Original post by University of Utah Marketing and Communications
University of Utah President Taylor Randall has named five faculty members as 2024-25 Presidential Societal Impact Scholars for exemplary public engagement, from helping Utahns understand the danger posed by a shrinking Great Salt Lake to advocating for the rights and rehabilitation of incarcerated women and engaging college and high school students in projects that beautify public spaces with mural art.
The awardees are Kevin Perry, professor, Department of Atmospheric Sciences; V. Kim Martinez, professor, Department of Art & Art History; Emily Salisbury, director of the Utah Criminal Justice Center and associate professor, College of Social Work; Baodong Liu, professor, Department of Political Science and the Division of Ethnic Studies; and Amberly Johnson, director of the Utah Poison Control Center and assistant professor (clinical), College of Pharmacy.
“What is obvious in this award process is that we have many exceptional faculty who are having a broad impact,” said President Taylor Randall. “As a university, we aspire to improve the communities we serve by sharing our research and expertise in a variety of ways. Our award recipients have engaged in public activities that showcase their scholarship, influence their fields of study and contribute to the betterment of individuals and communities.”
Each scholar will receive a one-time cash award of $10,000 and support from University Marketing & Communications to promote their research, scholarship and initiatives.
This year, 43 people were nominated for the award. To be considered, the faculty member’s area of focus must address a major societal issue, such as physical health and well-being, mental illness, poverty, the housing crisis, an environmental problem, etc. The work should have the potential to inform public debate and positively impact individuals, institutions and communities.
Law professor Randy Dryer created the award through a gift to the U.
“In recognizing faculty who have made an impact beyond campus, whether that is by sharing their work with policymakers, media or the public, we highlight the value the University of Utah brings to our state and even beyond Utah,” Dryer said. “These scholars are excellent examples of how public engagement benefits not just their careers, but our campus and our communities.”
The award was first presented in 2022 and the initial group of scholars were Kenneth Golden, Paisley Rekdal, Michelle Litchman, RonNell Andersen Jones and Susie Porter. They will serve through May 2024 and then continue as members of the permanent scholars’ network.
V. Kim Martinez, Department of Art & Art History
V. Kim Martinez has transformed both public spaces and individual lives as a renowned muralist and painter. Martinez is co-developing the YAP (Youth Arts Program), which, along with Urban Arts class, is giving U art majors and high school students alike the opportunity to create murals that beautify public spaces throughout the Salt Lake Valley. For the young artists, these opportunities expose them to community service and give them an early college experience, while art majors at the U gain artistic and teaching skills through mentoring youth. Over the past decade, Martinez has worked with more than 250 U students and 1,500 community members on 36 community-based murals, including a series for the Murray School District. She has exhibited her art in numerous galleries, from Ephraim, Utah, to Los Angeles to Odesa, Ukraine, and Sarajevo, Bosnia. Martinez also has presented more than four dozen workshops and public lectures on topics such as community-engaged learning, leadership and community murals.