Awards and Accolades

By Isabel Miranda Kidwell, University Communications
Nov. 14, 2023
Patty Jansma, co-manager, Research, Innovation & Impact Imaging Cores – Optical facility

Patty Jansma, co-manager, Research, Innovation & Impact Imaging Cores – Optical facility

Robert Torres, professor, Department of Agricultural Education, Technology and Innovation

Robert Torres, professor, Department of Agricultural Education, Technology and Innovation

The USA National Phenology Network team collects, stores and shares phenology data relating to the timing of recurring biological events.

The USA National Phenology Network team collects, stores and shares phenology data relating to the timing of recurring biological events.

Charlie Snyder, director of public relations, marketing and communications in the College of Fine Arts, and Jonalynne Bustamante, graphic designer in the college, accepted an IMPACT Award for the Arizona Arts publication "Annual Report: State of the Arts,

Charlie Snyder, director of public relations, marketing and communications in the College of Fine Arts, and Jonalynne Bustamante, graphic designer in the college, accepted an IMPACT Award for the Arizona Arts publication "Annual Report: State of the Arts, Arizona Arts."

Patty Jansma receives award in microscopy

Patty Jansma, co-manager of Research, Innovation & Impact's Imaging Cores – Optical facility, has been given the 2023 Hildegard H. Crowley Award for Outstanding Technologist in the Biological Sciences, which honors technologists from the biological sciences who have made significant contributions to microscopy and microanalysis. The award is given by the Microscopy Society of America, an organization whose mission is to foster the research, innovation, advancement and promotion of microscopy.

Jansma has more than 40 years of experience researching biological sciences with an emphasis on light and electron microscopy. At Imaging Cores – Optical, she trains faculty, staff and students in the proper use of the microscopes. She has served on the MSA executive council and is also active in the Arizona Imaging and Microanalysis Society.

Jansma was honored in July.

Read more in a story on the University of Arizona Microscopy Alliance website.

Agriculture education professor awarded by National FFA Organization

Robert Torres, professor in the Department of Agricultural Education, Technology and Innovation, has been selected to receive the VIP Citation for Significant Contributions to Agricultural Education. The National FFA Organization, which seeks to foster leadership in agricultural education, presents the citation each year to recognize an individual who has enriched student lives and career success in agriculture.

Torres has taught at the University for more than 13 years and currently holds the Neely Family Endowed Professorship for Excellence in Agriculture and Life Sciences. His research focuses on teaching and learning within agricultural education. He serves on the Arizona Career and Technical Education Quality Commission and is a board member for the Arizona Agricultural Education/FFA Foundation.

"Receiving the VIP Citation isn't just a feather in Dr. Torres' cap – it's a testament to the lasting impact he's made on agricultural education in Arizona and across the country," the organization said in its announcement. "We're excited to celebrate not just his accomplishments but also the positive difference he's made in the lives of countless students."

Torres received his award during the National FFA Convention and Expo, held in Indianapolis earlier this month.

Phenology team honored by American Geophysical Union

The USA National Phenology Network team, based in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment, has been selected to receive this year's Science and Society Team Award from the American Geophysical Union. AGU, an international nonprofit supporting Earth and space scientists, gives the award each year in recognition of a team that employs research to produce and translate scientific knowledge to serve society. 

USA-NPN was established in 2007 to collect, store and share data in phenology, the study of the timing of recurring biological events. Its mission is to aid decision-making, scientific discovery and a broader understanding of phenology and ensure the well-being of humans, ecosystems and natural resources.

The USA-NPN team includes:

  • Theresa Crimmins, Director, USA-NPN, and Associate Professor and Associate Research Scientist, School of Natural Resources and the Environment
  • Erin Posthumus, Outreach Coordinator
  • Samantha Brewer, Community Outreach and Volunteer Engagement Coordinator
  • Jeff Switzer, Systems Analyst
  • Nathan Acosta, Web Developer
  • Ellen Denny, Monitoring Design and Data Coordinator

Former team member Alyssa Rosemartin, who was an application specialist at USA-NPN, was included among the honorees.

The team will be presented with the award in December at AGU's annual meeting in San Francisco.

University teams recognized by the Southern Arizona chapter of the Public Relations Society of America

Several University of Arizona teams have been honored with IMPACT Awards by the Southern Arizona chapter of the Public Relations Society of America for excellence in communications and public relations projects.

Entries are evaluated by an independent committee from a partner PRSA chapter based elsewhere in the United States.

The winning entries are below.

Awards of Excellence

Certificates of Excellence Merit Awards

The awardees were honored on Oct. 24 at an event held in downtown Tucson.

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.

To submit your news, please send us an email with 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.

Isabel Miranda Kidwell is a student assistant writer in the Office of University Communications.

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