Dr. Dahmer is a physician, researcher, and educator dedicated to advancing evidence-based integrative medicine. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and fellowship-trained at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, he is triple board-certified in Family, Integrative, and Lifestyle Medicine. His career has included academic and clinical roles at institutions such as Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and the University of Arizona, and his work continues to shape new approaches to compassionate, patient-centered care. 

Terry J. Lundgren is a renowned retail executive who served as Chairman and CEO of Macy’s, Inc., where he led one of the largest retail organizations in the world. A University of Arizona alumnus, he has remained deeply committed to education and community impact, founding the Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing to support the next generation of business leaders. 

Benjamin Driggs oversees enterprise strategy, mergers and acquisitions, venture investments, and commercial functions at Honeywell Aerospace. A graduate of the University of Arizona Honors College and a Swanson Scholar at Oxford University, he has held executive leadership roles across four continents and remains deeply committed to mentorship, education, and expanding opportunities for Honors College students.

In this episode, Dean Pollard sits down with Reed-Francois for a timely and inspiring discussion about what it truly means to build a championship culture—one that fuels success on the court while shaping leaders for life. As Arizona celebrates its conference title in its inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference, this conversation feels especially relevant, highlighting the intentional leadership, vision, and resilience required to compete at the highest level.

A proud University of Arizona alumna and former student-athlete, Reed-Francois reflects on her journey from rowing at UCLA to her impactful years at the U of A Law School in the ’90s, and ultimately to leading Arizona Athletics. With vivid sports analogies and stories from across her career—including addressing incoming first-year students alongside Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita—she illustrates how athletics and academics intersect to create cohesive, high-performing teams.

As the only woman athletic director in the Big 12, Reed-Francois offers powerful insights on leadership, innovation, and preparing student-athletes for success beyond sports. This encore release celebrates not only a championship season, but the culture and commitment that made it possible.

With more than three decades of experience in healthcare leadership, Alison has held senior executive roles across academic medical centers and national organizations, guiding large-scale system growth, operational transformation, and innovation. Her work has earned national recognition for advancing patient-centered care, strengthening organizational culture, and developing high-performing, mission-driven teams. 

Dr. Prelock is an internationally recognized scholar in autism, interprofessional education, and family-centered care. She has authored over 220 publications, delivered more than 600 invited presentations, and secured over $25 million in research funding. Prior to joining the University of Arizona, she served as Interim President at the University of Vermont and held multiple senior leadership roles in higher education. 

A recipient of the U.S. Student Program Fulbright Scholar and graduate of the University of Arizona Eller School of Business, Wesley earned a master’s degree in Global Economy and Strategy from Yonsei University in Seoul and has spent significant time living and working across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. His journey underscores a central theme of the episode: that embracing curiosity and stepping beyond the familiar can open pathways far greater than initially imagined. 

Thinking about applying for a Fulbright? University of Arizona students and almuni are encouraged to connect with ONCS and apply through the campus process. Applying through the campus process gives you access to personalized advising, feedback, and a strong campus network to help you put forward your most competitive application. Fulbright website: https://us.fulbrightonline.org 

Dr. Díaz de la Rubia provides an accessible overview of fusion energy—how laser-driven fusion works, why it represents a significant clean-energy opportunity, and what obstacles still limit commercial viability. He also outlines the university’s growing initiatives in artificial intelligence, including applications in healthcare, national security, mining, and space science. 

The episode highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration across research domains and concludes with reflections on leadership, career growth, and Dr. Díaz de la Rubia’s personal interest in wine. 

Their conversation delves into the many ways ancestry shapes who we are: through culture, immigration, family, and the stories passed down through generations. They discuss how traditions, indigenous perspectives, and collective memories give meaning to ancestry, and how we unconsciously perpetuate practices that connect us to those who came before. 

Gabi shares insights from her work as an HSI Honors intern, as well as reflections from her own life—including her musical compositions inspired by Día de los Muertos. Together, they examine how honoring ancestry can serve as both emotional healing and empowerment, and how cultural icons in media can redefine traditional narratives, uplifting shared heritage and identity. 

Listeners will hear Dr. Bever’s insights on language development and pyscholinguistics, his experiments surrounding the U-shaped learning curve in adolescents, and his evolving interest in consciousness studies. The episode culminates with a thought-provoking exploration of artificial intelligence and the philosophical—and potentially scientific—questions it raises. This conversation offers a rare look into the thinking of a scholar whose decades of work have reshaped how we understand language, learning, and the human mind. 

Listeners will hear Adeel’s insights on entrepreneurship, patient education, and the evolving role of AI in healthcare and education. He also discusses how a newfound hobby in golf and accessibility challenges inspired the creation of Dryvebox. The episode culminates with reflections on balancing family life with ambitious ventures and a vision for the future of technology in medicine. This conversation offers a rare look into the thinking of a founder, Franke alum, and Flinn Scholar whose career spans clinical care, investment, and innovative startups. 

In this episode, Bill reflects on his unconventional upbringing, his early career as a trial lawyer, and his intelligence work during the Cuban Missile Crisis—where he helped shape U.S. communication strategy in Latin America. He shares insights from decades of experience restructuring and growing enterprises into Fortune 500 companies and explains the core philosophy that drives his business and philanthropic ventures alike. 

We also explore Bill’s deep commitment to education and his legacy of investing in student potential. From the W.A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation at the University of Montana to the W.A. Franke College of Business at NAU, and now the W.A. Franke Honors College at the University of Arizona, Bill has helped create transformative learning environments across the country. He discusses his hopes for the future of the Honors College and offers timeless advice on leadership, curiosity, and impact for students looking to change the world. 

From the symbolism of Chuck Taylors and tan suits to the unspoken codes that define political presence, Dr. Poloni-Staudinger reflects on her research into how fashion choices shape public perception—particularly for women navigating the double-bind of appearing too feminine or not feminine enough. The conversation spans from global leaders like Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the nuanced branding choices of U.S. politicians. 

They also dive into Dean Poloni-Staudinger’s path to leadership—her early career in wildlife biology, her move into political science, and the rapid rise that brought imposter syndrome but also a deep understanding of authenticity. With perspectives shaped by both professional and personal experience, including raising college-aged children, she discusses how to lead with honesty, adapt to shifting expectations, and respond to the challenges facing higher education today. 

With vivid sports analogies, Desireé shares stories from her diverse career in collegiate sports, spotlighting memorable moments including a speech to incoming freshman students alongside Arizona’s start quarterback Noah Fifita. They also discuss the future of collegiate athletics, including Arizona’s Big Twelve conference move and the innovative Franke Honors dual degree program in Creative Intelligence and Innovation. As the only woman AD in the Big Twelve, Desireé offers inspiring insights into leadership, resilience, and preparing student-athletes for life beyond sports. 

This episode will delve into our efforts to fuel wonder through innovative programming and collaboration, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education, and the crucial role of teaching and developing critical thinking, entrepreneurial, and interdisciplinary skills among student populations. We'll also address questions about these initiatives and explore the Franke Honors Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation degree, the significance of experiential learning, and the importance of promoting diversity within the Honors and SBS college.

In this episode, Dr. Melvold shares her perspective as a scientist, educator and advocate for transdisciplinary learning in higher education. We discuss the value of asking beautiful questions, her involvement in developing the BCII and collaborations with industry partners, and what transdisciplinary education could mean for the future of Franke Honors. 

Their conversation is bilingual, in Spanish and English, and centers around Day of the Dead—its meaning as a holiday, its deep connection to art, its significance across cultures, our guests’ personal connections and memories, and their involvement in the event on November 2nd. 

In today’s episode, Dr. Kraus shares her lived experiences with us, and her incredible perspective on access and equity, particularly in higher education. We discuss ableism, the importance of universal design, issues of accessibility in the classroom and campus, and the 2023-24 Franke Honors Common Reading Book, Sitting Pretty by Rebekah Taussig. Dr. Kraus also shares with us how, through her mentor Dr. Sue Krager, she was introduced to wheelchair tennis, which changed her life and has become one of her biggest passions. 

In today’s 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. 

In today’s episode, we discuss the power of thinking creatively across disciplines, Bem’s origin story with the creation of the BCII at the University of Technology Sydney, her process of bringing this extraordinary dual degree to the W.A. Franke Honors College, and how this cutting-edge program will impact future generations of Franke Honors Wildcats. 

Dr. Gomez conducts studies with learners of different ages to better understand how memory processes are supported by the brain and how they change with development. If you are interested in learning more or you would like to participate in a study, visit https://www.childcognitionlab.arizona.edu