Awards and Accolades

Awards and Accolades

By Amy WilliamsUniversity Relations – Communications
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Chris Impey
Chris Impey
Connie Woodhouse
Connie Woodhouse
Thomas Swetnam
Thomas Swetnam
Rex Adams
Rex Adams
Larry Venable
Larry Venable
Clarity White
Clarity White
Jeffrey Ratje
Jeffrey Ratje
Markus Tuller
Markus Tuller

Congratulations to these recently honored UA employees, departments and retirees.

Chris Impey Receives Award from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific

Chris Impey, University Distinguished Professor of Astronomy, received the Klumpke-Roberts Award. The award is given to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the public understanding and appreciation for astronomy. Impey has been using his platform as a professor to popularize astronomy in his classes and in public talks, articles and books. On top of the numerous science books he has written, he also has written two introductory textbooks. He has been recognized for his innovative teaching approaches and making science accessible for his students. He also supports the sciences with his own YouTube channel focused on astronomy. Impey was awarded a plaque and $500.

UA Tree-Ring Researchers Honored

The José A. Boninsegna Award was given to Connie Woodhouse, professor of dendrochronology, for her cutting-edge research in dendrochronology, or tree-ring research. Woodhouse is a leader in hydrologic reconstruction and is effectively conveys the importance of tree-ring reconstructions to water resource managers. Some of her projects include reconstruction of North American monsoon region precipitation, Klamath River basin hydroclimatology and Lower Colorado River flow. The award was given to her by the Tree-Ring Society at the third AmeriDendro Conference, which was held in Argentina in March.

Thomas Swetnam, retired professor of dendrochronology and former director of the UA's Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, was elected to the Nature Conservancy in New Mexico board of trustees. His work includes research on wildfire history and ecology in pine and giant sequoia forests of the Western U.S., Mexico, South America and Russia. After 35 years of living in Tucson, Swetnam moved to New Mexico. He also recently was given the Harold C. Fritts Award for Lifetime Achievement in Dendrochronology. He was recognized for his achievements in the application of tree-ring research methods to ecological and forest management issues, and also for his teaching and for mentoring many students.

Rex Adams, retired senior research specialist at the UA Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, received the Holmes Award for service to dendrochronology in the areas of educational service, teaching service, committee membership, positions served, software and hardware development, and database development, or e-communications. Adams was recognized for his ability to communicate the science of dendrochronology to the public, using terms understandable to all who visited the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research.

AZPM Recognized for News Documentary 'Divided by Law'

Arizona Public Media won the 2016 National Edward R. Murrow Award for small-market radio news documentary for the 30-minute documentary "Divided by Law." The documentary aired in September in conjunction with an Arizona Daily Star four-part series about immigration law and the challenges facing undocumented parents of U.S. citizens. You can view the project here.

Larry Venable Wins Mercer Award for Best Ecology Paper

Larry Venable, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, has been chosen to receive the George Mercer Award, which recognizes an outstanding ecological research paper published within the past two years by a researcher who is younger than 40. His paper – co-authored by Jennifer Gremer, a professor from University of California, Davis – was titled "Bet Hedging in Desert Winter Annual Plants: Optimal Germination Strategies in a Variable Environment" and was published in the journal Ecology Letters in 2014. The award will be given at the Ecological Society of America's annual meeting in August, held in Florida.

Human Resources Coordinator Chosen for Leadership Development Program

Clarity White, senior program coordinator in the School of International Languages, Literatures and Cultures, was one of six members of the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources, or CUPA-HR, to be selected to participate in the 2016-2017 CUPA-HR Wildfire Program. The 12-month leadership development experience offers the opportunity to develop professional skills through mentorship, conference attendance, shadow visits with chief HR officers and a year-end project. White was chosen from 160 applicants and started the program this month.

Jeffrey Ratje Receives Rising Star Award

Jeffrey Ratje, treasurer and associate dean of finance and administration for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, received the Rising Star Award from the National Association of College and University Business Officers. Ratje was one of five higher-education leaders who were recognized for their excellence in higher-education business and financial management. The Rising Star Award is given to an outstanding professional with high potential to succeed as an executive and business officer at a college or university. Ratje was given the award for his work on transforming the college's business model. Along with the award, Ratje also will receive a scholarship to a National Association of College and University Business Officers seminar of his choice.

Soil Science Society of America Names UA Professor a Fellow

Internationally recognized researcher Markus Tuller, a professor in the Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, has been selected to receive the SSSA Fellow Award, the highest recognition bestowed by the Soil Science Society of America. Only about 0.3 percent of the society's members are elected fellows. Society members decide who receives the award, which was given to Tuller for his leadership at the international, national and local levels. He will be presented with the award at the society's annual meeting, to be held Nov. 6-9 in Phoenix.

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