Meet the Honors Team
All the members of the Honors Team take pride in our commitment to students. We foster an atmosphere of excellence and diversity that challenges students to develop intellectually, academically and socially. In building a community of scholars, we value commitment to excellence, attention to details, patience, flexibility and sensitivity. Team Honors is comprised of 18 faculty, staff, and students who work in Slonaker House, home of The Honors College.
The Honors College is located at 1027 East Second Street, Tucson, AZ. (Just east of Park Avenue and one block south of Speedway Boulevard). We are open Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
How to reach us:
- MAIL: Slonaker House, PO BOX 210006, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0006
- EMAIL: Send a general email inquiry to: honors@email.arizona.edu
- PHONE: 520.621-6901
- FAX: 520.621.8655
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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, Recruitment and Scholarships Team, and the Enrollment Management Finance Committee. Dr. MacCorquodale also teaches courses in sociology, women's studies and higher education and researches on 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. |
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Dr. Laura Berry, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
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. |
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Dr. Wayne Decker, Director of International Studies and External Affairs
Dr. Decker has several responsibilities in the Honors College. First, he directs and teaches in the Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS)/International Studies academic program. Second, he oversees the Honors Civic Engagement Teams (HCETs). He also pursues a professional interest in using the internet to assist development in Sub-Sahara Africa, notably in Malawi. Toward similar ends, he works to catalyze faculty/student/staff international collaborations through a series of initiatives called "From the Ground Up". Dr. Decker has a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University and has held fellowships at Harvard (US-Japan relations) and Stanford (US-East Asian economic and security policy).
A Vietnam Veteran (that was before you were born), Dr. Decker and his wife Betsy have two grown children, Colin and Caitlin. He shares an addiction to baseball with former Associate Dean Richard Kissling, a sense of humor with the entire Honors College staff, and a passion for knowing the world as it is, hardships and all, with his International Studies students. |
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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. |
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Rafael A. Meza, Assistant Director, Recruitment & Outreach
As Assistant Director for Recruitment and Outreach, Rafael Meza will take a lead in the recruitment of prospective high ability students. He will work closely with Honors staff, the Admissions Office along with campus colleges and units to provide a comprehensive UA experience. His responsibilities will 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.
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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. |
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Lucia Barton, Program Coordinator
Lucia Barton oversees the Honors Undergraduate Research Grant program, maintains the list and database of research opportunities on campus, assists with the national and international scholarship process, and assists the Dean with special projects. She particularly enjoys working on the Undergraduate Research Grant program and helping students get funding to pursue their scholarly endeavors. |
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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. |
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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. 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.
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Angelica Robison, Secretary
Angelica is a graduate of The Art Center Design College. She designs and edits the Eclectic Newsletter distributed four times a year. Updates the website when necessary. She finds great joy in welcoming students and parents. Angelica enjoys assisting The Honors College Staff, students, and guests with a smile as she assists them with questions, concerns, and/or setting up appointments. She is a Tucson native and enjoys spending time with her husband and two children outside in the sun. |
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Dr. Helena A. Rodrigues, Academic Advisor
Dr. Helena A. Rodrigues is responsible for academic advising at The Honors College. She advises all Honors students on the completion of the Honors curriculum, including the Senior Honors Thesis, and oversees the process of student self-nomination to the Honors College.
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Kristy Sawdy, Event Coordinator
Kristy is responsible for organizing special events sponsored by The Honors College.
Events Kristy works on include; Forum Lunches, Convocation, First Level Honors, Pre-Commencement and Professional Development Workshops. If you have any questions about the mentioned events or any other events at The Honors College, feel free to contact Kristy.
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Natalie Shue, Program Coordinator for Recruitment and Marketing
Natalie’s main responsibilities center around recruitment and outreach for The Honors College. She advises the ShadowCats, coordinates the National Scholar Visitation Programs, and works with the Admissions Office to recruit undergraduate students. Natalie graduated from the U of A in 2002 with a degree in psychology, and while a student she was an Arizona Ambassador, Resident Assistant, and intern. Natalie really enjoys working with future and current Wildcats! |
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Alexandra Tracy-Ramirez, Graduate Assistant
I’m a Boston native who graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2002 with majors in Women’s Studies and Spanish. The two years I spent working in higher education settings inspired my interests in union law and employment discrimination law and my desire to join the dual degree Women’s Studies and Law program in the Fall of 2006. I’m a Research Assistant in the Women’s Studies department and a Graduate Assistant here at the Honors College working primarily with the Summer of Excellence.
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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. Barbara also coordinates the Paladins program assisting freshmen and transfer students in their transition to the UA. 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. |
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