{"id":75082,"date":"2025-07-28T10:00:48","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T17:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/?p=75082"},"modified":"2025-07-28T11:02:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T18:02:17","slug":"in-the-spotlight-july-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/in-the-spotlight-july-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"In the Spotlight: July 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Kudos to these faculty, staff and programs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Do you have a spotlight item to share with the NAU community?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">E-mail your announcements to <\/span><a href=\"mailto:Inside@nau.edu\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Inside@nau.edu<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, or use our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/news-tip\/#.YEjwNWhKg2w\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">online submission form<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">W.A. Franke College of Business <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">was one of 213 schools named to The Princeton Review\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.princetonreview.com\/business-school-rankings\/?rankings=best-business-schools&amp;sort=name\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Best On-Campus MBA Programs<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> list, which was included in the education service company\u2019s Best Business Schools for 2025 report. NAU was also ranked No. 4 on the report\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.princetonreview.com\/business-school-rankings?rankings=best-mba-for-human-resources\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Best MBA for Human Resources<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> list. The Princeton Review\u2019s editors rank MBA programs based on categories like career readiness, admissions selectivity and academic rigor using surveys from university administrators and more than 22,000 business students.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">NAU alumnus <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Alan Saquella <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">was featured on The Public Pulse, a radio show produced by the East Valley Institute of Technology. During the interview, Saquella discussed his experience teaching in the College of Business, Security and Intelligence at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">NAU\u2019s Shrine of the Ages Choir <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">embarked on a two-week international exchange tour in Argentina this June. The group\u2019s 42 singers learned to perform tango and malambo dances, sang Andean arrangements with choir partners and attended the San Juan Canta International Choir Competition and Festival from June 19-24. Singing alongside 15 choirs from across South America, the Shrine of the Ages Choir won first prize in the festival\u2019s Universal Choral Repertoire category and second prize in the Popular Folkloric category.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Visiting scholar <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ling Liu <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">presented her research, titled \u201cProgressive Pedagogy and Revolutionary Aesthetics in Tao Xingzhi\u2019s Early 20th-Century Children\u2019s Poetics,\u201d at the international Children&#8217;s Literature Association Conference on June 12.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Fred DeMicco<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, professor in the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management, co-authored the paper \u201cUsing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Assisted Content Tools in the Generation of a Prototype Course,\u201d which was presented at the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education Global Conference in Indianapolis. The paper demonstrates how educators can use AI tools to quickly develop high-quality informative materials.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Cline Library Special Collections and Archives librarian emeritus <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Richard Quartaroli <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">had a chapter published in \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grandcanyon.org\/products\/versa-press-inc-those-who-made-a-difference-10251\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Those Who Made a Difference<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u201d a written recounting of the 2023 Grand Canyon History Symposium. Quartaroli\u2019s chapter, \u201cIn the Campsites of John Wesley Powell: Grand Canyon, 1869,\u201d is based on his presentation at the original symposium covering Grand Canyon river runner John Wesley Powell.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science (APS) associate professor <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Mark Salvatore <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">had a proposal recently funded by the National Science Foundation to become a co-primary investigator for the Zooniverse citizen science platform. Salvatore aims to expand Zooniverse\u2019s expertise in astronomy through a citizen science collaboration with the McMurdo Dry Valleys Long Term Ecological Research Project.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">APS assistant research professor<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> Jean-Francois Smekens <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">had his proposal to NASA&#8217;s Commercial Satellite Data Earth Science Research and Applications program selected for funding. The two-year project will test the efficacy of the EarthDEM project, which develops high-resolution terrain maps, by looking at the pre- and post-eruption topography of several volcanic eruptions worldwide.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Andrew S\u00e1nchez Meador<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, executive director for the Ecological Restoration Institute and professor for the School of Forestry, was selected as a 2025 Society of American Foresters Fellow. The organization\u2019s fellowship status is awarded to members who advance the forestry profession through consistent volunteer work and outstanding leadership.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Pat Tillman Foundation chose <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Emerald Arnold<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, a senior student development coordinator for the Office of Indigenous Student Success, as a 2025 Tillman Scholar. Tillman Scholars are military service members, veterans and spouses across all industries who have demonstrated a continued commitment to leadership, education and service.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hanson Mike<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, who recently earned his master\u2019s degree in environmental science and policy at NAU, was one of 16 students honored with the River Management Society\u2019s 2025 River Studies and Leadership Certificate. Award recipients complete rigorous interdisciplinary coursework and hands-on field experience in subjects like river science, conservation and policy to prepare for future careers as environmental stewards.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">During the 2024-25 academic year, <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">NAU Sigma Chi<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and the <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">NAU sororities<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> raised over $118,000 for the Huntsman Cancer Institute. These donations will help fund the institute\u2019s new Sigma Chi Center for Advanced Therapeutics and Innovation in Salt Lake City.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">NAU\/NASA Space Grant AIMER Program coordinator <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Mary Lara<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ed Anderson<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, the APS laboratory and research facility administration manager, had their <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgrandcanyon.com\/discover\/tours\/#night-sky\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">monthly star-viewing events<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> featured in the USA Today article, \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/travel\/2025\/05\/31\/noctourism-family-resorts-after-dark-activities\/83877394007\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">12 family-friendly resorts that are even better after dark<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">NAU alumnus <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Andy Lopez-Oquendo <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">and APS Chair <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">David Trilling <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">co-authored the paper \u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/arxiv.org\/abs\/2506.13943\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Thermal and Optical Characterization of Near-Earth Objects: Science Commissioning of the Recently Upgraded Mid-Infrared Camera MIRSI on the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u201d published in The Astronomical Journal. The paper explores the authors\u2019 work using an upgraded MIRSI system to make improved Near-Earth Object observations from 2022 to 2024.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">APS doctoral student <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Alicia Allen <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">was featured in a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=vTHZtkO__zE\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">video<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> produced by the American Astronomical Society discussing her research on Near-Earth Object light curves with astronomer Joe Hora. Alumna <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Amber Young <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">was also featured in an American Astronomical Society <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kBLkQIi3S18\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">video<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to discuss her work characterizing Earthlike exoplanets.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Professor emeritus <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Matt A. Casado<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> published his paper \u201c<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/jaha.org.ro\/index.php\/JAHA\/article\/view\/1210\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">On the Location of Urci, Murgi and the Baetica-Tarraconensis Frontier in Roman Hispania<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d in the Journal of Ancient History and Archaeology. The study deduces the location of these ancient settlements based on the written documents of historians Pomponius Mela, Pliny the Elder and Claudius Ptolemy.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Peer Jacks Mentoring and Transfer and Online Connections have merged to create the <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Peer Jacks Mentoring Department<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Under its new name, the department aims to house three distinct mentorship programs\u2014Mountain Jacks, Transfer Jacks and Jacks State\u2014supporting a diverse population of first-time and transfer Lumberjacks.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><a class=\"search-results-excerpt-link\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/in-the-spotlight-july-2025\/\">Kudos to these faculty, staff and programs. Do you have a spotlight item to share with the NAU community? E-mail your announcements to Inside@nau.edu, or use our online submission form. The W.A. Franke College of Business was one of 213 schools named to The Princeton Review\u2019s Best On-Campus MBA Programs list, which was included in&hellip;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":96,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-75082","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-spotlight"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75082","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/96"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=75082"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75082\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=75082"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=75082"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=75082"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}