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The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
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Join us in celebrating The College Leaders
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences proudly recognizes our exceptional alumni through The College Leaders program. Our leaders are distinguished individuals who bring honor to Arizona State University and the college through their personal successes in business, research and community service. Each member showcases extraordinary leadership skills while driving positive change locally and internationally.
Our impressive list of 50+ leaders share a passion for education, an appreciation for the arts and sciences and a record of remarkable achievements. Every year, we’ll add new members to our growing network of ASU alumni who have continuously demonstrated excellence and learned to thrive.
Academic Division: Natural Sciences
Degree (Major): Psychology and Computer Information Systems
Graduation Date (Year): 1994 
Academic Division: Social Sciences
Degree (Major): Transborder Studies and Political Science
Graduation Date (Year): 2012 
Academic Division: Social Sciences
Degree (Major): Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Communication
Graduation Date (Year): 1992, 1996 
Academic Division: Humanities
Degree (Major): Bachelor's degree in English
Graduation Date (Year): 1982 
Academic Division: Humanities
Degree (Major): Bachelor of Arts in the School of International Letters and Cultures, Japanese
Graduation Date (Year): 1994 
Academic Division: Humanities Degree (Major): Bachelor of Arts in history Graduation Date (Year): 1993
Academic Division: Social Sciences
Degree (Major): Bachelor of Arts in communication
Graduation Date (Year): 1988 
Academic Division: Natural Sciences
Degree (Major): Master's and PhD degrees in psychology
Graduation Date (Year): 1982 and 1985 
Academic Division: School of Politics and Global Studies
Degree (Major): BS Criminal Justice/Police Science, Minor in Political Science
Graduation Date (Year): 1994 
Academic Division: Social Sciences
Degree (Major): Bachelor of Arts in Communication
Graduation Date (Year): 1989 
Academic Division: Social Sciences
Degree (Major): Bachelor of Science in American Indian Studies
Graduation Date (Year): 
Academic Division: Natural Sciences
Degree (Major): PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology
Graduation Date (Year): 2000 
Arizona State University alumnus Nick Lambesis pursued a master degree with one goal in mind: to teach humanities at the college level.
Academic Division: Humanities Degree (Major): MA English Literature (’74) and Humanities (’72) Graduation Date (Year): 1972
Arizona State University alumna Najla Arekat had dreamed about attending law school since childhood, but her natural talent for finance a
Academic Division: Social Sciences Degree (Major): Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Graduation Date (Year): 1997
Arizona State University alumnus Daniel Kolk has merged his creative instincts with his education in molecular biology and virology to re
Academic Division: Natural Sciences Degree (Major): PhD Molecular Genetics Graduation Date (Year): 1992
Academic Division: Mathematical and Statistical Sciences
Degree (Major): MA in Mathematics
Graduation Date (Year): 1977 
Academic Division:
Degree (Major): BS in Psychology and Sociology
Graduation Date (Year): 1978 
Academic Division:
Degree (Major): BS in home economics
Graduation Date (Year): 1974 
Academic Division:
Degree (Major): BA in History and Political Science
Graduation Date (Year): 1988 and 1994 
Linda DiVall has worked with political and corporate clients for over 20 years.
Academic Division: Social Transformation Degree (Major): BS in Political Science Graduation Date (Year): 1974
Nancy-Jo Merritt practices solely in the field of immigration and nationality law.
Academic Division: English Degree (Major): BA in English and MA in English Graduation Date (Year): 1964 and 1978
Rachel Sacco serves on the Governor’s Tourism Advisory Council for the Arizona Office of Tourism and as a national advisory board m
Academic Division: Hugh Downs School of Human Communication Degree (Major): BA in Communication Graduation Date (Year): 1979
Allison DuBois is an author and medium who uses her psychic abilities to help law-enforcement agencies solve crimes.
Academic Division: Social Transformation Degree (Major): BA in Political Science Graduation Date (Year): 2001
Kathleen Duffy Ybarra founded Duffy Research (later DuffyGroup) in 1991.
Academic Division: Hugh Downs School of Human Communication Degree (Major): BA in Communication Graduation Date (Year): 1981
Tina Jonas oversaw the Department of Defense’s financial management activities, including a budget in excess of $400 billion.
Academic Division: Social Transformation Degree (Major): BA in Political Science Graduation Date (Year): 1982
Randall Nelson studies diseases that distress human populations and searches for treatments to cure cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabe
Academic Division: Chemistry and Biochemistry Degree (Major): PhD in Chemistry Graduation Date (Year): 1990
Rigoberto Gonzalez has excelled in the creative writing community, distinguishing himself as a leading poet and writer of his generation.
Academic Division: English Degree (Major): MFA in Creative Writing Graduation Date (Year): 1997
As a director with Emmy Award-winning NBA Entertainment since 2000, Felisa J.
Academic Division: Hugh Downs School of Human Communication Degree (Major): BS in Communication Graduation Date (Year): 1994
At SAIC, Mark Kerrigan directed the Energy Systems Group, a business unit that controls the nation's primary energy modeling system and p
Academic Division: Social Transformation Degree (Major): BS in Political Science Graduation Date (Year): 1974
Appointed to the Maricopa County Superior Court in 1991, Barbara Mundell is presently serving a five-year term as the presiding judge for
Academic Division: Social Transformation Degree (Major): BA in Political Science Graduation Date (Year): 1981
Doug Burkett joined Zila, an innovator in preventative health care technologies and products, in 1995 as director of research, developmen
Academic Division: Chemistry and Biochemistry Degree (Major): PhD in Chemistry Graduation Date (Year): 1994
Yolanda Kizer has achieved success as a small-business woman and community leader.
Academic Division: Degree (Major): BA in Sociology Graduation Date (Year): 1972
Paulette Risher was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army upon her graduation from ASU.
Academic Division: Psychology Degree (Major): BS in Psychology Graduation Date (Year): 1972
As director of the Arizona Registrar of Contractors and a member of the governor's cabinet, Israel Torres regulates the activities of mor
Academic Division: Social Transformation Degree (Major): BA in Political Science Graduation Date (Year): 1994
Janet Effland retired in 2003 after 15 years with Apax Partners, one of the world's leading private equity firms.
Academic Division: Degree (Major): B.A. in sociology Graduation Date (Year): 1971
As an executive with a variety of motion picture companies for the past 15 years, Michael Helfant has been involved in the distribution o
Academic Division: Degree (Major): B.A. in sociology Graduation Date (Year): 1978
Tayari Jones' master's thesis, the novel "Leaving Atlanta," was published by Warner Books in 2002 and was named best novel of the year by
Academic Division: Degree (Major): M.F.A. in creative writing Graduation Date (Year): 2000
Mario Diaz runs his own political consulting firm, which managed Sen. John F. Kerry's presidential campaign in Arizona.
Academic Division: Social Transformation Degree (Major): B.S. in Political Science Graduation Date (Year): 1991
After earning her master's and doctoral degrees in geochemistry from the California Institute of Technology and doing postdoctoral work a
Academic Division: Chemistry and Biochemistry Degree (Major): B.S. in Chemistry Graduation Date (Year): 1987
Linda Madrid is the executive vice president and a global leader for DHR International’s legal and compliance practice.
Academic Division: undefined Degree (Major): B.A. in Political Science Graduation Date (Year): 1981
After a 22-year career as a Coast Guard officer and a short stint as senior policy advisor to Sen.
Academic Division: Psychology Degree (Major): BS in Psychology Graduation Date (Year): 1979
Earlier this year, Rebecca White Berch became only the third woman to be appointed to the Arizona Supreme Court.
Academic Division: English Degree (Major): BS in Sociology and MA in English Graduation Date (Year): 1976 and 1990
In 1998, Stella SiWan Zimmerman (formerly Cheung) founded ACET, Inc.
Academic Division: T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics Degree (Major): BA in family resources and human development Graduation Date (Year): 1997
Michelle Hanna earned her doctoral degree in chemistry from the University of California, Davis, in 1983.
Academic Division: Chemistry and Biochemistry Degree (Major): BS in Chemistry Graduation Date (Year): 1978
Jose Ronstadt has enjoyed an extensive career as a top-level television executive and TV personality serving the Hispanic market.
Academic Division: International Letters and Cultures Degree (Major): BAE in Spanish and MA in Spanish Graduation Date (Year): 1972 and 1977
Kelly Campbell is a former public policy advocate for the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Academic Division: Social Transformation Degree (Major): BA in women's studies, MPA in public administration, and PhD in public administration Graduation Date (Year): 1996, 2001, and 2006
Richard Koehn has served in faculty or administrative capacities at the University of Kansas, the State University of New York at Stony B
Academic Division: Degree (Major): PhD in zoology Graduation Date (Year): 1967
Maurice Portley earned his law degree from the University of Michigan in 1978. After practicing in the U.S.
Academic Division: Social Transformation Degree (Major): BS in Political Science Graduation Date (Year): 1975
Dan Shilling has worked at the Arizona Humanities Council, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, since 1984.
Academic Division: English Degree (Major): PhD in English Graduation Date (Year): 1987
Susan Clouse Dolbert has been a regular presenter at conferences for 20 years, receiving top evaluations for her programs and expertise i
Academic Division: Social Transformation Degree (Major): BA in political science, MA in communication, and PhD in public administration Graduation Date (Year): 1974, 1980, and 1994
Patricia Kimball served as vice president of development at San-I-Pak Pacific, the largest supplier of medical waste treatment and handli
Academic Division: Life Sciences Degree (Major): BS in medical technology and PhD in microbiology Graduation Date (Year): 1974 and 1979
David Morse is president and founder of Infinite Humanity-Everyone Counts Network in Los Angeles, an e-business that interconnects people
Academic Division: Social Transformation Degree (Major): BS and teaching credential in political science Graduation Date (Year): 1973
At eBay Inc., Brian was responsible for leading the emerging e-commerce arena, overseeing international outreach, marketing and customer
Academic Division: Degree (Major): BS in economics Graduation Date (Year): 1976
Before joining ASU, Gary was president of BP Asia-Pacific and BP China. He has served on the boards of the India Council for Sustainable
Academic Division: Chemistry and Biochemistry Degree (Major): PhD in Chemistry Graduation Date (Year): 1980
Melinda Sue Gordon is a still photographer and cinematographer.
Academic Division: Degree (Major): BA in Sociology Graduation Date (Year): 1978
When Congress canceled funding for the Superconducting Super Collider, Irwin Sheer joined Timber Hill Inc., a market maker in equity opti
Academic Division: Physics Degree (Major): BS in physics Graduation Date (Year): 1981
John Whiteman is chairman and president of Empire Southwest Co., the Caterpillar dealer for Arizona, southeastern California and part of
Academic Division: Degree (Major): BS in sociology Graduation Date (Year): 1963
Gary Aden was president of Park Scientific Instruments, a ThermoSpectra company that manufactures scanning probe microscopes.
Academic Division: Chemistry and Biochemistry Degree (Major): PhD in chemistry Graduation Date (Year): 1981
Pam Del Duca is the founder, president and CEO of the DELSTAR Group, which owns and operates retail specialty shops in airports, four and
Academic Division: Degree (Major): BAE in physical education Graduation Date (Year): 1968
R. Christopher Goodwin is recognized as one of the nation's leading experts in cultural resource management.
Academic Division: Human Evolution and Social Change Degree (Major): PhD in anthropology Graduation Date (Year): 1979
Upon graduation from the School of Law at the University of South Dakota in 1977, Steve T.
Academic Division: Social Transformation Degree (Major): BS in political science Graduation Date (Year): 1974
Vada O. Manager specializes in corporate strategy and global manufacturing practices.
Academic Division: Social Transformation Degree (Major): BS in political science Graduation Date (Year): 1983
Paul Manera has been principal of Manera, Inc., consultants in water resources, since 1962.
Academic Division: Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning Degree (Major): MAE in geography, MA in geography, PhD in geography Graduation Date (Year): 1963, 1967, and 1982
Andrea Schaffell served as vice president of Turner Group Services.
Academic Division: International Letters and Cultures Degree (Major): BA in Spanish Graduation Date (Year): 1981
During his 23 years with Union Texas Petroleum, Joel Empie served in many capacities, including staff geologist; general manager, explora
Academic Division: Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning Degree (Major): BS in geology Graduation Date (Year): 1960
Since 1983, Floyd English has been chairman, president and CEO of Andrew Corporation, an international supplier of antennas and transmiss
Academic Division: Physics Degree (Major): MS in physics and PhD in physics Graduation Date (Year): 1962 and 1966
Robert Hecht-Nielsen was the co-founder and chief scientist of HNC Software Inc., a company that develops, markets and supports intellige
Academic Division: Mathematical and Statistical Sciences Degree (Major): BS in mathematics and PhD in mathematics Graduation Date (Year): 1971 and 1974
At Intel, Cheryl Shavers was responsible for the structuring of strategic alliances and the development of manufacturing infrastructures
Academic Division: Chemistry and Biochemistry Degree (Major): BS in chemistry and PhD in chemistry Graduation Date (Year): 1976 and 1981
Jan Soderstrom was responsible for all international marketing activities with a focus on ensuring Visa's worldwide brand success.
Academic Division: Degree (Major): BS in home economics and MS in home economics Graduation Date (Year): 1968 and 1971