Awards and Accolades
The UA Poetry Center [1] has received the Governor's Arts Community Award [2] in recognition of its national significance as a center that promotes appreciation of poetry and literature. Established in 1981, the Governor's Arts Awards are given by the Arizona Citizens for the Arts, the Arizona Commission on the Arts and the Office of the Governor. The Community Award recognizes a community organization or institution for an outstanding arts-based community program. The UA Poetry Center was founded in 1960 and houses nearly 70,000 items in its archives. The center's poetry and literary programs, workshops and classes serve more than 30,000 people each year.
J. Scott Tyo, professor of optical sciences and electrical and computer engineering at the College of Optical Sciences [3], has been awarded the G.G. Stokes Award from the Society of Photo-optical Instrumentation Engineers [4], also called SPIE. The G.G. Stokes award is given annually to those who have made exceptional contributions to the field of optical polarization. Tyo was recognized for his contributions to the theory of polarimeter optimization and the understanding of microgrid polarimeter data processing. Tyo, who is a SPIE fellow, has also served on program committees at SPIE Defense, Security + Sensing since 2006. He regularly presents at SPIE conferences and has published in the Journal of Optical Engineering.
At the inaugural Equal Opportunity Awards Dinner, the Tucson Urban League [5] awarded the 2014 Henry Quito Award to the UA President's African American Advisory Council [6] and the UA's Chief Diversity Officer's unit [7]. The award, named for the founder of the Tucson Urban League, recognized the UA for its promotion of equity and inclusiveness. The African American Advisory Council is a UA Program for Inclusive Excellence [8], a unit that strives to embed diversity, equity and inclusion in the core of the University's mission. The council's purpose is to strengthen relationships between the UA and African American communities in Arizona through communication and partnership developments. Councilmembers also advise President Ann Weaver Hart on matters of importance to African American communities as they relate to the UA.
The American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery [9] honored Michael Slayton, a research associate and visiting faculty member in the UA College of Engineering [10], with the Horace Furumoto Distinguished Contribution Award. The award recognizes individuals who have had multiple accomplishments related to light emitting devices or related technologies in health care. Slayton is CEO of Guided Therapy Systems, a Mesa, Ariz.-based company that works to develop and commercialize products that combine ultrasound imaging with intense therapeutic ultrasound. He has worked to advance intense therapeutic ultrasound technology in the aesthetic medical device industry, which has resulted in safer treatment options for patients. This technology allows doctors to image and treat patients with the same equipment.
Michael Kothke, a lecturer in the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture [11], has been recognized as one of DesignIntelligence's 30 Most Admired Educators for 2014. Each year, DesignIntelligence [12] selects 30 exemplary professionals in the disciplines of architecture, industrial design and landscape architecture based on input from thousands of design professionals, academic department heads and students. Kothke is a licensed architect with more than 20 years of experience as a designer and project-architect. His research is rooted in architectural design and the coordinative and collaborative processes it requires. He was recognized by DesignIntelligence for the invaluable knowledge, support, guidance and insights he provides his students.
Esther M. Sternberg, professor of medicine and research director at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine [13], has been appointed to the Board of Regents of the National Library of Medicine [14], part of the National Institutes of Health [15]. The NLM Board of Regents advises aspects of policy and completes final reviews for NLM's extramural grant program. It is an interdisciplinary board that spans all biomedical fields, informatics, the humanities and the history of medicine. The NLM is the world's largest biomedical library, and provides resources on a wide range of topics for people across the globe. Sternberg is also the founding director of the UA Institute on Place and Wellbeing [16], an interdisciplinary institute that links biomedical, health and design professions to research and create environments that support health and well-being.
Laura Rodriguez, a registered nurse in the UA Medical Center's Department of Emergency Medicine [17], has been honored with a Tucson Station "coin" from the U.S. Border Patrol and a DAISY Award. DAISY, or Diseases Attacking the Immune System, is a foundation created to thank those in the nursing profession. Rodriguez was nominated by Stephen B. Spencer, watch commander of the Tucson Border Patrol Station. Rodriguez was recognized for helping identify a traumatic injury of Border Patrol Agent James Grayson during his stay at UAMC following a serious motor vehicle accident while on duty. His fractured vertebrae had not previously been identified, but with the insistence of Rodriguez, more scans revealed the injury. He underwent surgery and was released from UAMC one week later.
Robert Casler, program director of marketing and publications for the UA College of Agriculture and Life Sciences [18], will receive the 2014 Association for Communication Excellence Publishing and Graphic Design Award of Excellence. The Association for Communication Excellence is an international organization of communicators, educations and information technologists that offers professional development and networking opportunities for individuals working in fields related to agriculture, natural resources, and life and human sciences. Casler will be honored at the 2013-2014 Association for Communication Excellence Conference in Portland, Ore., June 24-27.
Fernanda Echavarri, a content producer for Arizona Public Media [19], is one of 20 individuals selected as a New York Times Fellow for ''The Changing Face of America: Immigration and the Politics of Reform" seminar. The seminar will serve as an intensive institute for journalists, focusing on the impact of the growing Hispanic and Asian-American electorate on current immigration reform efforts in Congress. The seminar takes place May 1-4 at the University of California, Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism. Echavarri joined AZPM in 2011. She covers public affairs, education and immigration and produces radio, television and online content.
Several faculty members in the UA Department of Entomology [20] in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences were recently honored. Professor Patricia Stock was selected as a Honors Professor for the fall 2014 semester. Assistant professor Wendy Moore's co-authored book, "A Natural History of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona," was selected as one of the Southwest Books of the Year by Pima County Public Library. Associate specialist Dawn Gouge leads the School Integrated Pest Management team, which was recently awarded a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [21] grant for $250,000 to create training materials that will be used in schools nationwide to safely and effectively manage insects, rodents and weeds. Specialist Paul Baker also is a member of the team, which has helped to reduce pesticide use by 71 percent in Arizona schools. In addition, four entomology faculty members were honored by the Pacific Branch of the Entomological Society of America [22] with awards at the society's annual meeting. Research scientist John Palumbo received the Distinguished Award in Extension. Entomology specialist Peter Ellsworth received the Award for Excellence in Integrated Pest Management. Associate professor Mike Riehle received the Award for Medical, Urban, and Veterinary Entomology. Professor Molly Hunter received the Distinction in Student Mentoring Award.
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- Name of the person or team receiving the honor.
- Name of the organization granting the honor.
- A description of the honor.
- When the honor was announced and when it will be presented (or was presented).
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Questions? Please contact Amanda Ballard at 626-4407 orĀ amandaballard@email.arizona.edu [23].