“What started as a small initiative has, under Heather Melton’s guidance, blossomed into a full-fledged major that currently has around 700 students who are either majoring or working on the certificate in Criminology. This growth is a direct result of their innovative vision, tireless work and ability to build relationships across departments. The success of the criminology major speaks volumes about Heather Melton’s dedication and their ability to anticipate both academic trends and the needs of the student body.”

“Endres’ mentorship, university relationship building and teaching has created a culture of students, staff and faculty that contribute to scholarly work that benefits community partners and embodies the university mission. Ultimately, the work of Dr. Danielle Endres serves as a model of how academic scholarship and teaching can lead to positive, lasting community impacts while advancing the fields of communication and environmental humanities.”

“In her career that is now approaching five decades at the University of Utah, Professor Francis has demonstrated an enduring commitment to service both inside and outside the university that goes well beyond the typical role of a faculty member. Her volunteer work has benefited some of the most vulnerable members of Utah’s population, as well as members of our scholarly community on campus and nationwide.”

“Dr. Salari has taught at the University of Utah for 30 years and during this time, she has made substantial contributions through her public and community service and through the integration of service with her research and teaching.”

“Dr. Salari exemplifies the integration of teaching, research and service in a way that improves our academic community, but also extends far beyond our campus, creating meaningful impacts on our community and society. Sonia is passionate about family and intimate partner violence education and prevention. Her research, teaching, and service often center around this issue.”

“Dr. Fino’s mentorship extends far beyond academic guidance—he promotes an inclusive, intellectually stimulating and supportive environment that empowers students, postdoctoral researchers and colleagues to thrive…. He not only advances their academic and professional success but also fosters resilience, curiosity and collaboration.”

“His students and postdocs praise him as a deeply caring mentor who builds a respectful community of scholars providing help and support as needed but at the same time encouraging personal growth and independence. He has often gone above and beyond in providing support for his mentees even years after they graduated and left the University of Utah. He has published about 60 papers and almost all his publications in the last 25 years include either a graduate student or postdoc (or both) as a co-author.”

“Matt has built a culture that is uniquely focused on collaborative science with the concept that diverse contributions (both scientifically and culturally) are required to work on difficult interdisciplinary research problems. This is illustrated by his publication record and grant support wherein he currently belongs to three large research centers and has worked with >30 research groups spanning industry and academia.”

“Dr. Uchino has been making major theoretical and methodological advances in our understanding of social support and its influence on physical health, emotional adjustment and overall well-being.”

“Through his very visible and influential research and scholarship, as well as his tireless and extensive efforts in teaching, mentorship and service, Prof. Uchino has made outstanding contributions to our department, college, university and the broader field for 30 years.”

“Over the past decade, Brent has emerged as an internationally recognized scholar of international relations (IR). He has published an astounding body of scholarship: four solo-authored books, oneco-authored book, five edited volumes, 49 journal articles (29 single-authored), and 33 book chapters (17 single-authored).”

“It is evident to us that Brent is a remarkable colleague. Over the past 10 years he has brought incredible energy to our department and to the discipline as a scholar, teacher and leader. We can think of no one more deserving of the honor of distinguished professor.”

“Dr. Solomon is internationally known for his work in the field of hydrology, and his contributions—to his field, to his students, to his colleagues, to the university community, to the region and to the world at large—exemplify the kind of individual, distinguished excellence that merits special recognition by the University of Utah.”

“Dr. Solomon’s novel methods have been applied to such diverse water management problems as groundwater dating and recharge; water de-gassing in rivers and streams; direct measurements of seepage into rivers; and, using the differential solubility relationships of different gases with temperature, determining recharge rates at different altitudes in mountainous regions like the Wasatch.”

“Hamid’s research career has had an exceptional impact in the design and development of biomaterials for delivery of bioactive agents and on the toxicology of engineered nanoconstructs.”

“I believe that the prominence and significance of Dr. Ghandehari’s research, teaching and service at the national, international and local levels warrant every consideration for promotion to the rank of distinguished professor. He is beyond tireless in his pursuit of excellence and dedication to the U and to his profession.”

“Professor Contreras is an internationally renowned thought leader who exemplifies the highest levels of scholarship and research while exhibiting a strong dedication to teaching, mentoring and public service. His voluminous work at the intersections of intellectual property, antitrust law and public policy has been cited by courts and governmental agencies in the United States, Europe and elsewhere and has had far-reaching impact in the public sphere.”

“To my knowledge, no other social or behavioral science researcher at the University of Utah received a Cancer Moonshot award during the initial funding cycle. While the amount of funding is impressive, I would argue that receiving funding under such a prestigious and public funding mechanism—to do work that actively innovates and provides thought leadership about cancer research—is evidence of a breakthrough achievement. Even more impressive is that Dr. Kaphingst’s award was funded in the initial round of projects, signaling its perceived importance by the funding agency. By receiving a Cancer Moonshot award, Dr. Kaphingst firmly established herself as an international leader in cancer communication research.”

“Dr. Wilcox has been a highly successful member of the faculty at the University of Utah since 1998. Over that time, she has contributed significant advances to the field of epilepsy research, rising through the ranks to become a renowned expert and thought leader in the field. Further, she has not only helped bring new therapies to patients with epilepsy and developed innovative approaches to understanding epileptogenesis, she also has championed the training of the next generation of scientists in this field, in particular women and individuals from traditionally underrepresented groups. For all of these reasons, Dr. Wilcox is highly deserving of this recognition.”

“Dr. Rutter’s many awards and recognition are listed on his CV, and include being named an HHMI Investigator, a UU Distinguished Professor, numerous keynote lectures, and a Searle Scholar Award. What may be less obvious is just how much service he does and how he elevates everything he touches. He has been a great community leader here at the University of Utah, where he serves as co-leader of the HCI Nuclear Control of Cell Growth and Differentiation Group and co-director of the very successful Diabetes and Metabolism Research Center. He is also a leader in the scientific community, where he was elected to the Governing Council of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and has organized six international meetings; and in the commercialization space, where he has helped many UU investigators to make industry connections and has started five companies himself.”

“The impact of John’s research has and continues to have an impact on not only a national but also a global scale. It will facilitate the long-term implementation of reliable and safe renewable energy resources and will assist humankind in countering our contributions to climate change.”

“Dr. John McLennan is a truly exceptional scientist and engineer. Much like his pre-University of Utah work, his new avenues of research at the UofU, evident in the range and scope of FORGE, will without question have a transformative impact on society by opening much needed pathways to combat global warming through sustainable energy technologies.”

“Dr. Imel’s academic productivity is exceptional by any standard. Since joining the University of Utah in 2011, he has published 84 peer-reviewed articles, nine book chapters and 19 peer-reviewed conference proceedings. His work has garnered 16,183 citations, with an H-index of 54 and an I 10 index of 93. These metrics reflect the breadth and depth of his scholarship and its influence across disciplines.”

“The societal impact of Dr. Imel’s work cannot be overstated. By addressing barriers to effective mental health care, particularly for underserved populations, his research has directly contributed to improving the human condition.”

“Tom Quinn exemplifies the qualities of an exemplary educator. His achievements, dedication to student success and remarkable popularity among learners combine to make him an exceptionally positive influence on our school community, and I am confident that Tom will continue to make a lasting impact on our university well into the future.”

“His innovative work demonstrates both creative and scholarly brilliance, establishing him as an internationally recognized leader in his field. Dr. Manternach is a master of effective pedagogy, providing students at every level with attainable learning processes and outcomes that are both inspiring and rigorously delivered.”

“Jennifer creates a stimulating and inclusive classroom and lab environment where students can thrive as they develop their skills. Through hands-on learning with state-of-the-art nanofabrication facilities, electron microscopy, surface analysis labs and optical spectroscopy, she ensures that students not only understand complex theoretical concepts but also apply them practically. Her dedication to teaching extends beyond imparting knowledge—she inspires students to take ownership of their learning and research projects, fostering independence and critical thinking.”

“Professor Macfarlan invests students into the cultures and their struggles by making the people real by sharing personal stories and histories. He asks students to seek the culture in any way that they can to understand the many beautiful cultures around the world. In this way, Dr. Macfarlan is not only preparing his students to reach great heights in their fields of study but also to walk through the world with more compassion and tolerance.”

“Dr. Brownson actively creates an environment where students feel safe asking questions and practicing their surgical skills. She embodied patience as I practiced my skills, often with the speed of a snail, all the while remaining positive and supportive. She is excellent at setting clear expectations and is committed to helping students meet them. She communicates well and can adapt and change her language if something doesn’t make sense. She is thoughtful with feedback, able to identify areas of excellence and suggest ways a student can grow. Most importantly though, she also considers herself a learner, taking every opportunity to learn from students and grow alongside us.”

“Lindsey is far more than just a compassionate professor; she is extremely dedicated and hardworking. Not only is she committed to her students throughout the semester—providing extraordinarily thorough feedback on even small assignments like writing exercises and offering unique insights and structures for conversations about readings—she is also available to her students above and beyond the class in question.”

“Within Dr. George’s research lab, his mentorship demonstrates his innovative, student-centered approach. With his space being housed within the Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital, Dr. George leverages that and champions interdisciplinary collaboration across researchers and various healthcare professionals. This helps create an environment where diverse perspectives are sought out, ensuring that our research efforts are centered around patient needs.”

“One fact that is incredible to me is that Dr. Huebner has developed, from scratch, four new classes in his time here at the University of Utah (and will get to develop more), and all of them were perceived as exceptional by the students. Since these new classes were developed from essentially nothing, it is somewhat incredible that they were so well received.”

“Sara’s dedication to teaching and mentorship makes her an exceptional candidate for this award. I’ve seen firsthand how she inspires her students, fosters a caring environment, and goes the extra mile to ensure that everyone has the support they need.”

“Professor Malik’s innovative teaching style, paired with her exceptional personality and ability to connect with students as equals rather than as subordinates, has earned her immense respect within the business student community.”

“Dr. Sherrill has the academic knowledge and instructional skills to professionally teach advanced collegiate material. He is also tactful and respectful in his interactions with his students. For instance, in Advanced Formal Procedures there is an important and controversial topic that is necessary to contextualize and discuss. Dr. Sherrill handled this aspect of music theory with great care and allowed for a safe environment in his classroom, enabling his students to have a vital discussion which enriched my learning experience.”

"I have had several peers enjoy his teaching style throughout his classes. I have heard nothing but positive feedback, and I am under the expectation that many people seek out other classes he teaches just to have a class under him again."

"Eric Robertson is very passionate about the growth of each student when it comes to their writing but also outside of it. Robertson is willing to listen to each student and give his thoughtful opinion/feedback in a very welcoming environment."

“The post-production sound studio, where video footage and recorded audio are synched, mixed, and processed to complete the final cut of a film, is a fundamental tool for professional filmmakers. The completion of Film and Media Arts Department’s Sound Room—the only space on campus dedicated to audiovisual mixing—will enhance the university’s profile in film, video, media arts and communications. This project will support development of pedagogical materials and methods to ensure best use of FMAD’s updated facilities.”

“…participation in the Fall 2025 Land Arts of the American West program promises a unique and radical expansion of my interdisciplinary knowledge, experience with, and ultimately pedagogy about the possibilities and challenges of land arts past and present. I am extremely excited and committed to this possibility and to the ways it promises to enhance my teaching at the University of Utah.”

“Seyyed Sharifi’s commitment to his students, creative teaching methods and dedication to nurturing academic growth set him apart as an exceptional educator in Granite School District. Motivated by his parents’ legacy, his passion for teaching embodies his belief in the power of education to transform lives. By creating a classroom environment rooted in resilience, empathy and a deep appreciation for learning, Mr. Sharifi empowers his students and motivates his colleagues.”

“Dr. Gupta has a history in UITE of leveraging her own professional development and scholarship to bring transformative change and transformational programming to UITE. While the knowledge many professors gain from attending conferences and professional development sessions stays siloed within their own classes or research projects, Dr. Gupta invariably translates what she learns into innovative program proposals and practical improvements that benefit all our UITE students and the teachers and students in our P-12 partner schools.”

“Shane is deeply committed to demystifying science and to broadening access to scientific research for undergraduate students, especially among under-represented groups such as women, BIPOC populations and individuals with low socioeconomic status. In all his courses, students learn how to ask questions, locate and collect data, interpret results and write up their findings for multiple audiences. Many students have continued their research with Shane outside the classroom primarily through UROP or Independent Research. Specifically, Shane has sponsored 26 UROP students across 38 UROP projects in the past five years alone (Spring 2019-Fall 2024). Shane also routinely includes undergraduate students as collaborators in the research he submits for publication.”

“Dr. Watt…exemplifies a profound commitment and dedication to undergraduate research mentoring while conducting her work in developing and evaluating behavioral and health systems interventions aimed at improving population health and reducing health disparities for individuals with stigmatized health conditions. Since she was recruited to the university in 2020, Dr. Watt has demonstrated a remarkable track record of mentoring undergraduate students, having mentored or co-mentored 10 undergraduates on her research team. Her mentor-mentee relationship has yielded significant outcomes, with nearly all mentored students successfully securing funding from the University Research Opportunity Program (UROP), many completing honors theses and several contributing to peer-reviewed manuscripts.”