Kudos to these faculty, staff and programs.
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- Human Rights Educators USA, a Center for Transformative Action project, honored Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice assistant professor Pedro Jose Gonzalez with its 2025 O’Brien Award for Individual Achievement. The annual award recognizes educators across the nation who make outstanding contributions to human rights curricula. Gonzalez was chosen for his research on genocide and state-sponsored violence in Latin America, as well as his innovative use of faculty-led programs and photographic exhibits in his teaching.
- Former NAU microbiology research associate Kevin Drees was featured in the book “The Nature of Pandemics,” authored by microbial ecologist Jake Robinson. Dress’ research is cited in the author’s discussion of how ecological and social systems shape pandemic risks and solutions.
- NAU alum Kyle Montgomery won the Arizona Commerce Authority’s inaugural Venture Challenge Showcase by pitching his startup, Generous, which uses AI and recipient preferences to help users find the perfect gift. Montgomery was one of six finalists pitching in front of more than 60 innovators, earning a $10,000 first-prize grant for his work.
- Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science postdoctoral scholar Emily Mason and professor Christopher Edwards co-authored an article on Mars dust devils recently published in the journal Icarus. The paper’s authors compare more than seven Mars years of pressure, temperature and ultraviolet data to confirm where and when Mars vortices form.