Watts Up! Newsletter

It is with great pleasure that the Wyant College of Optical Sciences announces that three Endowed Chairs in Optical Sciences have been awarded. The establishment of these endowed chairs has been made possible through the generous donations made by Optica and the Thomas R. Brown Family Foundation, and the $20+ million matching pledge made by the late founding dean of the college, Emeritus Professor James C. Wyant, and his family.

Two Wyant College students were selected for the 2023 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). The five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support inclusive of an annual stipend of $37,000. Ph.D. students Noelle Daigle, advised by Dr. Travis Sawyer as part of the BOOM lab, and Nico Deshler, advised by Dr. Amit Ashok were among those selected for this year's awards.

The University of Arizona has appointed Dr. Brian P. Anderson as Interim Dean of the Wyant College of Optical Sciences, effective July 1, 2025. A faculty member since 2001 and Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Affairs since 2019, Dr. Anderson is a renowned expert in Bose-Einstein condensates and quantum optics. He brings over two decades of research, teaching, and leadership experience to the role and is committed to advancing the College’s mission in research, education, and innovation.