Awards and Accolades
Arizona Public Media's "John is Colorblind," which spotlights five individuals using corrective glasses that allow them to see colors that they never detected before, won an Emmy in the instructional category.
Photo courtesy of Arizona Public Media
Diana Liverman, Regents Professor Emerita, School of Geography, Development and Environment
Diana Liverman is one of Forbes' 50 Women Leading on Climate Action
Diana Liverman, Regents Professor Emerita in the School of Geography, Development and Environment, has been recognized by Forbes as one of the women over 50 leading on climate action.
This list, compiled by Forbes sustainability contributor Solitaire Townsend, recognizes women over 50 years old who have dedicated their lives to leading the charge on climate change and laying the groundwork for solutions.
Liverman's work at the University of Arizona focused on the human impacts of climate change. Her main research interests included climate impacts, vulnerability and adaptation, and climate policy and mitigation.
Liverman, who retired in 2022, remains active in research and climate volunteerism, supporting initiatives like Julie's Bicycle and the city of Tucson's advisory committee on climate change.
See the full list of honorees in the Forbes story.
Drew Castalia, Lecturer, College of Information Science
Information science lecturer Drew Castalia earns international recognition for puzzle game built with data-oriented design
Drew Castalia, a lecturer in the College of Information Science, placed third in the Turbo Makes Games DOTS Jam, an international competition spotlighting data-oriented programming. His entry, Tic Tac Noo, is a puzzle game with 25 levels, available for download on the Microsoft and Apple app stores.
Castalia joined the college in 2017. His work and teaching focus on the technology, sociology, narrative and interactivity of games and imaginative simulations.
Castalia said Tic Tac Noo embraces data-oriented development, which structures data in linear arrays that a computer can process more efficiently. Castalia hopes to integrate data-oriented design into the Game Design and Development and Games and Behavior undergraduate programs.
"Data-oriented design is still on the cutting edge, but it won’t stay there for long," Castalia said. "As these techniques become mainstream, our students will be ready to lead.”
Judith Su, Craig M. Berge Faculty Fellow and Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Learn more about Castalia's work in a story on the university news website.
Judith Su honored with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Rising Star Award
Judith Su, a Craig M. Berge Faculty Fellow and an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, was named a Rising Star by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The honor recognizes engineers advancing the profession and inspiring the next generation.
Su's research focuses on using ultra-sensitive detection to target basic research, transactional medicine and environmental monitoring. She has also led the development of a device designed to detect tiny substances without the need for external markers or dyes.
Su was honored in November at the 2024 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition in Portland, Oregon.
Mark Jenks, Associate Professor of Practice, Department of Teaching, Learning and Sociocultural Studies
Learn more about Su's work in this story on the university news website.
Mark Jenks named winner of the 2024 Arizona Lee Burkett Adapted Physical Education Award
Mark Jenks, associate professor of practice in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Sociocultural Studies, has been awarded the 2024 Lee Burkett Adapted Physical Education Award, which recognizes educators who focus on inclusive programming and furthering physical education for students with disabilities. The annual award is presented by Arizona Health and Physical Education.
Since joining the College of Education in 2008, Jenks has contributed to numerous programs, including the Physical Education Teacher Preparation program, the Elementary Education Teacher Preparation program, the Leadership and Learning Innovation program and the Sports and Recreation Leadership program.
Before joining the university, Jenks taught adapted physical education for the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind. During his time at ASDB, he developed an adapted sports program for students with multiple disabilities, fostering inclusive opportunities through organizations such as the Special Olympics, Disabled Sports USA and the United States Association of Blind Athletes.
Jenks was presented with the award in November.
Arizona Health and Physical Education provides leadership through continuing professional development and advocacy that ensures the effective delivery of physical education programs for students.
Shibin Jiang, Adjunct Research Professor, James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences
Shibin Jiang and Abhijit Mahalanobis elected National Academy of Inventors fellows
Two University of Arizona faculty members have been elected fellows of the National Academy of Inventors: Shibin Jiang, an adjunct research professor in the James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences, and Abhijit Mahalanobis, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering in the College of Engineering.
Being elected an NAI fellow represents the highest professional honor granted by the organization, exclusively available to academic inventors.
Jiang's work focuses on photonic glasses, fiber amplifiers and lasers, and he holds 52 U.S. patents. His academic contributions include editing 40 books and eight special journal issues and publishing 98 papers in peer-reviewed journals. His patents for fibers enhanced with rare-earth elements have led to the development of high-powered fiber amplifiers and lasers. These lasers can produce short, powerful pulses and are essential for ultrafast lasers, wind detection, space technologies, and systems that measure an object's speed and distance.
Abhijit Mahalanobis, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Mahalanobis' research focuses on video and image processing for defense applications and weapons and sensors systems, especially automatic target recognition. He has over 190 journal and conference publications and holds six patents.
Jiang and Mahalanobis join 18 other current and former U of A faculty members who have been elected NAI fellows, including President Suresh Garimella.
The two will be honored alongside the rest of the NAI 2024 class of fellows during the academy's 14th annual conference on June 26 in Atlanta.
Find more information on Jiang's and Mahalanobis' work in a story on the university news website.
Arizona Public Media wins 11 Rocky Mountain Regional Emmys
Arizona Public Media won 11 Rocky Mountain Regional Emmys for five projects across five categories from the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The region includes Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and El Centro, California.
The honors were announced at a Nov. 16 ceremony in Phoenix. The awards and categories are listed below.
Instructional | "John is Colorblind"
Cáit NíSíomón, Producer
John DeSoto, Editor
Robert Lindberg, Photographer
Eryka Dellenbach, Photographer
Diana Cadena, Photographer
Arts/Entertainment Short Form Content | "Andrew Rush: The Etcher"
Özlem Ayse Özgür, Producer / Videographer
Education/Schools Content | "Señor Contreras"
John DeSoto, Producer
Environment/Science Short Form Content | "SPACEWATCH"
Bryan Nelson, Producer
Danny Sax, Photographer
Societal Concerns Content | "Al & Hannah"
Cáit NíSíomón, Producer
Nathan Huffman, Photographer
A full list of winners and nominees is available on the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter's website.
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.