2023 Women of Impact Honorees

Awardee recognition

Our awardees are representative of many colleges, departments, and units across campus and include psychologists, environmental anthropologists, geoscientists, astronomers, public health and public policy experts, neuroeconomists, hydrologists, physician researchers, epidemiologists, physicists, program managers, water sustainability experts, innovators, climatologists, administrators, immunobiologists, nutritional experts, engineers, linguists, neuroscientists, engineers, tech transfer and licensing experts, engagement specialists, communications experts, educators, computer scientists, and physician researchers.

This year, nearly 200 nominations were received, with the 30 finalists being chosen by committee based on their contributions to our identity as a world-class research and innovation enterprise, enrichment of our community, willingness to empower others, and demonstration of UArizona values in their work and life.

Diane Austin

Professor, Anthropology
Director, Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology
Research Anthropologist
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences

Dr. Diane Austin’s desire to explore has led to important advances in the field of anthropology. She has a unique skillset that has enabled her to bridge academic and non-academic worlds using collaborative approaches to problem solving and discovery. She has developed and maintained relationships across boundaries and borders to tackle challenges, and her work has contributed to broad and sustained impacts. Diane leads with compassion, integrity, inclusivity, and determination.

Terry Badger

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

Dr. Terry Badger’s enormous impact in advancing research on cancer symptom management has improved the lives of cancer survivors and their caregivers across the world. As a leader in her field, Terry has led and fostered programs of interdisciplinary team science, developed faculty members in their teaching and research, and recruited and mentored multiple junior scientists. She has been a tremendous spokesperson for the university in promoting high-quality education, practice, and research.

Susan Beck

Professor, Global Seismology and Tectonics
Department of Geosciences, College of Science

Dr. Susan Beck has made innovative contributions in the field of geosciences with significant impact on society and the scientific community. She is a true seismological explorer and passes this attribute on to those she teaches and mentors. Susan has always involved a diverse group of students and post-docs in her research program who receive her technical training and wisdom which is vital to the whole field of seismology and tectonics.

Gurtina Besla

Associate Professor, Astronomy
Associate Astronomer, Steward Observatory
College of Science

Dr. Gurtina Besla is a renowned astrophysicist who studies the formation and evolution of low mass dwarf galaxies through numerical simulations exploring the impact of gravitational interactions. She is a master of project management and invests a great deal of time in developing and implementing engagement and education programs that promote theoretical astrophysics to historically marginalized and underrepresented populations.

Stephanie Russo Carroll

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

Dr. Stephanie Russo Carroll is internationally renowned as one of the foremost thinkers in the Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDSov) movement and has dedicated her professional life to seeing that Indigenous Peoples' rights are respected and protected, and ensuring that researchers understand what it means to use data ethically. Stephanie is a passionate mentor and colleague, demonstrating excellence in research, teaching, mentoring, and service activities.

Bonnie Colby

Joint Professor, Agricultural and Resource Economics and Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences
College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences
College of Science

The university and the State of Arizona have been fortunate for the past four decades to have Dr. Bonnie Colby conducting research, outreach, and investigations in the essential area of water economics, as well as mentoring and training the next generation of thinkers, innovators, and researchers who work and engage in the water space. Bonnie has worked diligently towards improving the future of water sustainability for those us who live in Arizona and the West.

Laura Condon

Associate Professor, Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences
College of Science

In addition to teaching and leading her research group in the department of hydrology and atmospheric sciences, Dr. Laura Condon was nominated by President Robbins in 2023 to serve as co-chair on the Presidential Advisory Commission on the Future of Agriculture & Food Production in a Drying Climate. The recommendations in the commission’s final report will have substantial impact across the university and throughout the state.

Anne Cress

Vice Dean of Operations and Strategy, College of Medicine Tucson
Professor, Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Radiation Oncology, and Cancer Biology

Dr. Anne Cress is one of the top cancer biology scientists in the world. Her breadth of knowledge about translational approaches to cancer will be crucial as she leads the UA's comprehensive cancer center through this time of transition. Her work is focused on stopping tumor cells "in their tracks" and preventing tumor metastasis while diminishing harm and pain and providing new ways for physicians to determine if a patient's cancer is likely to spread.

Kacey Ernst

Professor and Department Head, Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health

Dr. Kacey Ernst is a leading researcher in the study of climate change factors that influence human risk of infectious diseases, with deep expertise in vector-borne diseases such as malaria and Zika viruses. In addition, Kacey provides substantial leadership in mentoring early-career researchers and has helped develop new postdoctoral fellowships. She brings researchers together from across campus to address key challenges in biodiversity science at the intersection of public health and environmental security, food security, and national security.

Liesl Folks

Vice President, Semiconductor Strategy and Director, Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing
Executive Office of the President and Research, Innovation & Impact

Dr. Liesl Folks is an inspiring leader committed to developing and implementing innovative programs and initiatives that position the university to secure large research grants while promoting educational diversity, access, and excellence. She has long been a mentor to and champion of women and under-represented groups in STEM. She was a co-author of the ASEE's Deans Diversity Statement that was announced by President Obama in 2015 and has more than 200 engineering deans as signatories.

Carmala “Carmie” Garzione

Dean, College of Science
Member, BIO5 Institute

Dr. Carmie Garzione is a renowned earth scientist and leads a large and distinguished college that consists of 14 departments, four schools, and five major disciplinary areas of science. She is an ardent supporter of professional development for faculty and staff and is unwavering in the recruitment and retention of a diverse and strong research-oriented faculty. As a first-generation college graduate, a proud alumna of the UArizona, and the first woman to serve as Dean of the College of Science, Carmie embodies the Wildcat spirit.

Rakhi Gibbons

Director of Licensing and Intellectual Property
Tech Launch Arizona

To be successful in the world of university technology commercialization takes a unique combination of scientific and business knowledge, entrepreneurial acumen, and contractual experience. Rakhi Gibbons’s background in life sciences and relationships with inventors and industry alike allow her to create impact by moving UArizona's inventions stemming from university research and technological innovation into the marketplace where they can create lasting social and economic impact.

Felicia Goodrum

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

Dr. Felicia Goodrum is a national leader in virology, in particular human cytomegalovirus which infects more than half of adults by age 40 and is dangerous to immunocompromised individuals. This expertise on CMV can also be applied to COVID-19 and Zika pandemics. Felicia is equally dedicated to the basic scientific endeavor of discovery to better human and ecosystem health and the mentorship of the next generation of scientists through steadfast support of junior faculty. Dr. Goodrum is committed to inclusion and her lab is typically composed of 50-60% women and at least 30% diverse populations.

Melanie Hingle

Professor and Associate Director, School of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness
College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences
Member, BIO5 Institute
Member, Cancer Center

Dr. Melanie Hingle has a rare combination of talent, passion, and vision that has fueled an impressive record of scholarship, innovation, and service at the intersection of nutritional sciences and public health practice. She is an exemplary and collaborative faculty member and community organizer and is committed to progressive education and training for her students and mentees.

Tanya Hodges

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

Dr. Tanya Hodges is the face of the University of Arizona in Yuma. Her roots in the area allow her to effectively teach, manage a highly engaged team, and develop and maintain robust community partnerships. Tanya has had great success in securing grant funding to increase capacity for serving students attending the Yuma campus, which serves a population that is majority Latinx, first-generation, and Pell-eligible.

Corey Knox

Deputy Director, Arizona Astrobiology Center
Research, Innovation & Impact
Arizona Space Institute

Dr. Corey Knox is the Deputy Director and co-creator of the Arizona Astrobiology Center. Her work as a social science researcher and educator has focused on inclusion, equity, and transformative processes in education and in the community. Corey’s research includes areas like the culture of science and its implications for inclusiveness and culturally inclusive teaching and learning.

Sharon Megdal

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

One of the most significant challenges facing our state is water. Dr. Sharon Megdal has been actively promoting wise water resources management for over three decades by providing factual information and objective policy analysis in Arizona and beyond. She has advanced awareness and has been continuously engaged with her local community, as well as in statewide, regional, national, and international efforts to bring science, sense, and inclusive governance principles to planning and policy processes.

Kathleen Melde

Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs and Inclusion, College of Engineering
Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Dr. Kathleen Melde is globally known for her work with small integrated antennas and for the integration of antennas and electronic packaging. Although her most recent work is in engineering leadership, her scientific expertise is key in the revitalization of the semiconductor industry in Arizona and the U.S. Kathie is the first female faculty ever to hold an Associate Dean position in the history of UA Engineering, and helps our faculty achieve their highest potential.

Juanita Merchant

Regents Professor, Medicine
Chief, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
College of Medicine Tucson
Member, BIO5 Institute
Member, UA Cancer Center

Dr. Juanita Merchant is a molecular gastroenterologist that works across disciplines to move mechanistic studies from the bench into clinical practice to help patients. Juanita has had an immense impact on women in STEM by serving on national committees and working to recruit and retain women in academic medicine through her role as Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and community outreach efforts related to nutrition.

Maggie O'Haire

Associate Dean for Research and Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine
Professor, Psychology, College of Science

Dr. Maggie O'Haire is one of the most respected and inspirational leaders in the field of human-animal interaction. She is a compassionate leader who takes a whole person approach to her work. Maggie regularly reminds her team that although data is contained within spreadsheets, those spreadsheets represent the experiences and lives of real individuals whom we are lucky to serve through our research endeavors. She takes an intentional approach to mentorship, including providing strong support towards the future careers of women in STEM.

Mary Peterson

Professor and Director, Cognitive Science Program
Department of Psychology, College of Science
Professor, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute

Dr. Mary Peterson is an internationally recognized leader in vision cognition and has consistently contributed to our world-class identity in research and innovation throughout her 35 years of service to the University of Arizona. Her illustrious funding record, prestigious awards, and recognized leadership of women in science speak to the consistent rigor and innovation that Mary has demonstrated over her career.

Margaret Pitts

Senior Associate Dean, Graduate College
Associate Professor, Communication
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences

Dr. Maggie Pitts has spearheaded and implemented a number of innovations for graduate education at the University of Arizona and is especially interested in the promotion of graduate diversity, integrity, and interdisciplinarity and cultivating opportunities for graduate students to thrive. Maggie practices applied communication with the goal of ensuring that communication research is translated and applied to the communities it serves best.

Sudha Ram

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

Dr. Sudha Ram's research in the areas of enterprise data management, business intelligence, and big data has impacted not only the field of information systems but also fields such as hydrology, biology, geology, ecology, journalism, and marketing. Her interdisciplinary collaborations have resulted in the establishment of several sustainable centers and entities at the University of Arizona. Sudha’s 38-year career at the UA epitomizes compassionate mentorship and research integrity.

Andrea Romero

Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
Office of the Provost

Dr. Andrea Romero's remarkable contributions in uplifting faculty members at the University of Arizona has reshaped the academic landscape, while her innovative research and advocacy have addressed critical issues faced by marginalized communities. Andrea’s mission is deeply rooted in advancing social justice through academic excellence. Her values of inclusivity, empowerment, and equity are evident in every facet of her work.

Lisa Romero

Associate Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Research, Innovation & Impact
RII Senior Leadership Team

In her almost 12 years at the University of Arizona, Lisa Romero has been a tremendous catalyst in changing how we communicate broadly about research and innovation. She is a passionate and diligent champion for researchers, innovators, and initiatives across the entire university and focuses her efforts around strategically and consistently communicating how their achievements create societal, economic and workforce impact. She has an incredible work ethic and is a tremendous partner, colleague, leader, mentor, and friend.

Edella Schlager

Professor and Director, School of Government and Public Policy
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences

Dr. Edella Schlager is a globally recognized water and environmental policy scholar who recently received the Elinor Ostrom Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Political Science Association in Recognition of her lifetime contribution to the study of science, technology, and environmental politics. Her work focuses on innovative ways in which people address collective action dilemmas through the creation and design of institutional arrangements using the foundation of human dignity to make critical decisions.

Valerie Shirley

Associate Professor of Indigenous Education
Director, Indigenous Teacher Education Program
Dean's Fellow for Indigenous Education
College of Education

As a Dine (Navajo) woman herself, Dr. Valerie Shirley’s impact on Indigenous peoples is evident through her creation of the first Indigenous Teacher Education Program (ITEP). ITEP has served students from the Tohono O'odham Tribe, Pascua Yaqui Nation, Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and the White Mountain Apache Tribe, and Dr. Shirley continues to sustain and build relations with the 22 Native Nations in Arizona through program partnerships. At the core of Valerie’s research, teaching, and service is the urgency to sustain humanizing efforts that build solidarity, enact educational justice, and provide equitable access to learning opportunities.

Shufang Su

Professor and Department Head, Physics
College of Science

Dr. Shufang Su is one of the most highly respected, accomplished, and versatile theoretical physicists or her generation. She is also an inspiring teacher and role-model, and advocates for promoting women and under-represented groups in science. Shufang also serves as mentor for the UA Mentor Institute of the Faculty Development Communities for Promotion program, helping junior faculty to start their career at the university.

Gayartri Vedantam

Professor and Associate Director of Research, School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences
College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences
Member, BIO5 Institute

Dr. Gayartri Vedantam has been incredibly influential in the fields of microbiology and immunology with her groundbreaking research and teaching. She has applied her unique skills in support of discovery and innovation and has helped foster collaboration between colleagues across the university and external partners. Gayartri readily empowers and supports others, and is a trusted colleague, devoted educator, and passionate mentor.

Ofelia Zepeda

Regents Professor, Tohono O'odham Language and Linguistics
Director, American Indian Language Development Institute
Affiliate Faculty, Department of American Indian Studies
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Throughout her academic career and beyond the campus community, Dr. Ofelia Zepeda has dedicated her work as a linguist to preserving and revitalizing indigenous languages and indigenous cultures. Her research and applied work include focus on language variation, language policy, issues around endangered languages and preservation. Her breadth of work and experience in the field of language revitalization guide our institution and the field. Professor Zepeda has been instrumental in mentoring at the university, at the Tohono O'odham Community College, and beyond.