AASTA's Founding Fellows

 

AASTA's Founding Fellows comprise a diverse cross-section of nationally and internationally accomplished scientists, scholars, artists, professionals, and intellectuals.   Representing fields spanning the physical and life sciences, engineering, medicine, law, humanities and the arts, many play leading roles in advising the federal government though leadership of and service on panels convened by such entities as the National Academies of Science and multiple federal agencies.  

 

They hold fellowships in or have been recognized by prestigious societies and organizations worldwide including the MacArthur Foundation, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Royal Society (U.K.), the Dutch Royal Academy, The Royal Astronomical Society, the Institute of Medicine, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Defense Sciences Board, to name but a few.

 

They possess terminal degrees from the nation's leading universities and represent the intellectual leadership core of Arizona.   Dozens hold Regent's or endowed professorships, while many others currently lead or have led in institutional roles as provosts, chancellors, deans or department chairs at Arizona universities or elsewhere in the nation.   Others serve in leadership roles in the public and private sectors. Collectively the Founding Fellows have published thousands of articles in leading journals and have authored hundreds of books, for which several have been awarded prestigious prizes. Worldwide, many of AASTA's Founding Fellows are recognized as leaders in their fields.

 

The Founding Fellows routinely attract millions of dollars of new research funding annually to the State, and several oversee facilities and laboratories accounting for an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in Arizona's research infrastructure.   They collaborate with colleagues worldwide, lead large international research teams and organizations, participate extensively in civic initiatives, and are often invited speakers at meetings and conferences held across the globe.

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Management

Patrick J. Burkhart, President

Over the past 30 years, Mr. Burkhart has led comprehensive senior-level management initiatives in complex organizational environments overseeing institutional capacity building and strategic expansion.

 

Mr. Burkhart is skilled in strategic scanning and planning, government/legislative affairs, corporate relations, media relations, and philanthropy.   He has a proven ability to lead and support critical start-up and growth initiatives, spearhead multi-institutional partnering, assemble and manage high performance teams, and produce exceptionally competitive proposals.   He is well-versed in effective communications and relationship building and possesses an in-depth knowledge of a broad range of emerging science and technology policy issues and trends.

Mr. Burkhart earned his B.S. and M.B.A. degrees from the University of Toledo.

Mr. Burkhart led the planning effort to found AASTA.