Fall 2024 Letter from the Dean

Sept. 13, 2024
headshot of john pollard in front of w.a. franke sign

Franke Honors Wildcat Alumni & Friends,   

The start of the academic year is always filled with excitement as current students come back to campus and new students begin what is sure to be one of the most life-changing experiences they will have in their young adult lives. As alumni and friends of the Franke Honors College, you understand better than anyone what this pivotal time in life means and how it can shape a person and their future. 

In this newsletter, I am proud to share student, alumni and faculty stories that highlight the Franke Honors educational journey and experience. Freshman Anastasia Rastelli chose the University of Arizona for its strengths in the sciences, and in film and television. She also plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in creative intelligence and innovation, a dual degree only offered in the W.A. Franke Honors College that you’ll read more about in this newsletter.
 
We are also thrilled to feature Lon Huber in this fall’s Alumni Spotlight. Lon is driven by a passion for innovation and sustainability. He also shares how his time at the University of Arizona and the Franke Honors College was life-changing both personally and professionally.   
 

One exciting example of our top-notch faculty, who are inspiring our students, is Dr. Jacqueline Melvold, who is the Compton Chair for Creative Intelligence and Innovation and an award-winning Lecturer in the Transdisciplinary School at the University of Technology Sydney and is Course Director of the Bachelor of Technology and Innovation. She is passionate about exploring innovative and creative approaches to learning in collaborative and transdisciplinary environments. Dr. Melvold was instrumental in developing and implementing the curriculum for the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation (BCII) dual degree program.

As part of the BCII experience, Derick Maggard, Director of Student Ventures at Tech Launch Arizona, joined the Franke Honors College last year. His focus is engaging external partners to provide students with hands-on, real-world experiences. As we look to expand our BCII Partnerships, we invite our alumni and friends to help us grow! Derick also serves as one of the newest members of our expanding Franke Honors Advisory Board. The expertise, guidance, and community connections the FHAB provides are vital in my role as Dean as we look to the future of the Franke Honors College. 

Finally, we are excited about this year’s Homecoming 2024 – Desert Bound! I hope you will join us as we welcome home and celebrate our Franke Honors Wildcats. Register Now to attend our Franke Honors Tent on the Mall and sign up for one of our student-led tours of our amazing hub of innovation and community, the Honors Village. Watch our Homecoming Tent Takeover from last year!

Bear Down and Go Cats! 

John Pollard 
Franke Dean 
W.A. Franke Honors College