Why They Chose the UA: Distinguished Outreach Professor Promotes Science, Engineering Education for Women, Minorities

Why They Chose the UA: Distinguished Outreach Professor Promotes Science, Engineering Education for Women, Minorities

By Amanda BallardUniversity Relations - Communications
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Six faculty members were recently honored as the UA's newest Regents' Professors, University Distinguished Professors, and University Distinguished Outreach Faculty.

Each of these titles honors faculty members for their significant contributions and commitments to higher education.

Over the next few weeks, we'll be profiling the recently inducted professors to get a closer look at why they chose to bring their talents to the UA.


 

When professor Supapan Seraphin joined the UA faculty in 1990, she made history as the first female faculty member to join the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

Over the next quarter of a century, she would dedicate her career to not only research and teaching, but also to promoting science and engineering education, especially for women and minorities.

In recognition of her efforts, Seraphin recently received the Distinguished Outreach Faculty Award. The award is designed to recognize outstanding faculty whose scholarship-based outreach to the state, nation and world has demonstrated sustained excellence in the UA's outreach mission.

"I am honored and excited," Seraphin said. "To be named Distinguished Outreach Professor means the ultimate recognition of my hard work that I dedicate to my career."

Seraphin, who holds joint appointments in the College of Optical Sciences and the College of Agriculture of Life Sciences, said she first developed an interest in chemistry, then in solar energy materials. Her research focuses on analyzing various materials at the nano-level, and she is an expert in electron microscopy and carbon nanoclusters.

"I believe materials science and engineering is the basis of all advancement of science and technology," she said.

Beyond research and teaching, Seraphin is also known for preparing tasty Thai lunches for students on campus in the kitchen of Maricopa Hall. During the lunches, students have the chance to talk about academics over meals like Pad Thai and curry.

In 1990, Seraphin joined the UA to direct a new, $1 million transmission electron microscope facility. The facility, now part of the University Spectroscopy and Imaging Facilities, helps with the acquisition of research images for industrial and clinical applications.

Since then, Seraphin has found time to collaborate with the community in addition to earning research grants, writing publications and serving as principal investigator on several research projects.

For over 15 years, she has been working with K-12 teachers to encourage science education through various programs, such as visits to the UA's electron microscopy lab.

As a UA Faculty Fellow, she provides students with valuable learning experiences outside of the classroom and in the lab, where they learn to operate equipment and analyze data.

"At the UA, I love my role as a Faculty Fellow as I connect informally with students outside the classroom," Seraphin said.

Although the scientific opportunities drew Seraphin to the UA, it's the people that have motivated her to stay.

"This is my 25th year at the UA," Seraphin said. "I have an amazing career and am thankful to everyone who is supportive of me."

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