In 2020, Grace graduated from The University of Arizona W.A. Franke Honors College with majors in East Asian Studies and Global Studies and a law minor. After receiving her Master’s from Johns Hopkins University, Grace now works as a China Analyst at Exovera, a company that conducts national security research and analysis for clients in the public sector. 

Mark and Mindy Zeitzer both earned undergraduate degrees with Honors from the University of Arizona, and both have gone on to careers marked by impressive professional accomplishments in health care as well as profound commitments to the communities they serve.

On November 1st, The University of Arizona will be hosting its annual TED event, TEDxUArizona: Spirit of Wonder. TEDxUArizona is an independently organized event that brings together bright ideas, inspiring performances and profound research for a day of sessions and discussions designed to ignite conversation and connection in the University of Arizona and Tucson community. This year, Franke Honors Alumna Halley Hughes is joining the lineup of speakers, amongst other prominent University staff and faculty. 

Franke Honors Alumni, Ziad and Akram Hindosh share about their experience with the Health and Human Values minor, and how the program helped them to pursue their med school dreams.

Victoria DeFrancesco Soto is Dean of the Clinton School of Public Service at the University of Arkansas and is also a political analyst for NBC News and Telemundo. In this episode, Victoria breaks down public service and what it looks like across disciplines, the power of frustration in enacting change and helping her advance to where she is today, her parallel career in public service and political analysis in the media, how her lived experience informs her nuanced approach to analysis in issues such as border policy, and more. 

Dimitri Ververelli graduated with Honors in Aerospace Engineering in 2011. He currently works as a flight test engineer at Pax River Naval Air Station in Maryland, and, for the last few years, has been working toward getting his masters degree at the University of Arizona. Dimitri is extremely passionate about flying and hopes to one day achieve his dream of becoming a NASA astronaut. He was recently interviewed and featured in our fall Alumni and Friends Newsletter.

Pearl and Precious Craig are Franke Honors alumnas both entering into their third year as Doctor of Pharmacy Candidates at the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy. Throughout their time in Honors, both Pearl and Precious were recipients of numerous accolades and awards from both in and outside of the University. Now, as pharmacy students, these sisters are initiating positive change through an organization they co-founded together in the School of Pharmacy.

Did you know there are scholarships supported by the Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships for alumni to pursue graduate school, teaching, or research in the US and abroad? The Franke Honors College values our ongoing connection to our alumni, and we enthusiastically encourage their continued scholarly endeavors.

Spring brings many things and one of the most exciting is the promise of our Franke Honors graduating class of 2023! This graduating class becomes part of a proud and growing group of alumni here at the Franke Honors College. Like so many of you, our young alumni take with them their hopes and dreams to give back and make a difference in this world.