Udall Center and Partners Welcome 37th Cohort of Udall Center Fellows
This year’s Udall Center Fellows include seven U of A faculty members representing seven schools and departments in four colleges.
Each year since 1990, the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy (UC) Fellows Program has provided tenure-track faculty members at the University of Arizona with time away from teaching or additional resources to support their efforts to fully engage in a research project related to or otherwise potentially impactful to public policy.
Now in its 37th year, the 2026-27 UC Fellows cohort is examining a variety of critical questions and grand challenges facing humanity today, including identifying nutritious drought-tolerant crops to support aging populations, using data to translate the changing climate of the Sonoran Desert into an immersive sonic experience, and measuring the impact of AI-generated content on public trust. This is also the first year of the program featuring an AI-focused research track.
The research and outputs arising from this unique U of A fellowship are the result of partnerships between the UC and the U of A College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Arizona Institute for Resilience, the Office of Research and Partnerships, the Office of the Chief AI and Data Science Officer (CAIO), and the BIO5 Institute.
Read on to learn more about the 2026-27 UC Fellows and the research they will conduct over the course of the upcoming academic year.
Jessica Maves Braithwaite
Associate Professor, School of Government and Public Policy, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Project Title: Crafting Resistance
Project Track: General Public Policy Research, in partnership with the Office of Research and Partnerships
Dissent and the ability of a people to voice opposition to state actions and policies is a central component of any democracy. But, even strongly democratic governments often take steps to limit the reach and impact of dissenting voices and ideas. And, especially in places where democracy is lacking or absent, vocal opposition to those in power can lead to imprisonment and even death.
So, what is it that motivates the mass participation that makes resistance campaigns effective, even in the face of immense risk?
Through her research on the formation and evolution of anti-government campaigns around the world, Jessica Maves Braithwaite has noticed a recurring theme that is present in most efforts to attract broader support for such movements: art.
During her UC Fellowship, Braithwaite will catalog various examples of songs, murals, posters, textile art, plays, and other forms of expression arising from anti-government campaigns around the world to tell a story about how artistic creativity can help dissidents “craft resistance.”
Braithwaite aims to create multiple publicly available resources from this project including a “set of qualitative case description notes… as well as a quantitative dataset… detailing the use of different art forms by rebel groups over time.” She also plans to develop and host a series of public lectures and community crafting activities related to the importance of art in resistance campaigns.
Alexander BuckschAssociate Professor, School of Plant Sciences, College of Agricultural, Life & Environmental SciencesSridevi KrishnanAssistant Professor, School of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness, College of Agricultural, Life & Environmental SciencesProject Title: Common beans and health in aging populationProject Track: Biosciences and Public Policy, in partnership with the BIO5 InstituteHuman beings are living longer than ever, with some researchers projecting that the average human lifespan will reach 125 by the year 2070. As the population ages, the availability of high quality sources of protein will become increasingly important. Around the world, common types of beans are an important, sustainable source of protein and iron for millions of people. However, data shows that drought can cause these crops to lose a significant amount of their nutritional content. Unless, that is, those plants “have specific root traits that help them hold onto nitrogen and iron under stress,” according to the proposal submitted by the research team of Alexander Bucksch and Sridevi Krishnan. Increasing evidence suggests that the ability for roots to hold onto critical nutrients during times of stress is a selectable trait, and yet, agricultural policies and market signals for crops are limited almost exclusively to yield size regardless of the quality of the harvest In their UC Fellowship research project supported by the BIO5 Institute, Bucksch and Krishnan will grow Pinto beans on an Arizona farm and use AI models to estimate the nutritional composition of the crops they harvest. “By identifying ‘climate-resilient, nutrient-stable’ bean types and translating them into practical foods,” the research team says, “this work can guide how breeders select new varieties, how labels and nutrient claims are set, and how public procurement, nutrition programs, and healthy-aging dietary guidelines prioritize beans that truly deliver reliable protein and iron in a changing climate.” |
Yuanyuan Kay He
Associate Professor, School of Music, College of Fine Arts
Project Title: Sonic Ecologies of the Sonoran Desert: Creative Research at the Intersection of Environmental Resilience, Sound, and Public Engagement
Project Track: Environment and Public Policy Research, in partnership with the Arizona Institute for Resilience
Composer and researcher Yuanyuan Kay He plans to journey into the Sonoran Desert in the heat of summer with an ambitious goal in mind: to translate the science and sounds of a changing landscape into something people can hear, feel, and understand.
Her project, Sonic Ecologies of the Sonoran Desert, aims to blend environmental research, sound art, and public engagement to help communities better grasp how water policy, drought, and climate pressures are reshaping life across the arid southwest.
Over six weeks, He will visit research sites managed by partners at Biosphere 2, the Sonoran Institute, the College of Science, and the UA Hydrology Department to collect environmental soundscapes and data, and then work with collaborators at the College of Information Science and the College of Fine Arts to translate that data—from hydrology models to climate projections—into musical and multimedia experiences. The goal is not just to present information, but to make complex policy decisions tangible and relatable. In this project, drought isn’t just a statistic; it becomes a rhythm, a tone, a shifting soundscape that audiences can experience firsthand.
By the end of her UC Fellowship, He expects to produce early prototypes of immersive performances and interactive installations that will be refined and expanded during the 2026–27 academic year. Those future exhibitions and community workshops will be designed to spark conversations about water governance and resilience in arid regions.
At its core, the project aims to bridge the gap between science and public understanding by using art to turn data into stories and, ultimately, to help communities imagine more sustainable futures in the desert.
Hee Jeong Kim
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Mechanics, College of Engineering
Project Title: A Review of Regulatory Pathways for Circular Economy Integration in Arizona's Mining Waste and Wildfire Debris Management
Project Track: Environment and Public Policy Research, in partnership with the Arizona Institute for Resilience
U of A engineer Hee Jeong Kim, whose work engages with policy and environmental systems, is taking a close look at a problem many Arizonans rarely see but increasingly pay for: what to do with the growing volume of waste left behind by mining, wildfires, and contamination.
Her project, supported by the UC Fellows Program, examines whether Arizona policy allows for the safe reuse of some of those materials instead of sending them to landfills. The idea is rooted in the concept of a “circular economy,” where waste is treated not as an endpoint, but as a potential resource, so long as it can be managed without putting groundwater or public health at risk.
According to Kim, Arizona is a prime testing ground for this research. The state is facing more frequent wildfires and has a history of dealing with long-standing mining operations and emerging contaminants such as PFAS chemicals. In many cases, existing state laws do not outright prohibit reuse of these materials. But uncertainty about liability, monitoring requirements, and environmental safety often pushes agencies and contractors toward disposal as the default choice.
During her fellowship, Kim will analyze Arizona statutes and regulatory programs to identify where reuse is already allowed, where rules are unclear, and what evidence regulators would need to approve alternative approaches. She will also examine the long-term costs of disposal and consider engineered reuse strategies, while exploring policy tools such as procurement.
The goal of this work is to create practical guidance for state decision-makers. By clarifying the legal and economic pathways for safe material reuse, the project aims to reduce landfill burdens, protect groundwater, and help Arizona manage waste more efficiently in an era of increasing environmental pressure.
Rain Liu
Assistant Professor, Department of Communication, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Project Title: Shifting Norms, Eroding Trust: How Perceived AI Content Prevalence Shapes Social Media Platform Trust and Policy for Users and Creators
Project Track: AI and Public Policy, in partnership with the Office of Responsible AI
At a moment when trust in online information feels increasingly fragile, Rain Liu, a communication scholar at the University of Arizona, is turning her attention to a deceptively simple question: What happens when people start to believe that everything they see online might be generated by artificial intelligence?
During her UC Fellowship, Liu will launch a project that treats communication—not just technology—as the front line in the fight to preserve credibility in the digital age. Her work draws on years of experience helping communities change behavior through strategic messaging, from reducing plastic bag use to promoting public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, she is applying that same evidence-based approach to one of today’s most pressing communication challenges: the erosion of trust in social media.
The project will begin with a nationwide survey of social media users and in-depth interviews with content creators to better understand how perceptions of AI-generated content shape trust, engagement, and livelihoods. From there, Liu plans to design and test new policy tools—such as transparency dashboards that show how much content is actually AI-generated, or platform signals that highlight verified human creators—to see whether these interventions can rebuild confidence without unintentionally fueling more skepticism.
The fellowship will support the development of policy white papers, academic publications, and stakeholder workshops that bring together researchers, policymakers, and creators to translate findings into practical guidance.
When all is said and done, this project could help social media platforms and regulators craft smarter, more human-centered policies, thereby ensuring that, as artificial intelligence becomes more common, public trust doesn’t become collateral damage.
Lise Nelson
Professor, School of Geography, Development and the Environment, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Project Title: Temporary H-2B visa workers and labor markets in the United States: A multi-scaled analysis
Project Track: Social Sciences and Public Policy, in partnership with the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
For decades, the temporary worker programs that quietly power large swaths of the U.S. economy have remained largely out of public view. But as demand for seasonal labor grows and debates over immigration intensify, Lise Nelson, a professor in the School of Geography, Development and Environment, is taking a closer look at how one little-understood policy is reshaping the nation’s workforce.
During her UC Fellowship, Nelson will further develop a research project focused on the H-2B visa program, which allows U.S. employers to hire temporary foreign workers for jobs in industries such as landscaping, construction, and hospitality. Employer demand for these workers has surged in recent years, raising new questions about how businesses meet labor needs and how temporary visa programs intersect with the continued presence of undocumented workers in the same sectors.
The project will combine detailed mapping of federal labor data with on-the-ground interviews to trace where H-2B workers are being recruited, how patterns have shifted over time, and why some employers rely on the program while others do not. Initial fieldwork will focus on landscaping companies in the Phoenix region, comparing firms that use H-2B workers with those that depend on other labor sources. The research will also examine how changing immigration enforcement policies shape hiring decisions and workforce strategies.
Nelson will use her early findings to prepare major grant proposals to national foundations, laying the groundwork for a multi-year study. Ultimately, the project aims to give policymakers a clearer picture of how temporary worker programs function in practice—offering evidence that could inform future debates about immigration, labor markets, and the economic systems that rely on them.
Learn more about the UC Fellows Program and find a complete list of previous UC Fellows here.