The inaugural Community Impact Symposium was a dynamic, day-long event that inspired faculty and staff to foster a welcoming, supportive campus. Through thought-provoking guest speakers, interactive conversations, and hands-on community aid initiatives, the event sparked intentional connections and meaningful action.

Keynote Speaker

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Arika Wells

United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona

Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

Our keynote speaker delivered actionable community-building strategies focused on cultivating thriving and inclusive environments. 

Community Conversations

Attendees participated in a two-part Community Conversation:

Part 1: Participants learned about the exciting initiatives driven by our established university community groups. Community group leaders offered opportunities to join their efforts, collaborate on shared goals, and contribute to fostering engagement and connection on campus.

Part 2: Attendees participated in three meaningful discussions covering a variety of topics, and even voted on the subjects that shaped those conversations. These included building community beyond individual units, fostering environments where people from all backgrounds can thrive, and adopting self-care practices during times of institutional change.

Community Aid Activities

Upon entry, attendees were encouraged to donate hygiene products, including toilet paper, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, face wash, and shaving cream. After lunch, participants assembled these donations into care packages for Youth On Their Own, a nonprofit dropout prevention program in Tucson dedicated to supporting the high school graduation and continued success of youth experiencing homelessness in Pima County. Additionally, attendees had the opportunity to write supportive messages to the students involved in the program.

Community Impact Faculty Award

Dr. Nicole Marrone, Associate Professor, Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences

Marrone was recognized for her work as co-creator and co-director of Grad CAFE, a National Science Foundation-funded program that provides holistic support and mentoring to graduate students. The initiative supports students by helping them build skills, navigate the graduate education curriculum and find fellowship with peers across disciplines.

"Grad CAFE is changing the way we support graduate students at the UA and can potentially place UA at the forefront of innovative support of graduate students," a nominator wrote.

Marrone was also cited for her work as principal investigator on a National Institutes of Health-funded project designed to reduce disparities in hearing health care access in rural border communities.

Community Impact Staff Award
Dr. Celeste Atkins, Director of Student Engagement and Recruitment, Graduate College

In addition to co-creating Grad CAFE, Atkins is the co-creator of Grad SPACE, a program that includes professional development seminars, networking opportunities and social events for graduate students. One graduate student participant said the program provided a space where she felt safe to share her experiences and thoughts on her educational and career paths.

"Oftentimes as a graduate student, it can be easy to be immersed in research, but this program has provided me the opportunity to network with other graduate students across disciplines and departments," she wrote in her nomination letter. "There was a bridge built to other opportunities on campus that I once did not have access to, and Dr. A has been pivotal in paving this new path."

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Community Impact Student Award
Edgar Dominguez, Peer Mentor, College of Engineering

Dominguez was recognized for his work as a peer mentor in the College of Engineering, where he uses his experience as a first-generation student to encourage and support first-year students.

"Edgar invests in others, not just academically, but emotionally, offering encouragement, empathy and support," a nominator wrote. "His mentorship has helped many students feel a sense of belonging and resilience during their transition into engineering programs."

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