Miguel Chuaqui ∙ Professor of Composition, School of Music
Dr. Chuaqui was hosted by Dr. Chris Hopkins at the University of Iowa. While there, Chuaqui gave two presentations to students and faculty on Max Techniques in Music. In addition, two of Chuaqui’s compositions, Trance and Evocaciones were performed by George Work (University of Iowa) and Laura Grantier (University of Utah) respectively. Chuaqui described the visit as “very collegial and collaborative” and hopes it will lead to future collaborations.
Isabel Dulfano ∙ Professor of Spanish and Latin American Literature, Department of World Languages and Cultures, College of Humanities
Dr. Dulfano was hosted by Alba Fernández-Keys, Curator of the Rare Book Collection at the University of Arizona. While there, Dulfano was able to examine various items including the works of [Arizona/Mexico] borderland Native writers as part of a research project on artists’ books as visual renditions of the ongoing intergenerational trauma experienced by Native populations. Dulfano said that the fellowship was fruitful in fostering a working collaboration between the University of Arizona Library, Marriott Library and herself.
Chris Pantelides ∙ Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, John and Marcia Price, College of Engineering
Dr. Pantelides was hosted by Dr. Dimitrios Kalliontzis at the University of Houston. While there Pantelides explored Kalliontzis’ panel tester with a view to testing his plywood panels and cross-laminated timber panels. Pantelides also prepared an NSF proposal with Kalliontzis to use the panel tester and to carry out sub-assembly experiments at the Structures Laboratory at the University of Utah. As a result of this project, Pantelides was invited to give a presentation entitled “The Future of Mass Timber Research” at the Colorado School of Mines in July 2025.
Xiayue Cathy Liu ∙ Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, John and Marcia Price, College of Engineering
Dr. Liu was hosted by Dr. Mohamed Abdel-Aty at the University of Central Florida, where she worked with him in his Smart & Safe Transportation Lab. While there, Liu observed several innovative research initiatives firsthand and learned about AI-enabled pedestrian detection methods. Liu and Abdel-Aty initiated several future collaborations, including a research paper that merges their complimentary data sets on real-time traffic safety, a joint proposal to the U.S. Department of transport, and an NSF grant.
Samantha Briggs ∙ Assistant Professor of Theater, Department of Theater, College of Fine Arts
Dr. Briggs was hosted by Drs. Mary McAvoy & Karen Jean Martinson at Arizona State University, where she worked on two projects: Investigating pre-service teachers’ dispositions toward critical pedagogy and a two-year play development process for Soul Magnet (a new work by playwright Dane Futrell), with McAvoy and Martinson respectively. Biggs says that “this grant made it possible to engage in deep, sustained work that has already led to concrete outcomes—including a forthcoming article, a developed conference presentation, and new creative materials—and laid the foundation for continued collaboration”