ALVSCE Difference Makers

Do you know a colleague in the Division of Agriculture, Life and Veterinary Sciences, and Cooperative Extension who has shown courage, humanitarianism, selflessness, innovation, or simply inspired you and others? This is the place to share their story, and to read about others across our division who are making a positive difference in ways big and small.

Nominate a Difference Maker Today!

Betsy Greene, ACBS and Extension-Equine

Oct. 19, 2022

Colleague Cathy Martinez praised Greene's Cooperative Extension programming for always being "engaging and innovative."

Greene is a professor of practice in ACBS and an equine specialist in Cooperative Extension.

"People always learn so much from her," Martinez, Pinal County Extension Director, added. "But right now I'm thinking of her in the context of the Difference Maker nomination as she is working so hard with a great team of Extension Agents and staff, and a great group of 4-H volunteers, to launch the first post-COVID State 4-H Horse Show. This event takes a lot of planning, investment of time, and leadership on Betsy's part to be successful and ensure youth participating are safe, learn a great deal, and are able to demonstrate what they have been learning and skills they've developed in their Equine projects. Betsy, and the entire team she has assembled, are making a great deal of difference to youth from across Arizona. Thanks, Betsy, for making a difference!!"

Esther Turner, Pinal County Cooperative Extension

Sept. 27, 2022

Turner is a senior program coordinator for developmental/sensory screening, parenting education, and 4-H Youth Development in the Pinal County Cooperative Extension Office. Her colleague, Maria Melendez, said Turner “does everything with a smile and a positive attitude, even when things seem not to come out as planned.” Melendez added, “Esther truly deserves this recognition for her dedication and hard work over the many years with Pinal County Extension. She has worked on growing many programs in our community. She loves everything she does for Extension and those who benefit from it. Esther is constantly looking to better each of her programs and help those families in need. She works hard, very dedicated to what she does on a daily basis. Esther has a passion for Cooperative Extension and always supporting other programs, colleagues, staff and faculty. She is always very enthusiastic to be part of team building, office activities and much more! Esther deserves this Award for these reasons and many more. The University of Arizona, Cooperative Extension Office in Pinal County is lucky to have her be part of the team!”

Laurel Jacobs, Nutritional Sciences & Wellness

Sept. 23, 2022

Jacobs, an assistant research professor in Nutritional Sciences & Wellness, was praised by colleague Theresa LeGros for bringing passion, patience, persistence, and grace to her project leadership. “Dr. Jacobs is our evaluation team leader, but she is so much more than that!” LeGros noted.

“Years ago, when we first became contracted as external evaluators for Arizona's SNAP-Ed program, Laurel used her passion for public health programming to advance equity in SNAP-Ed programs by helping the Arizona Department of Health Services to dive deep into the realm of Policy, Systems, and Environment (PSE) change. This was no easy task for a program historically centered in direct nutrition education. But with a keen sense of social justice, Laurel recognized the pivotal role that PSE change plays in advancing equity for underserved communities. She shaped our evaluation team's direction in a way that also helped to shape the Arizona SNAP-Ed program's PSE expansion. Over time, amid new societal calls for more meaningful equity, Laurel has continued to evolve our team, including its influence on and our ability to support the state's SNAP-Ed program. Laurel's passion for the integration of trauma-informed approaches (TIAs) into programs like SNAP-Ed is again helping to reshape the program in a way that, eventually, can--and I believe, will--enhance equity in many of Arizona's SNAP-Ed-supported communities. As an evaluator, Laurel is farther removed from these communities than our wonderful SNAP-Ed extension staff that work directly with residents, yet the impact of her work has and will continue to reach those residents. These days, Laurel leads statewide evaluations of Arizona SNAP-Ed's community engagement and TIA efforts, continuing to inspire at the state, university, and local level in innovative and impactful ways. But what motivates her? With Laurel, it is easy to wonder because she shares modestly . The thing is, because she doesn't often tell her stories, people listen in those rare moments when she does. Two years ago, when Arizona SNAP-Ed launched a program cycle newly founded in equity, engagement, and trauma awareness, I remember that--in rare form-- Laurel did share a part of herself. She described a time in Mexico when a community special to her experienced a very deep, very significant historical trauma. She didn't describe what they experienced, but rather how that experience influenced her own development. She made a real connection to the question, why equity in SNAP-Ed? And she was authentic--a witness to something she found unacceptable. Or at least that's the way I heard it. And sometimes when I wonder why I dedicate such a big part of my life to our evaluation team, I remember Laurel's inspirational message, shared like a gift she didn't even mean to give."

Gabrielle Sykes-Casavant, Career and Academic Services

May 20, 2021

Sykes-Casavant, Assistant Director, of Student Engagement and Retention, was nominated by Mike Staten, Bart Cardon Associate Dean for Career and Academic Services, who noted her commitment to student success since joining CALS in 2016, and her efforts to deliver student services after the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

"Since joining CALS in 2016 as our inaugural Coordinator of 100% Engagement Programs, Gabrielle has done more than any other individual to bring about a culture change within CALS that puts substance behind the 'CALS is Family' slogan," Staten said.

Sykes-Casavant enhanced student engagement (through courses, clubs and student events), improved student communication channels, identified skill gaps in professional staffing and worked to fill them through key new hires, and nurtured CALS relationships with external partners. Significantly, she operationalized student engagement activities as an explicit part of CALS student retention strategy, a component that had been absent from the strategy prior to her arrival. Perhaps most important, she took the initiative to identify a need and create a solution to address it.

The abrupt conversion to online delivery in March 2020 dealt Gabrielle a challenge to match anyone else’s in the college: to keep students engaged and preserve our hard-won sense of community through the second half of the Spring 2020 semester, through summer virtual orientations for new students, and – for the large majority of CALS students – continued online delivery and no in-person activities through Fall 2020 and most of Spring 2021. She delivered admirably on these tasks, especially in organizing and directing two memorable virtual convocations and establishing a weekly tempo of electronic communications with students. Most recently, on May 13, 20201 she orchestrated the first joint graduation convocation outdoors in Arizona Stadium with President Robbins and Provost Folks in attendance, making adjustments to the program throughout the week to address technical challenges, and executing flawlessly.

"This past year has truly been one in which her skill sets and creativity shined bright! I rest easier knowing that she is constantly surveying our student support programs and looking for ways to improve them. I am honored to have Gabrielle Sykes-Casavant as a colleague," Staten added.

Ming-Min Lee, School of Plant Sciences

March 27, 2021

Ming is a Research Specialist, Laboratory Technician I in the School of Plant Sciences who was praised for "tremendous engagement and support of diverse students, including both those presently in ALVSCE and high school students considering UArizona.

"In this capacity Ming embodies the qualities of professionalism, integrity, kindness, positivity, and community engagement that make ALVSCE shine," her colleague noted.

For example, as a key member of Betsy Arnold's lab, Ming plays a vital role in supporting the research of diverse students in ALVSCE and beyond. She provides thorough, top-of-the-line training in safety and best practices while assisting students in improving their laboratory, field, communication, and collaborative skills in diverse areas relevant to plant and microbial sciences. The scope of her work is truly amazing: since beginning her position in 2015, she has provided day-to-day, hands-on support for a stunning number of junior scientists and educators, including 50 undergraduate researchers, 10 MS students, 9 PhD students, 12 graduate students conducting research rotations, 6 postdocs, and 12 visiting scholars from around the world. Everyone knows that when you're stuck, or struggling, or just need a fresh perspective, friendly boost, or thoughtful advice, you should 'go see Ming'. In these ways, Ming has had a tremendous impact on the research and teaching missions of ALVSCE.

At the same time, Ming has enabled diverse collaborations with industry partners and community members, expanding the outreach and community engagement that together make ALSVCE shine. Perhaps her most stunning activities in this area are in her support and engagement of high school students: since 2015, Ming has led the lab's efforts to partner with K-12 and community college instructors from five school districts, prompting one of our teacher-partners to note Ming's incredible leadership in coordinating the following activities:

• FAME: Fungi And Molecular Ecology Program (five one-day workshops with ~30 students each day, every year from 2015-2019, for a total of approximately 750 students...and here, as with all programs, we can't wait to resume when conditions allow)

• BLAST: Biotechnology Lab for Arizona Students and Teachers Program (a one-week workshop with 10-15 students each summer for a total of approximately 60 students)

• ASPIRE: Arizona Students Participating in Researching Endophytes (a four-week intensive 1:1 mentorship training program with 3 outstanding students)

• Advanced Research Methods Student Research Projects (intensive 1:1 mentorship training for an average of 4 students per year, for a total of 12 students from Tucson High Magnet School and 8 additional students from other area high schools).

We are thrilled by Ming's work and recognize how her excellence makes UArizona and the programs in ALVSCE visible, exciting, and tangible to diverse high school students across our region. In this way Ming demonstrates how a single individual can make a massive difference -- both in our ALVSCE community and local community today, and into the future.

-Submitted by Dr. Betsy Arnold, School of Plant Sciences

Serena Valle, Career and Academic Services

March 29, 2021

Serena, an Academic Advisor, was praised for being "kind, compassionate and truly cares about students and her colleagues. She works with our first generation students and collaborates with University first cats to create various engagement opportunities for our students. In November, she coordinated with the student union and helped with providing Thanksgiving dinners to our CALS students. In addition, Serena coordinates the CALS Ambassador program and works directly with our recruitment team. Her dedication is truly admirable and she strives everyday to make a difference not only in the college but university wide."

-Submitted by Career and Academic Services Senior Advisor Amanda Armendariz

Lynn Frazier, Research Administration

March 15, 2021

Lynn Frazier, Grants and Contracts Manager in Research Administration, was praised by her colleagues for being "incredibly committed to our department and the broader CALS community. She pours her heart into her work and goes to great lengths to ensure our proposal opportunities have the best chances of success. She is always patient, supportive, and extremely competent. She leaves no stones unturned on paperwork often working late into the night and on the weekends to ensure all aspects of proposals are addressed. We are so fortunate to have such a skilled and dedicated member of our team!"
One team member added: “Lynn is extremely patient and has a knack for explaining complicated grant requirements and budget numbers in a clear and helpful way. She works extremely hard to help us meet grant deadlines and will even work past the normal quitting time to ensure that each piece of a grant is done correctly. She has great attention to detail and has caught many little mistakes in our proposals. Despite juggling countless grant proposals with competing deadlines, Lynn is always gracious and kind and makes us feel as though we are her top priority. “

Added another colleague: "Lynn is extremely efficient, kind and dedicated in helping prepare grant proposals. I am very appreciative of how quickly and smoothly she helps our team - she has gone the extra mile for sure on recent submissions. We would not be able to do our work without her."

Mike Staten, Bart Cardon Associate Dean for Career and Academic Services in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Jan. 21, 2021

Staten was recognized by all 10 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences unit heads, including Laura Scaramella (FCS), Jon Chorover (ENVS), Kitt Farrell-Poe (BE), Scott Going (NS), Matthew Jenks (SPLS), Patricia Stock (ACBS), Bruce Tabashnik (ENTO), Gary Thompson (AREC), Robert Torres (AETI), and Willem van Leeuwen (SNRE).

"It is our pleasure to nominate Dr. Mike Staten. He leads the large and complex academic enterprise of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The scope of work and capacity for leadership associated with evolving, managing, and promoting collaboration among so many diverse academic units, departments, and majors became more apparent during the recent time of crisis.

The 2020 calendar year represented a dramatic departure from the typical delivery of academic courses. In an effort to protect students, faculty, and staff from the COVID-19 pandemic, the UA administration made the decision to switch entirely to remote course delivery immediately following spring break. Immediately, faculty had to convert in-person classes and labs to online delivery. Further complicating the challenge, not all students or faculty had equipment to successfully transition to remote teaching or learning. Over the summer months, the university leadership and instructors worked on the monumental task of converting all fall courses to remote delivery remotely.

The presence of Mike in his role as associate dean during this time has made a significant difference, not only in the professional lives of us as unit heads, but also in the lives of instructional faculty throughout the college. It is for this reason that we want to recognize Mike as a Difference Maker during this COVID-19 pandemic. Mike Staten has been a voice of reason and has taken deliberate actions aimed at improving the lives of students and faculty. The following provides a few examples of how Mike has enhanced the successes of the CALS academic units.

First, Mike has been a steady, calming force during this pandemic. During times when rumors were rampant regarding changes in teaching modalities and staged re-entry plans, Mike has maintained a balanced and calm demeanor. He communicates reliable information to the unit heads and business officers without extra hype or increasing feelings of uncertainty. He has been a calming influence for unit heads and instructional faculty in the college during this particularly uncertain and stressful time.

Second, Mike created opportunities aimed at increasing our ability to deliver on our teaching mission and to serve our students. Working with the CALS development team, he created funded training opportunities for graduate students to learn how to deliver courses remotely, and to assist faculty to migrate courses from in-person to online modalities. These trained GAs have been an added layer of support for faculty and students. Recognizing that online delivery will forever be a part of our instructional delivery and that OIA and AZ online simply could not meet the demand for online course delivery in the requisite time frame, Mike initiated a novel plan to hire course and instructional designers specific to CALS to work exclusively with CALS faculty. By creating our own professionally-designed online courses, CALS can more rapidly meet the demand for online courses.

Third, Mike is one of the first, if not the first, Associate Deans to hire a psychological counselor specifically to meet the mental health needs of students within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Understanding that the mental health demands brought on because of the COVID-19 pandemic far exceeded the capacity of the UA Counseling and Psychological Services, Mike worked with CALS leadership to hire Ryan Daily to provide free counseling for our students. Ryan’s work load currently exceeds his own capacity, highlighting the significance of this hire. Mike is working on hiring another half time psychological counselor to offer Ryan some relief and better meet students’ needs.

Fourth, Mike’s team has been instrumental in increasing our recruitment of new undergraduate students. Even with the pandemic, CALS enrollments of undergraduate students increased over prior years. The relentless, year-round attention Mike’s office pays to recruiting meant that CALS recruiters already had established relationships with students and could ease student concerns about the fall, 2020 semester.

In sum, Mike has been an invaluable resource to the unit heads and the instructional faculty in CALS. Mike is positive, open to new ideas, and finds creative solutions to tackling each challenge as they arise. He has hired a staff who competently and efficiently tackle daily challenges so he can focus on the big picture. We very much appreciate Mike’s support, guidance, and steady leadership as he develops innovative programs and instructional initiatives during these challenging times."

Staten this year was also named to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

-Submitted by CALS unit heads

Dr. Bobby Torres, Agricultural Education, Technology, and Innovation

July 30, 2020

Dr. Bobby Torres has shown exceptional leadership to the Department of Agricultural Education, Technology and Innovation during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has encouraged colleagues, led faculty wellness check-in meetings, supported graduate and undergraduate students, answered countless emails and phone calls, and many other acts of selflessness during a trying time. Bobby always maintains a positive outlook and is solution oriented in his efforts to make AETI and CALS the best place on campus for students, faculty, and staff. On behalf of the entire department, we want to celebrate and recognize an outstanding leader and administrator!

-Submitted by Dr. Amber Rice, Agricultural Education, Technology, and Innovation

CALS Career & Academic Services

April 28, 2020

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Career & Academic Services staff members are known for their incredible commitment to student success, and that has never been more evident than this spring after the challenging transition to online instruction and stay-at-home measures.

During this unprecedented time, CAS leaders and advisors have put new, creative programs into place to ensure incoming first-year and transfer students, current students, and graduating seniors have as much assistance and guidance available to them as possible.

For example:

CALS is on track to award over $1M in scholarships for the upcoming academic year. Application deadline was extended to April 21 to allow for COVID-19 transition time.
Career Center staff are encouraging students to continue building assets: LinkedIn profiles, resumes, and to look for ways they can use this crisis to demonstrate to employers how they are adaptable and resilient.
Peer connections: Student workers are reaching out by phone and email to other students for check-ins.
Practical guidance: CAS is publishing a Daily Digest for students to convey the overwhelming number of updates and changes to instruction, campus services, policies, resources, etc., in addition to enhanced social media and website postings.
College and CAS leadership appeared at a CALS Undergraduate Town Hall via Zoom on April 2.
Career Center staff hosted a “What’s Next” Webinar April 22, covering job & internship market, online networking, creative ways to develop skills in current situation.
The CALS Marketing team launched the virtual student experience website for prospective students. It includes a video tour of CALS buildings and Q&A sessions.
CALS Virtual Graduation Convocation: CAS is working with CALS Branding & Marketing and Landmark Stories, producing a dynamic experience that will be live-streamed on Friday, May 15, 2 p.m. Arizona time via the CALS Facebook page. The experience will deliver many of the features of the in-person experience while also leveraging the digital platform to create an even greater individual recognition opportunity for graduating students.

Navajo County Cooperative Extension and Blue Ridge Unified School District 4-H Fab Lab

April 13, 2020

A team including teachers and students from the Blue Ridge High School Unified School District’s 4-H Fab Lab and Navajo County Cooperative Extension Director Steve Gouker are directly addressing the need for medical equipment using the school’s 3-D printers.

Blue Ridge High School teachers Kevin Wooldridge and Eric Fogle are working remotely with students from the Physics and Engineering Club and the Blue Ridge CAD Design/Robotics classes. When a request is received from the medical community for a design, the students are sent a problem statement. They then research, formulate and design a solution. Kevin and Eric then create the students’ prototypes in the 4-H Fab Lab.

All the material for these projects has been purchased through donations of material and Navajo County Cooperative Extension funds.

Here is a list of the agencies who have received Fab Lab produced items the week of April 6-10:

471 Face Shields:

75 to Summit Healthcare Regional Medical Center (Show Low)
150 to Whiteriver Indian Hospital (Whiteriver)
6 to White Mountain Physical Therapy (Lakeside)
100 to White Mountain Apache First Responders (Whiteriver)
20 to Blue Ridge School District
20 to Pinetop-Lakeside Police Department
100 to Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District (Lakeside, Show Low)
5 Breath shields for close patient contact in optometry and emergency services for the White Mountain Apache Tribe

The Fab Lab also received requests from both Summit and Whiteriver hospital staff to create “ear savers” for face masks. A side effect of wearing the face masks every day is sore ears. The team designed a laser-cut model that goes behind the head for the elastic ear bands to connect to, eliminating pressure on the ears. In 20 minutes, the team can produce 53 ear savers with the Epilog laser engraver, and had made 212 total.

This is all in addition to the design and 3D printing of other requested items from Banner-University Medical Center, Phoenix:

15 multi-vent manifolds
42 swivel adapters
A prototype CPAP conversion to vent check valve
A positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) valve

Read more about the project in the White Mountain Independent.

Felina Cordova-Marks, CALS microbiology alumna

April 9, 2020

Cordova-Marks is a Postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Arizona Cancer Center. She is the organizer of a fundraiser and outreach effort for Southern Arizona Urban Native American and Indigenous Peoples COVID relief. The fundraiser is a gofundme in collaboration with other Native/Indigenous organizations in Tucson, with funds raised going towards ordering supplies and groceries for those are in need due to the economic impact of COVID. Priority is given to elders, those that are disabled or have limited mobility, medically at-risk (such as those with asthma, cancer, diabetes), and caregivers providing in home care to a medically at-risk family member. Dr Cordova-Marks also contacts those that submit a grocery supply wish list, and orders their desired items for delivery so they can stay safe at their homes. To help other Native and Indigenous people in need that live in other areas of Arizona, she links them to resources through the organization Indigenous Volunteers, she is the founder of this organization. For more information: www.facebook.com/IndigenousVolunteers

-Submitted by Karletta Chief, Department of Environmental Science

Barbara Ashford, Maricopa County Cooperative Extension

April 8,2020

Barbara is as kind and community-minded as they come. When she heard there were shortages on PPE for healthcare professionals, she moved into action. She contacted a local fabric store, purchased fabric and related items, obtained a pattern, and went to work on making masks! She states that from start to finish it takes about 45-60 minutes to make one mask.
Those that have received her masks are so grateful, and those that have heard her story are inspired. Thank you, Barbara, for making the world brighter by your inspiring work inside and outside the University of Arizona!

-Submitted by Traci Armstrong Florian, Maricopa County Cooperative Extension

UArizona Wildcat Corps AmeriCorps members

April 7,2020

UArizona Wildcat Corps AmeriCorps Members continue to be an important part of supporting the university's goal of improving lives and communities. These members have adapted to the current realities and are developing and providing online content that addresses and strengthens the capacity of youth to increase educational attainment and fosters positive youth development. Additionally, they are actively involved in civic engagement projects that tackle the critical local needs of food, blood products, and medical, physical and mental health. This year 75 members they will serve over 42,000 hours in 12 counties and 3 tribal communities in 30 different programs where they provide youth STEM opportunities, nutrition and health education, and agriculture and environmental support services.

-Submitted by Christina Lipin, Norton School of Family & Consumer Sciences Cooperative Extension Senior Program Coordinator

Camille Andersen, CALS Career & Academic Services, Coordinator of Academic Information & Programs

April 7, 2020

Camille has mastered the skill of protective mask-making and is sharing her incredible work with our community and medical establishments throughout Tucson. She has a variety of fun patterns and is working diligently to help our healthcare workers. She sews and mails them directly to those who request them in exchange for a small donation in order to supply more of her hand-made protection to our heroes in the medical field. What a great way to give back during such a confusing and difficult time. And what a simple way for others who want to help but are not sure how to contribute. It is people like Camille who make the world start to smile again! Thanks, Camille!

-Submitted by Juliana Lincoln, CALS Career & Academic Services Academic Advisor

Viswanathan-Vedantam labs, School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences

April 3, 2020

ACBS researchers Dr. Gayatri Vedantam and Dr. VK Viswanathan converted their labs to produce hand sanitizer using World Health Organization guidelines, working to fulfill requests from Southern Arizona healthcare facilities. The group was also part of a UArizona effort that provided 200 bottles of hand sanitizer, 13,800 gloves, 220 masks, plus antimicrobial skin cleanser, medical grade cleaning supplies and non-perishable food to Navajo Nation, which is experiencing a severe outbreak of COVID-19. "At a moment's notice, you answered the call. You represent the best of UA and Tucson--thank you," wrote UArizona Office of University Initiatives Project Director Alex Robie. Vedantam and Viswanathan were joined by research specialists Jennifer Roxas, Shylaja Ramamurthy, and Rachel Claus-Walker, graduate students Anusha Harishankar, Farhan Anwar, and Shobitha Jillela, as well as undergraduate researchers Alison Williams and Kayley Manuel. Their colleagues Sadhana Ravishankar, Kerry Cooper, Dr. Michael Riggs and Ms. Deborah Schaefer also supported the effort with additional supplies.

-Submitted by Alex Robie, Project Director, UArizona Office of University Initiatives

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ALVSCE Difference Makers

CALES

Cooperative Extension

Experiment Station