Nine SBS Faculty Receive 2024 University of Arizona Women of Impact Awards

Sept. 23, 2024
Anna Lineberry
Photo montage on a red background of nine faculty award winners

The College of SBS congratulates faculty Andrea Gerlak, Simin Karimi, Josephine Korchmaros, Maha Nassar, Lori Poloni-Staudinger, Jessica Retis, Stacey Tecot, Stephanie Troutman Robbins, and Ada Wilkinson-Lee for receiving the 2024 Women of Impact Award from the Office of Research, Innovation & Impact.

2024 Women of Impact

The Women of Impact campaign, led by the Office of Research, Innovation & Impact, or RII, was established to embrace and empower women at the University of Arizona who are working towards establishing a more equitable, brighter future. Every year, RII solicits nominations from across the university. Candidates are assessed based on their commitment to the university’s purpose, mission, and values as well as their skills in discovery in innovation, community impact, and their willingness to empower others. RII selects 30 faculty and staff members every year whose recognition in their fields and expertise advances the University of Arizona’s status as a Research I, land-grant institution.

Andrea Gerlak
Professor, School of Geography, Development & Environment

Woman with short blonde hair in front of a red background

Andrea Gerlak, professor in the School of Geography, Development & Environment, is a senior fellow with the Earth System Governance network and serves on several committees, including the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona’s Water Conservation Grant Committee and the City of Tucson’s Citizens’ Water Advisory Committee.

Gerlak also serves as the director of the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy where she is focused on environmental and Indigenous governance issues. She founded the Mo’s Policy Scholars mentorship program for undergraduates, where she supports students' personal and professional growth. Her advocacy for women researchers and scientists and commitment to mentorship exemplify the university's values of compassion and adaptability.

In her letter of support, Udall Center Research Scientist Gina Gilson wrote of her enthusiasm for and confidence in Gerlak’s abilities. “Her unwavering commitment to collaboration, inclusion, and excellence in research not only advances her field but also enriches the lives of those with whom she works . . . She is truly deserving of this honor.”

Simin Karimi
Professor Emerita, Department of Linguistics

Woman with short light brown hair and a scarf sits in front of a red background

Simin Karimi is a professor emerita in the Department of Linguistics. She was the Elahé Omidyar Mir-Djalali Professorship in Iranian Linguistics. Karimi specializes in theoretical syntax and researches the syntax and morphology of various Iranian languages. Karimi’s research centers on syntactic topics within the Chomskyan theoretical framework, with a focus on the Minimalist Program. Her research includes control constructions, ellipsis, and the syntax and semantics of complex predicates. In addition to co-editing six books, Karimi is on the editorial board of three journals in both the U.S. and Iran.

Karimi led the National Science Foundation-supported Iranian Linguistics Research Group, consisting of faculty members and students at UArizona studying linguistic properties of Iranian languages, including Balochi, Ossetian, Pashto, Persian and Sorani-Kurdish.
 

Josephine Korchmaros
Director, Southwest Institute for Research on Women

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Josephine Korchmaros is the director of the Southwest Institute for Research on Women. As an expert in social psychology, she provides training and assistance to projects that focus on underserved populations.

Her research has focused on treatment models; reduction of risk behaviors; addressing group-based (e.g., culture and gender identification) health disparities; and system and policy improvement in such areas as sexual health, substance use, and justice-involvement. Korchmaros’ involvement in grant-funded research projects has resulted in her work being published in various publications and journals. She led the Southwest Institute for Research on Women’s evaluation of the Tucson Police Department’s Deflection Program.

In 2023, the Pima County Community Prevention Coalition honored the institution with an award recognizing its exceptional service. Korchmaros’ commitment to the institute has demonstrated how her mentorship and collaboration skills have positively impacted many individuals.

“Jo has significantly contributed for nearly 20 years to the University of Arizona’s identity as a world-class research enterprise,” wrote Alison Greene, associate researcher for SIROW. "She is a remarkable researcher and faculty member whose contributions are far-reaching and meaningful. Without question, she is a woman of impact.”

Maha Nassar
Associate Professor, Middle Eastern and North African Studies

A woman with a turquoise hijab and black jacket sits in front of a red background

Maha Nassar is an associate professor of Middle Eastern and North African Studies in the School of Global Studies. As a cultural historian, her research focused on Palestinian history has been recognized locally, nationally, and internationally.

Her first book, Brothers Apart: Palestinian Citizens of Israel and the Arab World received a 2018 Palestine Book Award. Nassar’s dedication to important public policy conversations and her capability to translate complicated histories resulted in her receiving a College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Research Institute Faculty Professorship in 2021.

Nassar’s community engagement contributed to this recognition. As a mentor, she works with doctoral students in other colleges as well as international students. When students turned to Nassar for help establishing a cultural center, she consulted with university leadership to begin necessary steps. Nassar’s values of inclusion and integrity closely align with those of the U of A. 

“She is a transformative researcher and mentor, with a careful and impactful dedication to local, national, and international outreach around critically important topics,” wrote Mahmoud Azaz, director of the Center for Middle East Studies. “We are so fortunate to have her on our campus as a scholar and teacher and a wise and eminent public voice.”

Lori Poloni-Staudinger
Dean, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

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Lori Poloni-Staudinger currently serves as dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and as a professor in the School of Government and Public Policy. Since joining the university, she has made significant contributions that have benefited both SBS and the University of Arizona.

“In her first two years in her role, she has helped land over $20 million in giving to the college,” wrote Alex Braithwaite, director of the School of Government and Public Policy. “These donor funds have enabled the establishment of a growing number of named chairs, student fellowships and scholarships, and community engagement activities.”

Poloni-Staudinger’s research on social movements, political violence, and women in politics has been published in various academic and popular media outlets, including the Washington Post. Most recently, she co-edited the book The Palgrave Handbook of Fashion and Politics. Her outstanding work has earned her many awards. including a Distinguished Fulbright Fellowship at the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna, Austria and a Kettering Foundation Fellowship. Her enthusiasm for collaboration and mentorship has led to significant advancements in SBS and has positively impacted the university as a whole.

Braithwaite added, “Community engagement lies at the heart of much of Lori’s professional and personal lives. In her role as dean, she has centralized and expanded alumni, and donor and community relations, recognizing their central importance to helping elevate the college’s strategic plan and overall reputation. These efforts have already paid dividends.”

Jessica Retis
Director, School of Journalism

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Jessica Retis is the director of the School of Journalism and of the school’s Masters in Bilingual Journalism program. Her research focuses on Latino and Hispanic media in the country, examining the complex issues of power, identity, and representation within the media.

Retis joined the U of A in 2019 and was later awarded funding through the Provost's Investment Fund, which helped her launch the M.A. in Bilingual Journalism. In 2021, Retis was recognized as a CUES Distinguished Fellow for her research, Bilingual Journalism Education in the United States: Development, Implementation, and Assessment.

As the academic at-large representative for the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), she advanced the organization’s vision by advocating for inclusivity and equitable representation in both classrooms and newsrooms. Retis’ enthusiasm for collaboration and mentorship is evident in her continuous support for students and her involvement in the University's Latinx Faculty and Staff Association.

“Dr. Retis embodies the core mission and values of the university through her dynamic work in cultural areas and journalism research and practice, focusing much of her work on diversity, equity, and inclusion,” SBS Dean Lori Poloni-Staudinger said.

Stacey Tecot
Associate Professor, School of Anthropology

Woman with long red hair sits in front of a red background

Stacey Tecot — an associate professor in the School of Anthropology — is also the director of the school's Laboratory for the Evolutionary Endocrinology of Primates.

Tecot's international work has taken her to the Ranomafana National Forest in Madagascar, where she has studied red-bellied lemurs since 2000 and directs the Ranomafana Red-Bellied Lemur Project. Along with 41 journal articles and book chapters, she co-developed and contributed to a primatology textbook published by Oxford University Press and has received over $4.7 million in grant funding. Check out this video on her work.

Tecot has impacted SBS through engaging with communities and mentoring students. She fosters professionalism in her students by involving them in her research — including them in conference presentations, and co-authoring publications.

“Stacey Tecot truly embodies our mission and values through her impactful scholarship, collaboration, community engagement, and mentoring,” SBS Dean Lori Poloni-Staudinger said.

Stephanie Troutman Robbins
Head, Department of Gender and Women’s Studies and Associate Professor, Department of English 

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Stephanie Troutman Robbins is the head of the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies in the School of Global Studies and an associate professor in the Department of English. She has been recognized for her impressive work in mentorship, student advocacy, and social justice leadership.

As the former director of two outreach programs and having a passion for working with marginalized students, Troutman Robbins has received numerous awards, including the 2017 UA Likins Award, the 2017 Student Affairs Faculty Impact Award, and the 2019 Dr. Maria Teresa Velez Outstanding Mentor Award.

Troutman Robbins has co-authored and edited two books, based on her research interests in building literacy in social justice, feminist pedagogy, critical race theory, film studies, and Black feminist theory.

“Dr. Troutman Robbins' engagement with graduate and undergraduate students as a mentor demonstrates her character and the Arizona values of compassion, inclusion, and determination,” SBS Dean Lori Poloni-Staudinger said.

Ada Wilkinson-Lee
Associate Professor, Department of Mexican American Studies

Woman with long brown curly hair sits in front of red background

Ada Wilkinson-Lee is an associate professor in the Department of Mexican American Studies and co-principal investigator in the Arizona Prevention Research Center. Through her research and outreach, she has made countless contributions to the Latine community.

Wilkinson-Lee’s research concentrates on underserved border communities whose members are struggling with healthcare service disparities. Her commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice are reflected throughout her work, and her support of community members, graduate students, and colleagues. 

Wilkinson-Lee's passion for mentoring students is demonstrated through her publications, many of which feature contributions from graduate students. This involvement allows the students to develop essential research skills, preparing them for success in their future careers.

“Her work is exemplary, worthy of emulation, and provides solid evidence of our institution’s commitment to serving the state’s populations,” wrote department head of Mexican American studies Anna Ochoa O’Leary. “Honoring this work with a recognition of this prestige and magnitude validates the tremendous efforts needed to organize and execute impactful outcomes while bringing distinction to our institution, the college, and our department, the region, and the state.”