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:

• Arizona Board of Regents Committee on Free Expression reviewed a draft of its 2025 Free Expression Annual Report.
• The latest on the Arizona Tri-University Recharge and Water Reliability Project including the research team’s updates from the 2025 Summer Newsletter.
• Highlights from ABOR’s latest Future of Arizona series convening at the Biosphere 2, focusing on wildfire resiliency.
• The board’s partnership with the U.S. Department of Education to lead national beta testing for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and ticket incentive partnership with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
• Back to school campus resources from ASU, NAU and the U of A
• https://housing.arizona.edu/move-in
• https://housing.asu.edu/move-in
• https://nau.edu/flagstaff-campus/campus-living/

University spotlights include:

• A team of international scientists led by ASU has discovered 13 fossilized teeth in northeastern Ethiopia that date back between 2.6 and 2.8 million years.
• Governor Katie Hobbs recent visit to NAU as part of her statewide Arizona Promise Tour, spotlighting efforts to fill critical healthcare gaps in the state, especially in rural and underserved communities.
• U of A has set a new record for innovation in fiscal year 2025, reporting 324 invention disclosures

Stay informed, inspired and connected to the future of Arizona’s public universities by visiting azregents.edu and azopportunity.com.

Welcome back to another episode of the AZ Opportunity Podcast, a production of the Arizona Board of Regents — bringing you the highlights and higher education headlines from across Arizona’s public university system.

In this episode, we spotlight a groundbreaking Regents’ Research Grant that’s tackling a critical issue facing Arizona’s firefighters: exposure to toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. Regents' Grants are a board-led grant initiative that brings together Arizona's public university researchers, state government agencies and community organizations to tackle pressing challenges facing our state.

Join us as we explore how a powerful collaboration between ABOR, the University of Arizona, Arizona State University and the Arizona Fire Chiefs Association is working to reduce cancer risk among first responders. The study investigates whether simple lifestyle changes, and even blood and plasma donations, can help reverse the damage caused by PFAS exposure.

You’ll hear from Dr. Jeff Burgess of the U of A as he shares early findings and insights from the research conducted in collaboration with Dr. Floris Wardenaar of ASU. Plus, members of the Goodyear Fire Department join the conversation to talk about their own experiences with cancer in the line of duty and their leadership in bringing this study to life for their community.

Additional resources for those interested in learning more:

• Background on the firefighters Regents’ Research Grant: https://www.azregents.edu/news-releases/new-abor-regents-research-grant-seeks-reduce-cancer-risk-arizonas-firefighters
• Presentation of the preliminary results of the study at ABOR’s June board meeting: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/md471htaqqpj7blysbbr6/AAyqKySN-87VfNqRGHU5lKY?dl=0&e=3&rlkey=7ywn73asa30m4wri4qvmdz03q&st=o1wkcra8
• Bio on Dr. Jeff Burgess: https://publichealth.arizona.edu/directory/jeff-burgess
• More information on the Regents’ Grant program: https://www.azregents.edu/regents-grants

Stay informed, inspired and connected to the future of Arizona’s public universities by visiting azregents.edu and learn more about ABOR’s AZ Opportunity mission by visiting azopportunity.com.

The AZ Opportunity Podcast, a production of the Arizona Board of Regents — bringing you the highlights and higher education headlines from across Arizona’s public university system. In this news digest, we cover:

• The Arizona Senate’s unanimous confirmation of Regent Lee Stein.

• Arizona’s selection for a national initiative supporting postsecondary education for justice-impacted students.

• Highlights from the Future of Arizona series in Yuma, focusing on sustainable agriculture and research collaboration.

• A new Regents’ Grant-funded partnership with ADOT to improve safety for inexperienced drivers.

• University spotlights include:
• ASU was ranked fourth among public universities in the U.S. for developing the next generation of digital and AI-ready leaders.
• NAU’s new online certificate in Election Administration.
• U of A’s accelerated three-year MD pathways to address the state’s physician shortage.

Stay informed, inspired and connected to the future of Arizona’s public universities by visiting azregents.edu and azopportunity.com.

Welcome to the AZ Opportunity Podcast, a production of the Arizona Board of Regents. The AZ Opportunity Podcast is the official 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.

AZ Opportunity is the board’s long-range vision and is rooted in the principle that public higher education remains the best investment an individual student – or state – can make in our shared future. Whether you\'re a student, faculty member, policymaker, business leader or simply someone in the community passionate about higher education, this podcast channel will bring you on in the news you want to know about higher education in the state of Arizona.

Tune in for conversations with university leaders from Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona; business and community partners from across Arizona and the nation; learn about insights into academic innovation and stay up to date on the news stories that are shaping Arizona’s public university system.

So stay inspired and subscribe to the AZ Opportunity Podcast today through whatever platform you use to listen to podcasts and make sure you check out azregents.edu and azopportunity.com to follow along. 

Welcome to the AZ Opportunity Podcast, a production of the Arizona Board of Regents. The AZ Opportunity Podcast is the official 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.

AZ Opportunity is the board’s long-range vision and is rooted in the principle that public higher education remains the best investment an individual student – or state – can make in our shared future. Whether you're a student, faculty member, policymaker, business leader or simply someone in the community passionate about higher education, this podcast channel will bring you on in the news you want to know about higher education in the state of Arizona.

Tune in for conversations with university leaders from Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona; business and community partners from across Arizona and the nation; learn about insights into academic innovation and stay up to date on the news stories that are shaping Arizona’s public university system.

So stay inspired and subscribe to the AZ Opportunity Podcast today through whatever platform you use to listen to podcasts and make sure you check out azregents.edu and azopportunity.com to follow along.