The Distinguished Scholar Award is presented to three outstanding mid-career faculty members who have recently earned tenure or continuing status and who are making transformative contributions to their disciplines and to our purpose, mission and values. Candidates will be judged both on the evidence that they are achieving national/international recognition.
Sponsor
University of Arizona Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. This award is funded through the Provost’s Investment Fund.
Purpose
The Distinguished Scholar Award is presented to three outstanding mid-career faculty members who have recently earned tenure or continuing status and who create transformative innovations in their disciplines and make highly valued contributions to the teaching, research, extension and outreach priorities set out in the University's Strategic Imperatives.
Award
Recipients will receive a one-time allocation of $10,000 in University funds to facilitate further work within their discipline and the title of Distinguished Scholar.
Number of Awards
Up to three awards may be made each year.
Eligibility
Eligible candidates are be mid-career faculty in the tenure or continuing tracks, with priority given to those candidates of exceptional promise at the associate rank who have been promoted within the last six years at the University of Arizona. Continuing or tenure track candidates currently under an early or mandatory review for full are not eligible for this award.
Criteria
Candidates will be judged both on the evidence that they are achieving national/international recognition for ground-breaking innovations and on their broader contributions to research, teaching, extension and community engagement, including their efforts to meet the priorities set out in the University’s Strategic Imperatives.
Nomination Process
Any member of the University of Arizona community may submit a nomination. Each nomination should contain the following:
- CV for the nominee.
- A letter of support from a department head or program director.
- A letter of support from a UArizona faculty member (preferably from outside the candidate’s home department).
- A letter of support from an external reviewer (with the permission of the reviewer, a letter from a recent promotion dossier may be used).
- A letter of support from the nominee's college dean.
These nomination letters should include one from a department head or program director, one from a UA faculty member (preferably from outside the candidate’s home department), one from the candidate’s college dean, and one from an external reviewer (with the permission of the reviewer, a letter from a recent promotion dossier may be used).
The University recognizes the wide range of skills and talents that faculty bring to our thriving academic community, which drive innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving. The University of Arizona is committed to fostering a culture of recognition and encourages the nomination of individuals of all experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds. Additionally, the University values the significant contributions nominees make to advancing its land-grant mission.
Submission of Materials
Materials are submitted online through Arizona Cultivate.
Review the nomination packet carefully before submitting to make sure that all of the required material is accurate and included. Packets that are incomplete may be delayed.
Selection Process
Nominations are reviewed by a distinguished university-wide committee. Official notification of award recipients will be provided to the individual recipient, the Dean of the respective College, and the department head. For nominations not selected, notifications will be sent to both the nominee and the nominator listed in Cultivate.
Recognition
The recipient(s), if any, will be celebrated at a special award ceremony in 2026. Recipients will receive information about the ceremony through email.
Due Date
Monday, December 8, 2025 at 5 p.m.
Awardees will be announced by the end of April, 2026.
For More Information
Please contact: Dr. Adrián Arroyo-Pérez, +1 (520) 621-2121 or email arroyopa@arizona.edu.