Simmons-Potter, Fink Win Awards of Distinction

ECE professor Kelly Simmons-Potter and ECE assistant professor Wolfgang Fink earned 2023 Awards of Distinction from the University of Arizona for their work ranging from outreach to innovation.

Simmons-Potter earned the University Distinguished Outreach Faculty Award. Simmons-Potter has been heavily involved in outreach throughout her career, at every education level. She has particularly worked with Indigenous communities and with solar power.

"I was shocked and deeply honored to have won this award. I did know that I had been nominated but had not anticipated actually being selected as the awardee," Simmons-Potter said. "I am proud to receive this award and join the incredibly accomplished and distinguished group of prior awardees."

The Office of the Provost stated Simmons-Potter’s nomination documented exceptional environmental, social and economic impact through more than $45 million of grant funding for sustainability, STEM pipelines, Indigenous resources and sovereignty, and photovoltaics.

Fink earned the University Faculty Service Award. Created in 2022, the award recognizes faculty members who have demonstrated significant leadership and impact in service activities, such as community engagement, academic societies and university committees.

Fink was selected for his “astonishing commitment to STEM education.” He is a fellow of the Society of Photographic Instrumentation Engineers, a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and a College of Engineering da Vinci fellow, among many other honors. He has more than 260 publications and 27 U.S. and foreign patents to date.