Tucson Standard

In a notable development for the University of Arizona, three faculty members have been confirmed as Regents Professors by the Arizona Board of Regents. "Regents Professor" is the highest faculty rank at the university, recognizing full professors whose work is nationally and internationally distinguished. Only up to 3% of the university's tenured and tenure-track faculty may hold this title. Janko Nikolich, Jiang Wu, and Dennis Zaritsky are the latest recipients.

President Suresh Garimella emphasized the significance of this honor, stating, "The University of Arizona's reputation is founded on the strength of our faculty, whether it's through their groundbreaking research, the mentorship and instruction they provide our students, or their engagement with our communities. And our Regents Professors receive the highest honor we can bestow because of their extraordinary work and commitment to our university, and the impact they have here in Arizona and worldwide. I offer warm congratulations to our newest Regents Professors for this well-deserved achievement."

Janko Nikolich serves as Bowman Professor and Head of the Department of Immunobiology in the College of Medicine – Tucson. Known for his research in immunobiology and aging, Nikolich co-directs the university's Center on Aging and developed a COVID-19 blood test during the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Jiang Wu is a professor in the Department of East Asian Studies in the College of Humanities and directs the university's Center for Buddhist Studies. Wu's work in Chinese and East Asian Buddhism earned him a 2023 John Simon Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship.

Dennis Zaritsky, a professor in the Department of Astronomy in the College of Science, is noted for his research on dwarf galaxies and dark matter. He is deputy director of the university's Steward Observatory and recently completed a term as chair of the Giant Magellan Telescope Science Advisory Council.

The university outlined these accomplishments during Thursday's Arizona Board of Regents meeting, which also saw the approval of a contract extension for Arizona men's basketball coach Tommy Lloyd through March 31, 2030. ABOR Chair Cecilia Mata also highlighted recent university events, including the Tucson Festival of Books and President Garimella's inaugural staff social.

The U of A men's wheelchair basketball team achieved a milestone by securing their first national championship title on March 29, defeating Texas-Arlington 75-65. The university is set to host the 2026 National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Tournament at McKale Memorial Center.

In a recent announcement, Patricia Prelock has been appointed as the senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, effective May 19. Prelock comes from the University of Vermont, where she served as provost since 2019 and interim president since October 2024.

As the ABOR meeting continues, students from Arizona's state universities will compete in the Arizona Regents' Cup at Northern Arizona University. The competition, which promotes civil discourse, will focus on "The Government and the People: The Social Contract," with participation from fifteen U of A students.