Celebrating outstanding women in research & Innovation
During Women’s History Month, the Office of Research, Innovation & Impact announced the Women of Impact Awards as an inaugural effort to recognize and empower women, who through their work at our university, are laying the groundwork for a better future.
Meet our first cohort
Faculty and staff nominated more than 400 outstanding women who have contributed to our identity as a world-class research enterprise. Among other criteria, the members of this class were selected by our committee based on their commitment to our mission and values, an application of skills toward discovery and innovation, the enrichment of our community, and the empowerment of others to ensure lasting change.
We are delighted and honored to introduce the inaugural class of Women of Impact, comprised of bold and forward thinking leaders in a variety of fields.
- Carol Barnes, Regents Professor of Psychology, Neurology, and Neuroscience, Director of Evelyn F McKnight Brain Institute
- Jessica Barnes, Assistant Professor in the College of Science
- Jennifer Barton, Director of BIO5 Institute
- Roberta Diaz Brinton, Director & Regents Professor, Center for Innovation in Brain Sciences
- Susan Brown, Department Head & Professor of Management Information Systems
- Stacy Butler, Director of Innovation for Justice and Professor of Law
- Jennifer Carew, Associate Professor of Medicine
- Karletta Chief, Associate Professor & Extension Specialist of Environmental Science, Historian of UArizona Native Faculty Association
- Theresa Crimmins, Research Professor of Natural Resources and the Environment in the College of Agriculture & Life Science
- Daniella DellaGiustina, Assistant Professor in the College of Science
- Cynthia Doane, Attending Veterinarian
- Marla Franco, Assistant Vice Provost, Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives
- Amelia Gallitano, Professor in the College of Medicine - Phoenix
- Elise Gornish, Cooperative Extension Specialist of Natural Resources and the Environment in the College of Agriculture Life Sciences
- Erika Hamden, Assistant Professor in the College of Science
- Hong Hua, Professor in the Wyant College of Optical Sciences
- Hongyue Jin, Assistant Professor of Systems & Industrial Engineering
- Amanda Kraus, Assistant Vice President of Campus Life
- Meredith Kupinski, Assistant Professor of Optical Sciences
- Allison Huff MacPherson, Assistant Professor of Family & Community Medicine
- Lalitha Madhavan, Associate Professor of Neurology
- Raina Maier, Professor of Environmental Microbiology in the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
- Kim Patten, Assistant Vice President for Research Development
- Marcia Rieke, Regents Professor of Astronomy; Member of Steward Observatory
- Lee Ryan, Professor & Head of Psychology in the College of Science
- Ashley Snider, Associate Professor in the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
- Carol Stewart, Associate Vice President of Tech Parks Arizona
- Judith Su, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering & Optics
- Valerie Trouet, Professor in the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research in the College of Science
- Olesya Zhupanska, Professor of Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering
Conversations with 2022 Women of Impact
Women of Impact award winners provide perspectives on the future of their fields and share what inspires them.
Theresa Crimmins
Theresa Crimmins, UArizona research professor and director of the USA National Phenology Network, discusses the science of exploring nature's rhythms and the importance of growing where you're planted.
Marla Franco
Marla Franco, UArizona vice president of Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Initiatives, brings the HSI mission to life with a passion for advocacy, an equity-centered approach, and plenty of shared wisdom from friends and colleagues.
Erika Hamden
Erika Hamden, associate professor of astronomy, explores the faraway stars, planets, and galaxies with advanced ultraviolet telescopes. Hamden, who is especially averse to boredom, also teaches peers how to write winning grant proposals and recently took over as director of the Arizona Space Institute.
Lalitha Madhavan
Lalitha Madhavan, associate professor of neurology, discusses the potential of stem cell technologies to revolutionize our understanding of age-related neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, and her passion for helping to shape the next generation of problem-solvers.
Carol Stewart
Carol Stewart, vice president of Tech Parks Arizona, highlights the ability of universities to spur impactful, real-world innovations and drive regional economic development.
Judith Su
Judith Su, associate professor of biomedical engineering and optical sciences, discusses the revolutionary potential of optical sensors for rapid, precise medical diagnostics and the importance of advocating for working parents.
