AZ Opportunity Podcast

Regent Jessica Pacheco on Innovation, Talent and the Future of Arizona’s Public Universities

The AZ Opportunity Podcast is a production of the Arizona Board of Regents and a helpful source for the latest news, activities and updates on how Arizona’s public universities are preparing tomorrow's workforce, advancing innovation and research, expanding access to education, and driving Arizona's economy. In today’s episode, we’re joined by Regent Jessica Pacheco, a leading voice on workforce development, innovation and the long-term success of Arizona’s public universities. We talk with Regent Pacheco about the innovation ecosystems taking shape at Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona; how the universities are preparing talent for Arizona’s evolving economy; and the role athletics play as a front porch for our campuses and the state. Stay informed, inspired, and connected to the future of Arizona’s public universities by visiting azregents.edu and AZOpportunity.com.

AZ Opportunity News Digest - December Edition

The AZ Opportunity Podcast is a production of the Arizona Board of Regents and a helpful source for the latest news, activities and updates on how Arizona’s public universities are preparing tomorrow's workforce, advancing innovation and research, expanding access to education and driving Arizona's economy. In this news digest, we cover: * The board's partnership with the Arizona Department of Agriculture to launch the Arizona Hub for Agriculture Innovation [https://www.azregents.edu/news-releases/abor-approves-regents-research-grant-power-sustainable-agriculture-arizona]. * A new Regents' Grant supporting dual-use technologies [https://www.azregents.edu/news-releases/regents-grants-fuel-innovation-dual-use-technology]. * The launch of the College Ready AZ FAFSA Scholarship [https://www.azregents.edu/news-releases/arizona-board-regents-launches-college-ready-az-fafsa-scholarship]. * A ticket incentive with the Valley Suns [https://www.azregents.edu/news-releases/abor-and-valley-suns-team-boost-fafsa-completion] for FAFSA completion. * An update on the board's civic knowledge general education assessment [https://www.azregents.edu/news-releases/arizona-leads-nationally-general-education-reform-civic-knowledge-assessment]. * ASU's partnership with the Department of Energy [https://news.asu.edu/20251209-science-and-technology-us-department-energy-selects-asu-and-dcx-pioneer-new-ways-power]. * An NAU student's selection [https://news.nau.edu/martinez-grfp/] for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. * U of A's partnership with Onvida Health [https://news.arizona.edu/news/u-college-medicine-phoenix-and-onvida-health-announce-groundbreaking-rural-health-partnership] to launch AZ's first rural medical school. Stay informed, inspired and connected to the future of Arizona’s public universities by visiting azregents.edu [https://www.azregents.edu/] and azopportunity.com [https://azopportunity.com/].

A Decade of Impact: U of A and Banner Health transform health care in Arizona

The AZ Opportunity Podcast is a production of the Arizona Board of Regents and a helpful source for the latest news, activities and updates on how Arizona’s public universities are preparing tomorrow's workforce, advancing innovation and research, expanding access to education, and driving Arizona's economy. In this special episode Regent Gregg Brewster hosts a conversation with Provost Patricia Prelock of the University of Arizona and Dr. Ben Schwartz, president of academic delivery at Banner Health, to reflect on a decade of collaboration between the two organizations. The episode highlights milestone achievements, personal stories of impact and a forward-looking vision for addressing the evolving needs of Arizona’s health care system. It offers insights for policymakers, educators, health professionals and community members invested in building a healthier, more resilient Arizona. Key topics discussed include: * Expanded access to quality patient care across Arizona. * Advanced academic medicine through hands-on clinical training and one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs. * Accelerated medical research and innovation, leading to critical breakthroughs. * Strengthened the health care workforce, with a focus on primary care and rural communities through the AZ Opportunity initiative. For more details and to read the full economic impact report executive summary, visit https://www.azregents.edu/sites/default/files/2025-10/Banner-U-of-A-one-pager-2025.pdf [https://www.azregents.edu/sites/default/files/2025-10/Banner-U-of-A-one-pager-2025.pdf].  For videos and b-roll from the convening, visit: https://azregents.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/ABORPublic/EpVgOCisRtRFoijfnShA1PQBpJAZlclDCuJNrPD_9caKyA?e=hxAoa2 [https://azregents.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/ABORPublic/EpVgOCisRtRFoijfnShA1PQBpJAZlclDCuJNrPD_9caKyA?e=hxAoa2]  For more information on the Banner Health – U of A partnership visit: https://www.bannerhealth.com/celebrating-10-years-of-partnership [https://www.bannerhealth.com/celebrating-10-years-of-partnership]  Stay informed, inspired and connected to the future of Arizona’s public universities by visiting azregents.edu and AZOpportunity.com.

AZ Opportunity News Digest - 8.28.25

The AZ Opportunity Podcast is a production of the Arizona Board of Regents and a helpful source for the latest news, activities and updates on how Arizona’s public universities are preparing tomorrow's workforce, advancing innovation and research, expanding access to education, and driving Arizona's economy. In this news digest, we cover: * Arizona Board of Regents Committee on Free Expression reviewed a draft of its 2025 Free Expression Annual Report [https://www.azregents.edu/news-releases/abor-report-showcases-national-leadership-campus-free-speech]. * The latest on the Arizona Tri-University Recharge and Water Reliability Project [https://www.azregents.edu/news-releases/arizonas-public-universities-unite-safeguard-states-groundwater] including the research team’s updates from the 2025 Summer Newsletter [https://ccass.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/2025-07/ATUR-Summer-2025-Newsletter-FINAL.pdf]. * Highlights from ABOR’s latest Future of Arizona series convening at the Biosphere 2 [https://azregents-my.sharepoint.com/personal/nicholas_opich_azregents_edu/Documents/ABOR%20convenes%20statewide%20leaders%20to%20shape%20wildfire%20resilience%20strategy], focusing on wildfire resiliency. * The board’s partnership with the U.S. Department of Education to lead national beta testing [https://www.azregents.edu/news-releases/abor-partners-us-department-education-lead-national-fafsa-beta-testing-initiative] for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and ticket incentive partnership with the Arizona Diamondbacks. * Back to school campus resources from ASU, NAU and the U of A * https://housing.arizona.edu/move-in [https://housing.arizona.edu/move-in] * https://housing.asu.edu/move-in [https://housing.asu.edu/move-in] * https://nau.edu/flagstaff-campus/campus-living/ [https://nau.edu/flagstaff-campus/campus-living/] University spotlights include: * A team of international scientists led by ASU has discovered 13 fossilized teeth [https://news.asu.edu/20250813-science-and-technology-asu-scientists-uncover-new-fossils-and-new-species-ancient-human] in northeastern Ethiopia that date back between 2.6 and 2.8 million years. * Governor Katie Hobbs recent visit to NAU [https://news.nau.edu/hobbs-visit-healthcare-shortage/] as part of her statewide Arizona Promise Tour, spotlighting efforts to fill critical healthcare gaps in the state, especially in rural and underserved communities. * U of A has set a new record for innovation [https://news.arizona.edu/news/u-again-breaks-record-impactful-inventions] in fiscal year 2025, reporting 324 invention disclosures Stay informed, inspired and connected to the future of Arizona’s public universities by visiting azregents.edu [https://www.azregents.edu/] and azopportunity.com [https://azopportunity.com/].

Regents' Grant Spotlight: Reducing Cancer Risk for Arizona Firefighters

Welcome back to another episode of the AZ Opportunity Podcast, a production of the Arizona Board of Regents — bringing you the highlights and higher education headlines from across Arizona’s public university system. In this episode, we spotlight a groundbreaking Regents’ Research Grant that’s tackling a critical issue facing Arizona’s firefighters: exposure to toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. Regents' Grants are a board-led grant initiative that brings together Arizona's public university researchers, state government agencies and community organizations to tackle pressing challenges facing our state. Join us as we explore how a powerful collaboration between ABOR, the University of Arizona, Arizona State University and the Arizona Fire Chiefs Association is working to reduce cancer risk among first responders. The study investigates whether simple lifestyle changes, and even blood and plasma donations, can help reverse the damage caused by PFAS exposure. You’ll hear from Dr. Jeff Burgess of the U of A as he shares early findings and insights from the research conducted in collaboration with Dr. Floris Wardenaar of ASU. Plus, members of the Goodyear Fire Department join the conversation to talk about their own experiences with cancer in the line of duty and their leadership in bringing this study to life for their community. Stay informed, inspired and connected to the future of Arizona’s public universities by visiting azregents.edu and learn more about ABOR’s AZ Opportunity mission by visiting azopportunity.com.