous ground vehicles for aerospace and defense. With a decade of experience in business model design and technology innovation, she mentors aspiring entrepreneurs as an entrepreneur in residence at the U of A McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship and as a guest lecturer at Eller.

College of Engineering: Jerry Hunter, Class of 1988 and 1990, recently retired as chief operating officer of Snap Inc., where  he helped shape the technology company into a global powerhouse. He began his three-decade technology career at NASA's AMES Research Center, working on robotic automation for the International Space Station, then held key roles at Sun Microsystems and Amazon. 

College of Humanities: Sean Elliott, Class of 2022, began his U of A basketball career in 1985, earning Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, Pac-10 Player of the Year and twice being named a consensus All-American. He led the Wildcats to the 1988 Final Four and remains the school's all-time leading scorer. He was selected third overall in the 1989 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs, where he won a 1999 NBA Championship. His No. 32 jersey is retired by both the U of A and the Spurs. After receiving a kidney transplant from his brother Noel in 1999, Sean became the first professional athlete to return to his sport post-transplant. Now retired, he has spent 24 seasons as ESPN's lead analyst for Spurs TV.

College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture: Robin Shambach, Class of 1985, is the managing principal of BWS Architects, specializing in community-driven design for schools, libraries and municipal buildings. With 38 years in the field, she has grown the Arizona-based firm into a regional leader. A dedicated U of A donor and volunteer, she supports the Women in Architecture Society and mentors young female professionals.

James E. Rogers College of Law: Donald Powell, Class of 1969 and 1972, and Susan Powell, Class of 1971, are dedicated U of A and community volunteers. With a passion for learning, a global perspective and deep admiration for the United States, they have established annual scholarships for international students at the James E. Rogers College of Law and the W.A. Franke Honors College. As strong supporters of the Wildcat Mentor Society, they also created an endowment to help sustain the program.

College of Medicine – Tucson: Sunita Mishra, Class of 1989 and 1994, is the chief medical officer for Amazon Health Services, helping people access affordable, high-quality care. She focuses on sustainable care models that enhance both clinician and patient experiences. Previously, she led Amazon Care's medical group and spent eight years at Providence as vice president of consumer innovation and chief executive of express care. A primary care physician for over 20 years, she has practiced in both the U.S. and Singapore.

R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy: Alan Dan Barreuther, Class of 1973, taught at the U of A College of Pharmacy from 1975 to 1991, pioneering clinical pharmacy roles in internal and pulmonary medicine at what was then University Medical Center and expanding them at Tucson Medical Center. He played a key role in establishing the Arizona Poison Control and Drug Information Center, growing it into a statewide resource. He joined Health Partners HMO in 1991 and Southwestern Physicians Network in 1996.

Christine Jane Barreuther, Class of 1977, completed a clinical pharmacy residency at the Phoenix VA Hospital before working at Kino Hospital and spending 33 years with the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System. Recognized with numerous patient care awards, including the VA Secretary Hearts and Hands Award, she later became a certified diabetes educator, working with El Rio Health Care Center and Clinica Amistad to support underserved populations.

The Barreuthers recently established the Christine J. and Alan D. Barreuther Scholarship Endowment at the College of Pharmacy. They are parents to two U of A alumni.

College of Science: Duncan Buell, Class of 1971, earned his bachelor's in mathematics from the U of A, continuing a family legacy dating back to the early 1900s. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Illinois, Chicago, and taught at Carleton University, Bowling Green State University and Louisiana State University. In 1986, he joined the National Security Agency-sponsored Supercomputing Research Center, managing the development of a novel computer now standard in high-end systems. In 2000, he joined the University of South Carolina, serving as computer science department chair for nine years and interim dean for one.

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences: Jan Lesher, Class of 1977, began working for Pima County in 2010, rising to deputy county administrator before becoming county administrator in 2022. Previously, she served as chief of staff to Janet Napolitano, during Napolitano's time as Arizona governor and as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security. A dedicated U of A supporter, Lesher has served on the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Advisory Board, established the first Innovation Circle endowment, and contributed to the university's Women's Plaza of Honor and National Institute for Civil Discourse.

College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences: Todd Pletcher, Class of 1989, is one of the most successful trainers in American thoroughbred racing history. Raised in a racing family, he got his start working for his father, Jake Pletcher. An eight-time Eclipse Award winner for Trainer of the Year, he was inducted into the National Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2021. His major victories include two Kentucky Derby wins, four Belmont Stakes titles and a Kentucky Oaks triumph.

College of Education: Marilyn Ludwig, Class of 1952 and 1956, dedicated 48 years to teaching in Southern Arizona. She played a key role in opening Peter Howell and Sewell elementary schools in the Tucson Unified School District and was recognized as a "Helping Teacher" for her innovative curriculum design. A lifelong advocate for literacy and education, she was active in organizations including Literacy Connects and Delta Kappa Gamma. Ludwig passed away in 2023.

The Alumni of the Year awards were established as a tradition in 1943. Read more about this year's winners and past honorees on the Arizona Alumni website.