Where Every Dollar Goes: Rethinking Procurement in Arizona

Where Every Dollar Goes: Rethinking Procurement 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. This special episode was produced in partnership with the County Supervisors Association of Arizona and features a conversation from its Creatures of Statute podcast. It highlights how Arizona’s public universities partner with state and local leaders to tackle complex issues and improve outcomes across the state. The discussion focuses on procurement and how it functions across Arizona’s local governments. It explores where there is real opportunity to improve efficiency, strengthen oversight and save public dollars. The conversation stems from a research effort led by Arizona State University in partnership with the County Supervisors Association and the League of Arizona Cities and Towns. The work was supported through an Arizona Board of Regents Regents’ Community Grant and reflects a broader effort to bring practical, data-driven solutions to public sector challenges. To kick things off, we chat with Craig Sullivan, the executive director at the CSA, to help set the stage for this research and explain why this work matters now. Following that, you’ll hear a conversation between Brandon Nee, director of strategic initiatives at the CSA, and ASU researchers Dr. Akheil Singla and PhD candidate Mariah Lindberg who spoke with him about the findings and opportunities they identified. Read the final report here: https://www.countysupervisors.org/general-government/procurement Those strategies are now starting to extend beyond the study’s conclusions and into real-world conditions. The board recently approved an additional $100,000 Regents’ Community Grant to ASU to evaluate procurement reforms in Kingman and Mohave County. Researchers will track how procurement performs before and after the changes, capturing not just savings, but the staffing, coordination and system adjustments required to make those improvements stick. You can learn more here: https://www.azregents.edu/news-releases/regents-backed-study-outlines-strategies-more-efficient-purchasing-local-governments Stay informed, inspired, and connected to the future of Arizona’s public universities by visiting azregents.edu and AZOpportunity.com.

Regent Gregg Brewster on impact, opportunity and life after college

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 Gregg Brewster, who joined the board in 2022 and has been a continuous advocate for aligning higher education with Arizona’s workforce needs and a steady voice making the case that increasing college attainment is key to the state’s economic growth. We talk with Regent Brewster about how Arizona’s public universities serve the state, the role they play in addressing major challenges like health care and how university communities continue to shape lives long after graduation. Stay informed, inspired, and connected to the future of Arizona’s public universities by visiting azregents.edu and AZOpportunity.com.

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.