Dr. Patricia MacCorquodale

As Dean of the College, Dr. Patricia MacCorquodale has many responsibilities which include: serving as the liaison between Honors and the university community, determining Honors policies and procedures, providing leadership for Honors faculty, staff and students, articulating the mission and vision of the college, guiding the strategic planning process, and building partnerships with alumni, parents, educators and national organizations. She represents the College on several University committees including Academic Council, Dean's Development Committee, and Recruitment and Scholarships Team. Dr. MacCorquodale also teaches courses in sociology, women's studies and higher education and researches the topic of women attorneys in the US and UK.

She describes the best thing about working in Honors as getting to know Honors students, "My favorite place on campus is the fish pond near North Campus Drive. It's where I go for a few moments of peace and quiet. While there, I often reflect on my undergraduate education at Carleton College. It taught me about facing personal and intellectual challenges. As Anais Nin wrote, 'Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.'"Visit Dr. MacCorquodale's page.

Dr. Laura Berry, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

• Phone: 520.621.4205
• Email address: berry@email.arizona.edu

Professor Berry is responsible for academic affairs at The Honors College. She works with students, with faculty across campus, and with Honors College staff on advising matters and curriculum issues. She has a particular interest in the success of first-generation college students, and in supporting learning experiences for students that extend beyond the traditional classroom. Dr. Berry came to the University in 1992, and was for fourteen years a professor in the Department of English, where she was Director of Honors and of Undergraduate Studies. Her teaching and research interests are in nineteenth-century British literature. Her favorite novel is George Eliot’s Middlemarch because, she says, “it’s about life’s complications, relationships, and the ways we try to help one another in spite of difficulty or personal desire.” Her graduate degrees are from the University of California, Berkeley. She received her B.A. from Antioch College in Yellow Springs , Ohio, where the college motto comes from the school’s founder, Horace Mann: “Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity.” Dr. Berry welcomes conversation with students and faculty.

Dr. Wayne Decker, Director of International Studies and External Affairs

Dr. Decker works with Honors students and the University of Arizona community in multiple ways. He directs and teaches in the IDS/International Studies academic program, in which he shares with his students a passion for knowing the world, hardships and all. He is also privileged to oversee the Honors Civic Engagement Teams (HCET) and the student-led Honors International Colloquia. Working with faculty and staff as well as with students, he convenes the Africa Forum and nurtures a greater long-term UA presence in Africa. Dr. Decker has a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University and has held fellowships at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (oceans policy), Harvard (US-Japan relations) and Stanford (US-East Asian economic and security policy). Outside the UA, his passion is to employ ICT for development in rural Africa.

Dr. Karna Walter, Director of Nationally Competitive Scholarships

Dr. Karna Walter assists UA students as they apply for one or more of the nationally competitive scholarships (http://www.honors.arizona.edu/ncs/index.htm). These scholarships, funded by foundations and government agencies that are external to the UA, provide financial support for exceptional students to pursue many different goals. Dr. Walter works closely with faculty and staff in identifying prospective applicants and administering the scholarship nomination processes. She heads the Honors Forum Lunch Series, identifying UA faculty to speak at the luncheons. She developed the Professional Development Series, a set of workshops that help Honors students develop specific skills, such as preparing for graduate/professional school, developing money management capabilities, and learning how to create a healthy balance between work/school and other parts of life.

Dr. Walter loves working with top students who have the courage to take risks during their undergraduate years. She hopes to instill such courage in her two daughters, Mckenna (4) and Annika (2). She and her husband, Chris, are engaged members of their church and also active cyclists. She also enjoys running, reading, and following UA sports.

Rafael A. Meza, Assistant Director, Recruitment & Outreach

As Assistant Director for Recruitment and Outreach, Rafael Meza leads the recruitment of prospective high ability students. He works closely with Honors staff, the Admissions Office along with campus colleges and units to provide a comprehensive UA experience. His responsibilities include overseeing programs such as the National Scholar Visitation Program and Summer of Excellence. Rafael began his career as an admission counselor with the UA Office of Admissions and also worked for the Office of Early Academic Outreach coordinating the MESA program. Rafael recently served as Assistant Director for Minority Student Recruitment.

A Tucson native and 1992 UA graduate, he holds a B.A. degree in Mexican American Studies and a M.Ed degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. When he is not recruiting the best and brightest to come to the UA, he enjoys a number of hobbies such as cooking, camping, watching old westerns and running ½ marathons. But his favorite pursuit is watching UA Football with his wife and two young daughters.

David Scott Allen, Director of Development for Campus Initiatives

David spent the first fifteen years of his professional career as a musician, playing principal double bass in the Albany (NY) Symphony Orchestra. During that time he also served on the faculties of The State University of New York at Albany, Skidmore College, The College of Saint Rose and The Emma Willard School. To pay the mortgage he began working days for nonprofits and learned much about fundraising. When he moved to Maine in 1995, he left the performing world and concentrated his efforts full time to raising much needed funds for a variety of causes about which he is passionate – HIV/AIDS, the performing arts, children and education. After relocating to Tucson with his partner – Tucson was their first choice for “best place to live in the U.S.” – David resumed working as a fundraiser at The University of Arizona, eventually as Director of Development for Campus Initiatives which includes The Honors College.

Working with the students and his colleagues at The Honors College is a privilege for David. He is inspired by their energy, commitment, creativity and passion. One of David’s favorite parts of campus is the Campus Arboretum. The different sections each create a wonderful respite from the crazy days of fundraising.

Nicky Bauer, Administrative Secretary

Nicky provides administrative support to the front desk area of the office; she is the Administrative Secretary for the Summer of Excellence Program. She is the voice on the other end of the phone when you call the Honors College's main phone line and the smile that greets students and guests when they arrive at Slonaker House. When not at work in Honors, Nicky is likely to be cooking, playing with her much-adored grandson, or creating something special through knitting or crochet.

Peter In-Albon, Support Systems Analyst, Sr.

Peter manages the web site, maintains databases, interprets data, administers networks/PCs/software/databases, trains staff on new technologies, maintains an intranet, etc. He also maintains the student-access computers in Slonaker House.

Stephanie Levitt, Advising Specialist

Stephanie advises undecided Honors students on general education requirements and helps students select majors and minors that complement their interests and career goals. She also helps coordinate first-year programs and services for Honors students. Stephanie coordinates the Paladins colloquia, that assists students in their transition to the UA. A recent graduate of the U of A, Stephanie was involved with many organizations on campus, including the Honors Student Council, the National Collegiate Leadership Conference, and the Psychology Peer Mentor program. Stephanie is currently working on her Masters degree in Higher Education. When she is not advising students, Stephanie enjoys cooking, play racquetball, and hiking.

, Secretary

• Phone: 520.621.6901
• Email address:

Julie Reed, Academic Advisor

• Phone: 520.626.0272
• Email address: jmreed@email.arizona.edu

Julie Reed is the academic advisor for Honors College students. She helps students as they progress toward graduation with Honors, and invites students to come by her office to talk about Honors coursework, thesis preparation, GPA, and Honors College academic policies. She has been working at UA since 1998, and loves helping students find their way at our large University. She earned her MFA in creative writing from UA and her BA in anthropology from University of California, San Diego. Although she grew up in California, by now Julie considers herself a Tucson native and is equally fond of both our amazing desert and vibrant downtown. She has a chatty and enchanting toddler son, Lincoln, who is currently obsessed with backhoes and peacocks. She also has a baby daughter Clementine, who is currently obsessed with Lincoln.

Diana Peel, Events Coordinator

• Phone: 520.626.2728
• Email address: dpeel@email.arizona.edu

As Events Coordinator, Diana Peel assists in the coordination of recruitment, retention, scholarship, and outreach events, workshops, or programs to serve prospective and current Honors students. She works closely with Honors staff to ensure all aspects of events proceed smoothly and in accordance with plans.

Before joining the Honors College , Diana worked as Community Relations Coordinator with local non-profit Native Seeds/SEARCH where she managed both volunteers and events. Diana has also coordinated a technical resource center at Blenman Elementary School (TUSD) funded by a $60,000 grant that she wrote. She loves the positive energy at the Honors College and is excited to be part of its team!

Natalie Shue, Program Coordinator for Recruitment and Marketing

• Phone: 520.621.2228
• Email address: nshue@email.arizona.edu

Barbara Whittlesey, Administrative Associate

Barbara Whittlesey's main responsibility is to monitor the College's fiscal obligations. She oversees the Honors Common Reading program by working with students to select a book to be read by incoming freshmen, then planning and coordinating related events. Additionally, Barbara updates Honors course descriptions and coordinates their scheduling. Outside of work, Barbara is active in a local Balkan ensemble and can be seen at various cultural functions throughout Tucson.