In recognition of their exceptional achievements in teaching, research and scholarship, three University of Arizona faculty members were confirmed as Regents Professors Thursday by the Arizona Board of Regents. 

Regents Professor is the university's highest faculty rank, awarded to full professors whose accomplishments warrant national and international distinction. The prestigious title is limited to no more than 3% of the university's tenured and tenure-track faculty members. Janko Nikolich, Jiang Wu and Dennis Zaritsky are the latest professors to earn the honor. 

"The University of Arizona's reputation is founded on the strength of our faculty, whether it's through their groundbreaking research, the mentorship and instruction they provide our students, or their engagement with our communities," said U of A President Suresh Garimella. "And our Regents Professors receive the highest honor we can bestow because of their extraordinary work and commitment to our university, and the impact they have here in Arizona and worldwide. I offer warm congratulations to our newest Regents Professors for this well-deserved achievement." 

Janko Nikolich | Bowman Professor and Head of the Department of Immunobiology in the College of Medicine – Tucson

Nikolich, co-director of the university's Center on Aging, is an internationally recognized expert in immunobiology and aging. His research has transformed the understanding of how the immune system changes over time and has contributed to the development of new strategies for strengthening immune resilience in older adults. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nikolich developed a precise and effective blood test that helped track COVID-19 exposure and immunity.

Jiang Wu | Professor, Department of East Asian Studies in the College of Humanities

Wu is a leading scholar of Chinese and East Asian Buddhism whose research focuses on how the religion spread and how it has changed over many centuries. He has written multiple books on Chinese history and received a prestigious John Simon Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship in 2023. Wu is director of the university's Center for Buddhist Studies, and his leadership has significantly contributed to the center's global reputation in the field.

Dennis Zaritsky | Professor, Department of Astronomy in the College of Science

Zaritsky is recognized as one of the most innovative thinkers and researchers in astronomy. His accomplishments include using dwarf galaxies to map the distribution of dark matter in the Milky Way and other galaxies. His most influential work includes co-authoring the paper "A Direct Empirical Proof of the Existence of Dark Matter." Zaritsky serves as deputy director of the university's Steward Observatory and recently completed a six-year term as chair of the Giant Magellan Telescope Science Advisory Council.

You can read more about the university's newest Regents Professors and their impressive achievements on University of Arizona News. 

During Thursday's ABOR meeting, the board also approved a one-year contract extension for Arizona men's basketball coach Tommy Lloyd, extending his existing contract through March 31, 2030. And ABOR Chair Cecilia Mata, in her opening remarks, highlighted the following recent news items from the U of A: 

• The university hosted three major events on campus in March: The Tucson Festival of Books, one of the largest reading and literacy festivals in the country; President Garimella's inaugural staff social on the Mall; and a formal installation ceremony for President Garimella.
• The U of A men's wheelchair basketball team took home its first national championship title on March 29, after beating Texas-Arlington 75-65. The U of A will host the 2026 National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Tournament at McKale Memorial Center.
• The university on Tuesday announced the hiring of Patricia Prelock as senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, effective May 19. Prelock was provost for the University of Vermont starting in 2019. Since October 2024, she has served as interim president.

The ABOR meeting continues Friday with regular board business. Then, on Saturday, students from the Arizona's three state universities will compete at the Arizona Regents' Cup, an annual public speaking competition hosted by the Arizona Board of Regents that encourages civil and respectful discourse. This year's event will take place at Northern Arizona University, and students will discuss and debate "The Government and the People: The Social Contract." Fifteen U of A students will participate.