Recognizing Exceptional Women in Research & Innovation
The Office of Research, Innovation & Impact (RII) is proud to lead the annual Women of Impact campaign and recognition event.
Each year, we solicit nominations from across the University of Arizona, and ultimately select 30 remarkable faculty and staff who have each contributed significantly to our identity as a world-class research enterprise.
Named awardees are carefully selected based on their commitment to UArizona’s purpose, mission and values, unique skills in driving discovery and innovation, community impact, and willingness to empower others. Their contributions build the groundwork for a brighter future.
Comprised of 30 impressive and forward-thinking leaders whose impact resonates across our campus and far beyond, here are the 2023 Women of Impact:
Professor, Anthropology
Director, Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology
Research Anthropologist
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Professor and Eleanor Bauwens Endowed Chair, Nursing
Director of Research Initiatives, College of Nursing
Professor, Psychology, College of Science
Professor, Public Health, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health
Member, Cancer Center
Professor, Global Seismology and Tectonics
Department of Geosciences, College of Science
Associate Professor, Astronomy
Associate Astronomer, Steward Observatory
College of Science
Associate Professor, Community, Environment and Policy
Director, Collaboratory for Indigenous Data Governance
Associate Director, Native Nations Institute, Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy
Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health
Joint Professor, Agricultural and Resource Economics and Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences
College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences
College of Science
Associate Professor, Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences
College of Science
Vice Dean of Operations and Strategy, College of Medicine-Tucson
Professor, Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Radiation Oncology, and Cancer Biology
Professor and Department Head, Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health
Vice President, Semiconductor Strategy and Director, Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing
Executive Office of the President and Research, Innovation & Impact
Dean, College of Science
Member, BIO5 Institute
Director of Licensing and Intellectual Property
Tech Launch Arizona
Professor and Interim Associate Department Head, Immunobiology
College of Medicine-Tucson
Professor, Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Molecular and Cellular Biology
Member, BIO5 Institute
Member, Cancer Center
Professor and Associate Director, School of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness
College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences
Member, BIO5 Institute
Member, Cancer Center
Regional Academic Programs Manager, Yuma Campus
Executive Director of Business Initiatives and Grant Development
Lecturer, Department of Agriculture Education, Technology & Innovation
College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences
Deputy Director, Arizona Astrobiology Center
Research, Innovation & Impact
Arizona Space Institute
Director, Water Resources Research Center
Professor and Specialist, Department of Environmental Science
C.W. and Modene Neely Endowed Professor and Distinguished Outreach Professor
Division of Agriculture, Life and Veterinary Sciences, and Cooperative Extension
College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences
Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs and Inclusion, College of Engineering
Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Regents Professor, Medicine
Chief, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
College of Medicine-Tucson
Member, BIO5 Institute
Member, Cancer Center
Associate Dean for Research and Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine
Professor, Psychology, College of Science
Professor and Director, Cognitive Science Program
Department of Psychology, College of Science
Professor, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute
Senior Associate Dean, Graduate College
Associate Professor, Communication
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Anheuser-Busch Endowed Chair and Professor of Management Information Systems, Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Eller College of Management
Professor, Computer Science, College of Science
Member, BIO5 Institute
Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
Office of the Provost
Associate Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Research, Innovation & Impact
RII Senior Leadership Team
Professor and Director, School of Government and Public Policy
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Associate Professor of Indigenous Education
Director, Indigenous Teacher Education Program
Dean's Fellow for Indigenous Education
College of Education
Professor and Department Head, Physics
College of Science
Professor and Associate Director of Research, School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences
College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences
Member, BIO5 Institute
Regents Professor, Tohono O'odham Language and Linguistics
Director, American Indian Language Development Institute
Affiliate Faculty, Department of American Indian Studies
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Young Women of Impact program
This year, we are thrilled to also honor high school students for their commitment to and demonstration of six core values at UArizona: integrity, compassion, inspiration, adaptability, inclusivity and determination. These outstanding young women were nominated by their principals, from 18 public schools across seven Pima County districts.
“We recognize the importance of acknowledging young women making a difference in their schools and communities, connecting them with university role models, and cultivating a pipeline of future Women of Impact.”
—Lisa Romero, associate vice president of marketing and communications for RII
“Through programs like Young Women of Impact, UArizona has made sure that students at Sunnyside know that college is for everyone and that they belong, and can thrive, at this university.”
—Stephanie Ponce, Principal of Sunnyside High School (SHS)
Our Commitment to Inclusion
At the University of Arizona, inclusion makes us stronger.
We embrace the transformative power of diversity and equity, infusing it into every Wildcat's experience, be it in the classroom, research labs, innovation hubs, campus collaboratives, or community outreach. Through purposeful action and an impact-driven approach, we champion inclusive excellence, forging a path towards a brighter, more equitable future. Join us in our celebration of all women—cisgender, transgender, and all who identify.
Learn more about the University of Arizona's purpose, mission, and core values.
Awards Celebration
2023 finalists were celebrated at a private event on Friday, October 20. This year’s guest list also included Young Women of Impact honorees, representing public high schools in Pima County as nominated by the school principal based on characteristics similar to the judging rubric for the UArizona Women of Impact finalists.
The awards celebration opened with remarks from Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs and University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins. "Tonight's awardees represent the best characteristics of Arizona," said Hobbs. President Robbins addressed the Women of Impact honorees saying “You are leading the way while empowering those around you and preparing the next generation.” And to the Young Women of Impact honorees, he said "You are our future.” Hear their full messages below.
Read more about the contributions of the 2022 cohort.
Conversations with 2022 Women of Impact
Women of Impact award winners provide perspectives on the future of their fields, share what inspires them, and discuss what they've been up to over the last year.
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.
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