2026 College Awards celebrate record-breaking faculty, staff
As facilities and programs grow, employees support a thriving student body.
Leadership award winner Cori Dennis poses with colleagues from the academic affairs office at the 2026 College of Engineering Awards luncheon.
The University of Arizona College of Engineering honored members of its community on March 25 for promoting academic success and administrative support, recognizing contributions to expanded programs and research spending.
“Many of you not only help this college move forward but thrive,” David W. Hahn, Craig M. Berge Dean of the college, told luncheon attendees.
College employees shore up Arizona’s academic-to-industry pipeline in key economic sectors. The School of Mining Engineering and Mineral Resources received $3 million in federal funding to build a pilot mineral processing facility aimed at strengthening the state’s mining workforce. The university also unveiled the Office of Research and Partnerships’ Nano Fabrication Center semiconductor cleanroom – housed in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering – where ECE faculty and student workers were instrumental in programming the augmented reality classroom.
Staff supported student success and met demand for skilled professionals by adapting the college’s Summer Engineering Academy to reflect regional economic trends.
“We have set all kinds of performance records on this campus, and it's all thanks to you,” Hahn said.
Staff steer student success
Since 2022, the Leadership award has recognized staff members or teams who guided successful college projects. This year, the award went to Cori Dennis, coordinator for high school outreach and summer programs.
“In a short time, Cori has made a remarkable impact on expanding access to engineering programs, creating inclusive and engaging experiences for students while building strong partnerships across Arizona,” said Kriss Pope, associate dean for finance and administration.
Under Dennis’s direction, the Summer Engineering Academy’s middle school camp attendance grew 30% from 2024 to 2025. In 2024, she raised SEA’s total enrollment from 120 to 353.
Mauro Oliveros, director of finance and administration in the Engineering Business Center North, received the Innovation award. Oliveros improved the Graduate Assistant offer letter process, giving the entire college a streamlined, automated system that cuts hours of work.
The Outstanding Advisor/Mentor award recognized Andrea Anduaga, senior academic advisor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering.
“She is known for her holistic, student-centered approach to advising,” said Kelly Potter, associate dean of academic affairs. “She promotes academic success and personal growth.”
The final honor – the William P. Cosart award – recognizes exemplary staff committed to service. Nominators described awardee David Hostetler, creative director of marketing and communications, as “outrageously creative, thoughtful, strategic, and open-minded.”
Hostetler, a graphic designer with extensive knowledge of website management, supports most of the college’s websites and creative campaigns, along with materials for outreach, alumni relations and student success.
Faculty lead research growth
Five awards celebrated faculty members conducting original research while inspiring emerging graduate students. Their efforts grew the college’s research spending by 160% over the last six years.
Hee-Jeong Kim, assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Mechanics, was honored with the Peterson Family Outstanding Early Career Faculty award.
“In just a few short years, she has established an impressive research record focused on sustainable infrastructure materials,” Hahn said.
Hahn and Mark Van Dyke, associate dean of research, presented additional faculty with these awards:
- Teacher of the Year – Tenure-Track: Elizabeth Hutchinson, assistant professor of BME
- Teacher of the Year – Career-Track: Cac Dao, professor of practice and adjunct lecturer of CAEM
- Researcher of the Year: Armin Sorooshian, University Distinguished Scholar and professor of chemical and environmental engineering
- Doctoral Dissertation Advisor/Mentor: Tomás Cerny, associate professor of ECE
College-wide awards
The Inclusion Excellence award recognizes a student or employee who champions these ideals while promoting college initiatives. Julia Potter, director of the Geotechnical Center for Excellence in SMEMR, received the award.
Nominators praised Potter for mentoring students while building relationships with industry partners to shape the center’s research priorities. Her accomplishments include an online professional development course for mining professionals that reached more than 3,000 people from 59 countries.
This year’s Wildcat Engineering Student Society Recognition of Excellence award went to the university’s Society of Women Engineers. SWE connects women engineers with career opportunities and mentorship. One program, Shadow a SWEster, pairs high school students interested in engineering with a SWE member for a day-long university tour.
Other acknowledgments
Hahn recognized faculty who distinguished themselves at the university this year.
University faculty awards:
- 2026 UA Alumni Extraordinary Alumni Faculty: Dr. Marvin Slepian, Regents Professor and associate department head of BME
- Distinguished Head/Director: Kimberly Ogden, chair and professor of CHEE
Hahn also announced that CAEM Professor Yao-Jan Wu was selected as the 2026 da Vinci Circle Fellow. Wu is the executive director of the Center for Applied Transportation Sciences and the Arizona Transportation Institute, a tri-university consortium backed by the Arizona Department of Transportation that conducts transportation research to improve the state’s roadways.
“He’s built powerful partnerships that unite the universities across the state, public agencies and industry,” Hahn said. “Advancing research that directly serves across Arizona and beyond.”
