The top stories of 2022: Employee recognition and campus construction projects were among the most popular topics
The three-story Applied Research Building, one of many ongoing construction projects on campus, is slated to be finished in January.
A small sculpture depicting a famous scene from "The Empire Strikes Back" – where Han Solo is frozen in "carbonite" – can be found in the Pentapus structure on the west side of the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture – West building. (Photo by Kyle Mittan/University Communications)
Harry McDermott (right), a physician with Campus Health, was surprised in March with the Billy Joe Varney Award for Excellence. He is pictured with Laura Provencher (left), export control program analyst with Research, Innovation and Impact, and Patricia Barcelo-Sanders (center), senior program coordinator in the Department of Surgery.
Members of the University of Arizona and Tucson communities gathered at a candlelight vigil to honor the life of Thomas Meixner, who was head of the Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences. (Photo by Chris Richards/University of Arizona)
Renovations at the Center for Creative Photography included a new interdisciplinary gallery in the lobby.
Lo Que Pasa covered a lot of ground in 2022, with stories about breaking ground proving to be among the most popular.
Readers also were drawn to stories about recognition of faculty and staff as well as relationships and parenthood.
As we get ready to welcome 2023, take a look back over the past year by checking out some of the most popular Lo Que Pasa stories of 2022.
Bikes, Broadway and other benefits you may not know about
In addition to health insurance, retirement plans and qualified tuition reduction, there are several other perks that faculty and staff might not know about, from technology support to counseling to bicycle access.
What's new on and around campus
Several major construction projects hummed along between the time the spring semester ended and when classes resumed in the fall. Some are obvious, some are in the background and some are underground.
Harry McDermott wins highest staff honor in 2022 Awards for Excellence
Several employees were honored for outstanding contributions, creativity and compassion in the 2022 Awards for Excellence, presented by the Staff Council and the President's Cabinet. Harry McDermott, a physician with Campus Health, was honored with the Billy Joe Varney Award for Excellence.
4 things to know about this year's Career Conversations
The past year saw several changes to Career Conversations, the tool that guides conversations between staff members and their supervisors about past accomplishments and future plans. The latest round brought a new submission process and a new professional development resource.
Bhattacharya: 'Hold on for just a little bit longer'
Deepta Bhattacharya, professor in the Department of Immunobiology at the College of Medicine – Tucson, discussed testing, vaccination and other COVID-19 topics in this Q&A.
Hundreds gather at a candlelight vigil to honor the life of Thomas Meixner
The University and Tucson communities came together to remember and honor Thomas Meixner, head of the Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, who was fatally shot on campus in October.
May the Fourth be with you: Fine Arts faculty members look at the legacy of 'Star Wars'
To celebrate Star Wars Day, Lo Que Pasa spoke with campus experts about the cultural phenomenon that gave us the terms lightsaber and the Force, and memorable characters such as Darth Vader, Yoda and Jabba the Hutt.
Inside the Applied Research Building: building balloons and simulating space
The $85 million, three-story structure going up at the southeast corner of East Helen Street and North Highland Avenue will provide new research capabilities with state-of-the-art equipment and technology. Inside will be teams conducting interdisciplinary research that advances applied physical sciences and engineering, including the University of Arizona Space Institute.
Dating tips from a mating behavior expert: Channel your inner animal
As an animal behavior scientist, Jennifer Verdolin knows a lot about animal courtship. When she's not teaching animal conservation to undergraduate students in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment, Verdolin, an assistant professor of practice, conducts research in personality and social network dynamics in animals. In this article, she tells readers what animal courtship and mating can teach us about human relationships.
More than 25 faculty members honored for excellence in teaching, scholarship and outreach
This year's honors include two new awards: the University Distinguished Innovation and Entrepreneurship Awards and the Distinguished Head/Director's Award.
Creating a gateway to the arts
The University wants everyone on campus to have a meaningful arts experience, and the Arizona Arts Master Plan is the road map to making that happen. In this series, Lo Que Pasa takes a deep dive into the projects that make up the effort and the plan's commitment to diversity and inclusion.
You're expecting! Now what? Join science writer Mikayla Mace Kelley as she navigates parental leave
Science writer Mikayla Mace Kelley kicked off an occasional series about her journey to parenthood with this story about the expansion of the University's paid parental leave policy. In her second story, Mikayla collected advice from faculty and staff colleagues about how to manage parenthood and university work.