Recognizing Exceptional Women in Research & Innovation

Nomination infoNomination Form

Recognizing Exceptional Women in Research & Innovation

Nomination info

Nomination Form

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.

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.

Nomination Information

2024 Women of Impact Awards Nominations are now open until May 30. We've answered questions about the nomination process that have come up in previous years.

Nominations Open: March 1, 2024

Nomination form

Nomination Deadline: May 30, 2024

Selection Committee Review: July 2024

Awardees Announced: September 5, 2024

Anyone from the UArizona community can nominate a faculty or staff member who has significantly contributed to our identity as one of the nation’s leading research institutions. Our selection committee will carefully select awardees based on their demonstrated commitment to our mission and values, skills in driving discovery and innovation, community impact, and mentorship and empowerment of others, thus laying the groundwork for lasting change.

As part of our commitment to celebrating women making an impact at the university, across the state, and around the world, we embrace the transformative power of diversity and equity and recognize contributions made by cisgender women, transgender women, and all who identify as women.

Please submit your nomination before 5:00 p.m. on May 30, 2024 by using the Women of Impact Nomination Form. The form opens on March 1, 2024. Please check back here for the link. Please note: No late submissions will be accepted after the deadline.

Information you will need for your nomination:

  • Name of nominee
  • Nominee’s professional title
  • Nominee’s unit/college affiliation
  • Nominee’s email address
  • Two letters of recommendation
    • One letter of recommendation must come from someone who serves in a leadership capacity (e.g. college dean, unit leadership, department head, committee chair, direct supervisor, etc.)
    • One additional letter of recommendation must come from another university employee

Note: Nominations missing a letter of recommendation will not be considered.

Letters of recommendation should address the following criteria:

  • Impact: What impact has the nominee made in driving scholarly and creative inquiry, discovery, and/or innovation in recent years?
  • Community Engagement: How has the nominee engaged community within their work?
  • Collaboration: How does the nominee collaborate with other colleges, units, or across disciplines?
  • Mentorship: How has the nominee mentored, supported, and advanced the careers and/or educational opportunities of others?
  • Character: How does the nominee embody the university’s mission and values?

Additionally, nominators may also want to include a personal/professional anecdote about how the nominee has made an impact on their life. This portion of the letter is not scored but may be considered by the selection committee when assessing candidates.

Honorees are reviewed by a selection committee comprised of diverse members of the university community who hold various titles and designations including college deans, senior leadership, faculty members, staff members, researchers, and past honorees.

Each committee member uses a 20-point rubric system to score individual nominees based on the pillars outlined in the guiding questions:

  • Impact
  • Community Engagement
  • Collaboration
  • Mentorship
  • Character

These scores are averaged to determine ranking of all candidates, and then committee members discuss the top 25% ranked candidates to determine the final list of 30 honorees.

Committee members consider each nominee expressly through the information included in their letters of recommendation.

Nominees receiving multiple nominations will only receive one nomination packet and their letters of recommendation will be combined for consideration.

Young Women of Impact honorees are students from Pima County area public high schools who are nominated by members of their school administration for their commitment and dedication to the core values of the Women of Impact initiative.

The Young Women of Impact program was launched in 2023 to acknowledge 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.

You can read more about the Young Women of Impact program here

The Women of Impact initiative is committed to the broadest definition of research, welcoming nominations from all areas of research and scholarship that center investigation and inquiry, including the arts, humanities, and social sciences as well as traditional STEM fields.

Yes. One person should be designated as the main contact for the nomination, but up to 5 letters of recommendation can be included in one nomination.

Young Women of Impact program

Each year, we 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 from public schools across Pima County are nominated by their principals and participate in Women of Impact networking events and are included in our annual celebration.

Read the full story

“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)

Learn about previous Women of Impact cohorts

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