Celebrating Excellence: University of Arizona’s Triumphs and Honors

 

CCP publication among New York Times ‘Top Art Books’

The New York Times has recognized “Louis Carlos Bernal: Monografía,” featuring essays by Rebecca Senf, chief curator at the Center for Creative Photography, as one of its Top Art Books of 2024. This publication, co-released by the Center for Creative Photography, provides an academic perspective on the life and contributions of Bernal, well-known for his focus on Chicano communities in the Southwest.

In the book’s mention on the list, Holland Cotter, co-chief art critic for the New York Times, remarked that Bernal’s portrayals of vacant domestic spaces were particularly moving, referring to them as “images of political transfiguration.”

Senf has been a part of the Center for Creative Photography since 2017 and has served as its chief curator since 2016. She has authored several works, including “Reconstructing the View: The Grand Canyon Photographs of Mark Klett and Byron Wolfe” and “Making a Photographer: The Early Work of Ansel Adams.”

This book serves as a companion to the “Louis Carlos Bernal: Retrospectiva” exhibition, currently displayed at the Center for Creative Photography until March 15.

Discover more about the book in an article on the Arizona Arts website.

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Cokinos’ book included on several “best of 2024” lists

A publication by Christopher Cokinos, professor emeritus in the English department, has been recognized among the Best 100 Books of 2024 by the Toronto Globe and Mail and the Best Nonfiction Books of 2024 by Auraist, a site dedicated to publishing content on fiction and nonfiction writing. The book, “Still as Bright,” investigates the historical significance of the moon, covering everything from ancient beliefs to contemporary exploration.

Cokinos, who retired in 2023, was a primary mentor in the university’s Carson Scholars Graduate Program, aimed at preparing the next generation of environmental researchers for public communication. He also took on the role of crew commander for Imagination 1, a six-day simulated lunar mission with professional artists from the university working on creative tasks in a pressurized and sealed environment at Biosphere 2.

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Cavatorta receives Distinguished Service Award

Giuseppe “Beppe” Cavatorta, a faculty member in the Italian studies program, has been honored with the 2024 Distinguished Service Award from the American Association of Teachers of Italian. This national accolade acknowledges AATI members for exceptional teaching or published research in Italian language, literature, and culture, and is awarded annually in two divisions: college/university and K-12.

Cavatorta joined the university in 2007 and his research delves into experimental narratives, Italian futurism, World War II in literature and film, along with translation theory and practice.

The American Association of Teachers of Italian, founded in 1924, is an international organization dedicated to the promotion, advancement, and preservation of the study of Italian language, literature, and culture. The association presented the award to Cavatorta in November.

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Carney receives award for medical anthropology article

Megan Carney, associate professor in the School of Anthropology, along with two collaborators, has been awarded the 2024 Steven Polgar Professional Paper Prize from the Society for Medical Anthropology. This award is given to a professional medical anthropologist for the finest paper published in the Society’s Medical Anthropology Quarterly journal during the last complete volume year.

Carney and her co-authors were recognized for their paper “There Would Be More Black Spaces: Care/giving Cartographies During COVID-19,” which examines how Black residents of Tucson navigated and resisted racism amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the detrimental effects of systemic racism on health results.

Carney, who has been with the university since 2017, focuses on various subjects including migrant health, societal reproduction, and the politics surrounding communal care. She also leads the university’s Center for Regional Food Studies.

The Society for Medical Anthropology is an international organization committed to the field and practice of medical anthropology, utilizing the study of human societies and cultures to comprehend health, disease, treatment, and care.

The prize includes a cash award of $250.

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Four university staff members make ‘Next Gen Leaders’ list

BizTucson has recognized four university personnel on its 2025 “Next Gen Leaders” list, which celebrates “the upcoming generation of talents propelling our region into the future.” The featured employees on the list, which is part ofof the publication’s winter 2025 issue, are listed below.

• Dr. Bethany Bruzzi, Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine
• Frank Camp, Executive Director of Brand Strategy, Marketing and Brand Management
• Casey Carrillo, Executive Director, University of Arizona Center for Innovation
• Emilia Eldridge, Human Resources and Organizational Development Manager, Human Resources

BizTucson is a print and digital publication providing coverage of business developments in Southern Arizona. Since 2021, the magazine has annually released “Next Gen Leaders” lists.

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We are eager to hear about your positive news. If you, your team, or a colleague has received any significant awards, been recognized on a national or international scale, or achieved some other remarkable accomplishment that warrants acknowledgment, please inform us by completing this submission form.

Kindly be ready to provide the following details:

• The name of the individual, team, or unit being honored along with their complete university titles.
• Details regarding the award/honor and the institution that bestowed it. Please include a link to the official announcement of the award/honor.
• The date the honor was announced and when it will be awarded (or was awarded).
• A photograph of the honoree. If other individuals are in the photograph, please include their names and identifying details, such as their university title or other affiliation.

Have questions? Reach out to Lo Que Pasa at uaatwork@arizona.edu.