Meet the 2024 Alumni of the Year

August and Gina share a passion for design and a commitment to giving back through the Benzien Family Travel Scholarship, which supports the next generation of designers.

After graduating at the top of his class from the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law, Kevin Boyle held the prestigious role of law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist.

By any measure, Roberta Diaz Brinton represents the very pinnacle of scientific achievement. Her list of accomplishments is rivaled only by the lists of her accolades and of her service to the university and the national scientific community.

Ronald (Ron) Butler grew up in the small mining town of San Manuel, Arizona. As a teenager, he was fortunate to land an office job with the mining company where his father worked, where he eventually received a scholarship to attend the University of Arizona, becoming the first in his family to go to college.

In successful careers in both the fashion and information technology industries, Karen has proven herself as a leader, innovator and mentor, all while generously giving back to the university and her community.

After earning a bachelor’s in political science from the University of Arizona in 1975, Carol Dorsey became involved in regional politics, working at the Pima Association of Governments and serving on the City of Tucson land use planning committee.

Zoe Diana Draelos, considered one of the most influential women in cosmetic science, was the 2019 inaugural recipient of the Florence Wall Award from the Society of Cosmetic Chemists.

Christopher Goettl knew from a young age that he wanted to be part of the future of medicine. Today, he is a board-certified interventional radiologist who performs a variety of cutting-edge, minimally invasive image-guided procedures.

During her celebrated career as a public artist, Barbara Grygutis has been commissioned to create over 75 large-scale works throughout North America and internationally.

Jonathan Katz earned a bachelor’s in education from the University of Arizona in 1981. After beginning his career in the classroom, he opened a niche business that supports the needs of classroom educators.

Through advocacy and innovation, John Musil has dedicated his career to advancing the field of pharmacy.

Linda Perlich, known as Mac, earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Arizona in 1975. She began her career at Pima County Hospital and then, while studying for her master’s degree, transitioned to Amphitheater High School.

A public health epidemiologist, Dr. Mary Roary has worked on both infectious and chronic disease prevention. Throughout her career she has been a champion for behavioral health access and health equity.

Kent B. Rochford, Ph.D., is widely recognized for his outstanding contributions to the field of optics, spanning both technical and scientific individual contributions and a high-impact career in executive-level leadership roles advocating for scientific research and education.

Today, he is a diagnostic radiology specialist, an expert in prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment, and a generous supporter and friend of the College of Humanities. He is a model for how humanities education can support excellence and make the world a better place.

Mindy and Mark Zeitzer both earned undergraduate degrees with honors from the University of Arizona, and both have gone on to careers marked by impressive professional accomplishments in health care as well as profound commitments to the communities they serve.