Every year, the University of Arizona salutes a group of alumni for their achievements, public service, advocacy for education, volunteerism and service to students, the colleges and the university.
The University of Arizona Salutes the following individuals for their outstanding achievements.
Kathryn Bertine '00
College of Social Behavioral Sciences
Kathryn Bertine, who earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from the University of Arizona in 2000, is an author, filmmaker, athlete, CEO, and champion for gender equity in sports through her Tucson-based Homestretch Foundation. The foundation assists low-income female professional athletes with free housing, lessons in activism for eradicating salary inequality, and post-athletics career opportunities. Thanks in large part to Bertine’s advocacy, the first complete Tour de France for women in 33 years was held in 2022. As a professional cyclist, Bertine won six national championships and three Caribbean Champion awards. She also uses her nonfiction writing — including four books as well as regular columns for ESPN and espnW — and documentary filmmaking to raise awareness of gender-based obstacles and inequities. Her feature documentary, “Half the Road: The Passion, Pitfalls and Power of Women’s Professional Cycling,” garnered numerous film festival awards and theater screenings.
William L. Brown '66 *
College of Architecture, Planning & Landscape Architecture
William L. Brown graduated in 1966 from the University of Arizona, and in 1971, after returning to Houston and earning his Master of Architecture from Rice University, he became a licensed architect. He was a four-year baseball letterman at UArizona and went on to launch The Brownstone Group, a development and construction company that constructed 20,000 housing units across eight states. A loyal UArizona alumnus, Brown employed CAPLA alumni and advised CAPLA students. He also supported scholarships for student-athletes enrolled in the Bachelor of Architecture program and supported CAPLA’s acclaimed Design-Build and Master of Real Estate Development programs. Additionally, he endowed a scholarship for the College of Education in honor of his beloved wife, Nan, whom he met at UArizona. Brown passed away in July 2022.
Arnott K. Duncan III '82
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Arnott K. Duncan III is a fourth-generation Arizona farmer, advocate, industry partner and philanthropic supporter. Duncan earned degrees in agronomy and plant genetics from CALS in 1982. Three years later, he started Duncan Family Farms near Goodyear, and today the agritourism and food education business is a nationally recognized model for progressive and environmentally sensitive farming techniques that hosted tens of thousands of K-12 students each year for over a decade. Through Duncan Family Farms, Duncan established an endowed chair in extension fresh produce safety at CALS. Arnott and his wife, Kathleen, co-founded Educarte, a nonprofit in Sonora, Mexico that provides hundreds of children and their families a path out of poverty through education.
Dolores Durán-Cerda '93 '99
College of Humanities
Since earning both a master’s degree in Hispanic literature and a doctorate in Latin American literature from the University of Arizona, Dolores Durán-Cerda has dedicated her career to higher education. She started her teaching career at Arizona International College of the University of Arizona, which was known for its interdisciplinary and globally focused curriculum. After AIC closed, she joined the faculty at Pima Community College, where she taught for 10 years in the world languages department before moving into administrative roles. Today, she is PCC’s provost and executive vice chancellor. As provost, Dolores has focused on student success, community engagement and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Durán-Cerda gives back to the community by serving on national and state boards and advisory panels.
Gabriel S. Galanda '00
James E. Rogers College of Law
Gabriel S. Galanda graduated in 2000 from the Indigenous People’s Law and Policy Program at the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law. A member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes of California, Gabe is now one of the country’s leading Indigenous rights attorneys. As the managing lawyer at Galanda Broadman in Seattle, he navigates complex legal and political issues to defend Indigenous nations and businesses and to advocate for the rights of Indigenous citizens. Galanda also founded and operates Huy, a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing religious, cultural and rehabilitative opportunities for Native American prisoners. Gabe is a regular and generous donor to the College of Law and visits Tucson to meet with students and serve on the college’s Board of Visitors.
John E. Greivenkamp Jr. '79 '80 *
James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences
For three decades, John E. Greivenkamp Jr. was an exceptionally committed member of the University of Arizona’s optical sciences faculty. He earned master’s and doctoral degrees from UArizona. After graduation, he spent a decade with Eastman Kodak Research Labs before returning to the university to teach optical sciences. His research, most often conducted with his students, resulted in over 170 publications and presentations — which have garnered industry partnerships, over 4,500 citations, and more than 20 patents. Greivenkamp’s teaching style included the use of in-class demonstrations with a collection of antique telescopes and optical instruments. After years of building up this collection, John founded the college’s Museum of Optics, which now houses hundreds of devices and is named in his honor. In 2012, David Steed, a longtime friend who shared John’s enthusiasm for antique optics, established the John E. Greivenkamp Endowed Scholarship in Optical Sciences to support undergraduate students. Greivenkamp and his wife, Kay, also contributed to the scholarship. After valiantly prevailing in his battle with cancer for many years, Dr. Greivenkamp passed away in January 2022.
Michael Hummel '82
College of Engineering
Michael Hummel earned a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from the University of Arizona in 1982. Today, he is the general manager and chief executive officer of Salt River Project, one of the nation’s largest public power utilities, providing affordable power and water to more than 2 million people in central Arizona. A dedicated Wildcat, Hummel has remained closely connected to the university, serving on the Board of Trustees and the UA Engineering Partner Board, serving as a speaker, and donating to the College of Engineering Dean’s Fund. He also advocates for support for the university from Salt River Project, which sponsors research, offers student internships and employment opportunities, and funds the solar-tracker project that all first-year College of Engineering students participate in during Engineering 102. He contributes to his local community by serving on numerous community boards and in leadership initiatives.
Gerri S. Lamb '87
College of Nursing
Gerri S. Lamb, a scholar, researcher, and teacher, is a 1987 graduate of the College of Nursing’s Ph.D. program. She has had a long career in both academic and clinical settings, including teaching and research positions at the University of Rochester in New York and Emory University in Atlanta. In 2015, Dr. Lamb launched Arizona’s first Center for Interprofessional Practice, Education and Research at Arizona State University, where she was appointed professor emerita. In addition to her academic positions, Lamb was a senior administrator at Carondelet Health Network in Tucson for over a decade. As a UArizona faculty member, Dr. Lamb has served as mentor and dissertation chair for Ph.D. students and helped create unique Ph.D. curricula in health systems. As a scientist, she has successfully competed for research and training grants in critical health care areas like care coordination and high-performance teamwork. She is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in care coordination and interprofessional education.
Shelly C. Lowe '97 '05
W.A. Franke Honors College
Shelly C. Lowe is a citizen of the Navajo Nation who grew up in Ganado, Arizona. The first Native American Flinn Scholar, she earned a bachelor’s degree with honors from the University of Arizona in 1997, then a master’s degree in 2005. Shelly initially pursued a career in academia, where she quickly earned a reputation as a gifted teacher and educational leader. Beginning at UArizona’s American Indian Studies program, she later served as assistant dean and director of Yale’s Native American Cultural Center and executive director of Harvard’s Native American Program. In 2015, President Obama appointed Shelly to the National Council on the Humanities. In 2022, following her nomination by President Biden, a bipartisan Senate vote confirmed Shelly to serve as the chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Shelly also is a passionate advocate for Native American students and families. In addition to her professional roles, she has been a member of the National Indian Education Association and a trustee for the National Museum of the American Indian. Lowe has remained an ardent supporter of the university, serving on alumni and college boards.
Edgar J. McCullough Jr. '63
College of Science
In a career at the University of Arizona spanning over 30 years, Edgar J. McCullough Jr. made fundamental changes to the university’s approach to science education, transformed the geology program into a top-ranked program in geosciences and served as dean of the newly formed College of Science. McCullough joined the university faculty after earning his UArizona doctorate in geology in 1963. Throughout his tenure, he championed teaching methods designed to engage students and developed educational videos still remembered by former students and colleagues. After retiring from the university in 1997, McCullough turned his attention to a humanitarian concern: the deaths of migrants walking across the Arizona-Mexico border. To map the vast trail networks used by migrants, he personally hiked over 3,000 miles, using his knowledge of geosciences to identify and document the routes. Local organizations have used Ed’s mapping to make informed decisions about where to place water supplies, mitigating suffering and loss of life. One water station created by Humane Borders is dedicated to Ed in recognition of his work.
John F. Meyer '82
College of Fine Arts
Throughout his career as an award-winning creative director, marketer, strategist, writer and painter, John F. Meyer had the privilege of working with greats Steve Jobs, Sir Richard Branson, Heidi Klum and Guy Fieri to name a few. And has created hundreds of memorable campaigns for Fortune 50 and 100 companies. Before opening his own firm in Los Angeles in 2015, he worked for some of the world’s leading advertising agencies for clients like Apple, Taco Bell, Levi’s, Chevron, Pom Wonderful, TD Ameritrade, Virgin and Walgreens. In 2017, Meyer returned to the UArizona School of Art as an adjunct professor for a capstone illustration and design course. He's been mentioned in Adweek, Ad Age and Creativity and his work has been featured in Communication Arts, Shoot, Ad Age, Adweek, Brandweek, The New York Times and Print Magazine. To add to his numerous accomplishments, he's a judge and recognized speaker for national and international award shows. And he starred on AMC TV’s “The Pitch.” He also has donated his time, vision and imagination to non profits, The LA Epilepsy Foundation and the Prostate Cancer Foundation in Los Angeles.
Julianna Reece '96
Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health
Dr. Julianna Reece, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and a board-certified family medicine physician, has been serving Native communities for more than 20 years, through both primary care and policy work. Dr. Reece completed her MPH in community health in 1996 at the University of Arizona. Reece’s passion to show how culture is medicine in Native communities led to her current leadership position as the director of the Healthy Tribes Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. Julianna works with several programs that partner with Native communities to promote health and wellness and prevent disease using a culturally responsive approach. A visionary public health leader and passionate advocate for health equity for underserved populations, especially American Indian and Alaskan Native communities, Reece has improved health and wellness for so many tribal communities.
Marion K. Slack '89
R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy
Marion K. Slack arrived at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy in 1984 as a doctoral student and research associate. She earned her degree in 1989 and stayed with the college as an adjunct lecturer, then a research scientist, and eventually a professor. Slack’s research focus was on the management of chronic pain as well as reducing bias in research design. As an instructor, she taught both undergraduate and graduate students, focusing on study design and coordination of students’ senior research projects. Over the years, she supervised well over a hundred student projects and chaired or served on 55 graduate student committees. Slack endowed the Drs. Marion K. and Donald C. Slack Scholarship supporting five students each year.
Todd W. Vanderah '91 '95
College of Medicine - Tucson
Todd W. Vanderah – a teacher, researcher and academic – earned two degrees from the University of Arizona: a bachelor’s degree in molecular and cellular biology in 1991 and a doctorate in pharmacology and toxicology in 1995. He joined the faculty of the College of Medicine – Tucson in 1997, and today he is the co-director of the M.D./Ph.D. Dual Degree Program, head of the department of pharmacology, and interim director of the Comprehensive Pain and Addiction Center. He also is a professor in anesthesiology, neurology, and pharmacology and a member of the BIO5 Institute. Vanderah has received 29 teaching awards and has advised nearly 100 master’s and doctoral students. He has built his career on the study of opioids, looking for ways to manage pain without increasing the risk of addiction. His expertise has secured numerous grants and helped shape policy at the state and national levels. And he still finds time for community service and for participating on campus committees and in professional organizations.
Matthew J. Vining '06
Eller College of Management
Matthew J. Vining found his calling in the energy industry just a few years after he earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management. In 2012, he co-founded Navigator Energy Services, serving initially as its chief commercial officer and later as CEO. Vining led Navigator’s transformation from a napkin sketch concept into a crude oil gathering and transportation company that was ultimately acquired by NuStar Energy. Then, he used his pipeline technology and spun off another entrepreneurial startup to explore carbon capturing. With Vining at the helm, Navigator CO2 Ventures is now working on a plan to capture carbon emissions produced by agricultural processes before they reach the atmosphere.
* Designates posthumous award recipient