Gallery: 2024 Women of Impact awards ceremony

Nov. 12, 2024
Craig Reck

This year's Women of Impact honorees were joined by Young Women of Impact, family, friends and colleagues.

A group of women holding their awards pose for a photo in front of a projector screen.

Women of Impact honorees in attendance at the 2024 awards ceremony pose for a group photo.

Ryan Hunt

Remarks for the evening's event were provided by Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, Arizona Board of Regents Chair Cecilia Mata, University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella and Tucson Mayor Regina Romero.

The Office of Research, Innovation & Impact's (RII) Women of Impact program and Young Women of Impact initiative truly capture the heart of the University of Arizona land-grant mission – collaborating to advance science with a purpose, modeling collegiality, educating employable graduates, and working with Arizona communities to improve lives.

For the third annual awards ceremony, RII hosted honorees and their guests at the Center for Creative Photography on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Attendees were greeted by the music of Mariachi Rayos del Sol from Tucson High Magnet School. The group's lead trumpeter, Ailanie Figueroa, is a 2024 Young Women of Impact honoree.

Remarks for the evening's event were provided by Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, Arizona Board of Regents Chair Cecilia Mata, University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella and Tucson Mayor Regina Romero. Program Director and Associate Vice President for Communications and Marketing Lisa Romero handed each Young Women of Impact honoree their certificate.

“It is gratifying to see how our awards celebration has grown each year, but the initiative is so much more than just this event,” said Lisa Romero. “We want to promote the outstanding contributions of women across the university and young women throughout Southern Arizona, while fostering an inclusive community where women of all ages and backgrounds uplift one another."

Elliott Cheu, interim senior vice president of research and innovation, presented each Women of Impact honoree with their award. Following the night's recognitions, the two cohorts were brought together for group photos.

Each year, RII invites nominations from across the university to identify individuals whose work drives discovery, fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, builds community impact, and empowers others. Fifteen units from across campus were represented in the 2024 cohort. Nominations for the 2025 program are open.

RII also calls on administrators of public high schools throughout Southern Arizona to nominate students for their commitment and dedication to the core values of the Women of Impact initiative. The 2024 initiative expanded to include schools in Pima, Cochise and Santa Cruz counties.

RII would like to thank our sponsors for the 2024 program: