AZ Opportunity Podcast

AZ Opportunity Podcast

By Arizona Board of RegentsNewsEducationSelf-ImprovementGovernmentBusiness News
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AZ Opportunity Podcast episodes

  • Student Regent Felipe Garcia on Why Essential Needs Matter

    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 episode, we sit down with Student Regent Felipe Garcia to discuss the 2026 Student Essential Needs Report, which examines how challenges related to food, housing, transportation, health care and technology affect student success and degree completion.

    The conversation explores why addressing students’ essential needs is critical not only to helping more students stay on track to graduate, but also to strengthening Arizona’s workforce pipeline. Regent Garcia also highlights the partnerships Arizona’s public universities have built with community organizations to connect students with vital resources and remove barriers that can stand in the way of earning a degree.

    You can check out the full 2026 Essential Needs Report at https://www.azregents.edu/sites/default/files/reports/2026-Student-Essential-Needs-Report.pdf

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

    30 min
  • Meet the Newest Student Regent Aydin-Kane Vo
    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.
    This episode we’re chatting with the newest student regent, Aydin-Kane Vo, who shares his journey from student researcher to student leader, discusses what inspired him to seek a position on the board and reflects on the experiences that have shaped his perspective on higher education. We also talk about the role of a student regent, the importance of representing student voices in board discussions and the issues he believes will have the greatest impact on Arizona students in the years ahead.
    From academic innovation and research to affordability, access and student success, Regent Vo offers his thoughts on the opportunities and challenges facing Arizona’s public universities. He also discusses what he hopes to accomplish during his term and how he plans to ensure students remain at the center of the board’s work.
    Stay informed, inspired and connected to the future of Arizona’s public universities by visiting azregents.edu and AZOpportunity.com.
    39 min
  • Where Every Dollar Goes: Rethinking Procurement in Arizona
    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.
    This special episode was produced in partnership with the County Supervisors Association of Arizona and features a conversation from its Creatures of Statute podcast. It highlights how Arizona’s public universities partner with state and local leaders to tackle complex issues and improve outcomes across the state.
    The discussion focuses on procurement and how it functions across Arizona’s local governments. It explores where there is real opportunity to improve efficiency, strengthen oversight and save public dollars. The conversation stems from a research effort led by Arizona State University in partnership with the County Supervisors Association and the League of Arizona Cities and Towns. The work was supported through an Arizona Board of Regents Regents’ Community Grant and reflects a broader effort to bring practical, data-driven solutions to public sector challenges.
    To kick things off, we chat with Craig Sullivan, the executive director at the CSA, to help set the stage for this research and explain why this work matters now. Following that, you’ll hear a conversation between Brandon Nee, director of strategic initiatives at the CSA, and ASU researchers Dr. Akheil Singla and PhD candidate Mariah Lindberg who spoke with him about the findings and opportunities they identified.
    Read the final report here: https://www.countysupervisors.org/general-government/procurement
    Those strategies are now starting to extend beyond the study’s conclusions and into real-world conditions. The board recently approved an additional $100,000 Regents’ Community Grant to ASU to evaluate procurement reforms in Kingman and Mohave County. Researchers will track how procurement performs before and after the changes, capturing not just savings, but the staffing, coordination and system adjustments required to make those improvements stick. You can learn more here: https://www.azregents.edu/news-releases/regents-backed-study-outlines-strategies-more-efficient-purchasing-local-governments
    Stay informed, inspired, and connected to the future of Arizona’s public universities by visiting azregents.edu and AZOpportunity.com.
    39 min
  • Regent Gregg Brewster on impact, opportunity and life after college
    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 today’s episode, we’re joined by Regent Gregg Brewster, who joined the board in 2022 and has been a continuous advocate for aligning higher education with Arizona’s workforce needs and a steady voice making the case that increasing college attainment is key to the state’s economic growth.
    We talk with Regent Brewster about how Arizona’s public universities serve the state, the role they play in addressing major challenges like health care and how university communities continue to shape lives long after graduation.
    Stay informed, inspired, and connected to the future of Arizona’s public universities by visiting azregents.edu and AZOpportunity.com.
    41 min
  • Regent Jessica Pacheco on Innovation, Talent and the Future of Arizona’s Public Universities
    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 today’s episode, we’re joined by Regent Jessica Pacheco, a leading voice on workforce development, innovation and the long-term success of Arizona’s public universities.
    We talk with Regent Pacheco about the innovation ecosystems taking shape at Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona; how the universities are preparing talent for Arizona’s evolving economy; and the role athletics play as a front porch for our campuses and the state.
    Stay informed, inspired, and connected to the future of Arizona’s public universities by visiting azregents.edu and AZOpportunity.com.
    56 min
  • AZ Opportunity News Digest - December Edition

    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:

    • The board's partnership with the Arizona Department of Agriculture to launch the Arizona Hub for Agriculture Innovation.
    • A new Regents' Grant supporting dual-use technologies.
    • The launch of the College Ready AZ FAFSA Scholarship.
    • A ticket incentive with the Valley Suns for FAFSA completion.
    • An update on the board's civic knowledge general education assessment.
    • ASU's partnership with the Department of Energy.
    • An NAU student's selection for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.
    • U of A's partnership with Onvida Health to launch AZ's first rural medical school.

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

    12 min
  • A Decade of Impact: U of A and Banner Health transform health care in Arizona

    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 special episode Regent Gregg Brewster hosts a conversation with Provost Patricia Prelock of the University of Arizona and Dr. Ben Schwartz, president of academic delivery at Banner Health, to reflect on a decade of collaboration between the two organizations.

    The episode highlights milestone achievements, personal stories of impact and a forward-looking vision for addressing the evolving needs of Arizona’s health care system. It offers insights for policymakers, educators, health professionals and community members invested in building a healthier, more resilient Arizona.

    Key topics discussed include:

    • Expanded access to quality patient care across Arizona.
    • Advanced academic medicine through hands-on clinical training and one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs.
    • Accelerated medical research and innovation, leading to critical breakthroughs.
    • Strengthened the health care workforce, with a focus on primary care and rural communities through the AZ Opportunity initiative.

    For more details and to read the full economic impact report executive summary, visit https://www.azregents.edu/sites/default/files/2025-10/Banner-U-of-A-one-pager-2025.pdf. 

    For videos and b-roll from the convening, visit: https://azregents.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/ABORPublic/EpVgOCisRtRFoijfnShA1PQBpJAZlclDCuJNrPD_9caKyA?e=hxAoa2 

    For more information on the Banner Health – U of A partnership visit: https://www.bannerhealth.com/celebrating-10-years-of-partnership 

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

     

    37 min
  • AZ Opportunity News Digest - 8.28.25

    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.

    15 min
  • Regents' Grant Spotlight: Reducing Cancer Risk for Arizona Firefighters
    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.
    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.
    19 min
  • AZ Opportunity News Digest - 7.1.25

    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.

    9 min

About AZ Opportunity Podcast

From the publisher's feed

The AZ Opportunity Podcast, a production of the Arizona Board of Regents. The AZ Opportunity Podcast is the official source for the highlights and higher education headlines from Arizona’s public university system. Whether you're a student, faculty member, policymaker or simply passionate about higher education, this podcast will bring you the latest news, activities and updates on higher education in the state of Arizona.