Academic/Research — D. Kip Solomon, PhD

Kip Solomon is an internationally recognized and distinguished hydrologist who has pioneered novel methods to understand one of the most precious resources on our planet: water. Currently the Francis Brown Endowed Chair in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Utah, Solomon’s long career exemplifies excellence in research, in the classroom, supervision of graduate students, leadership, service, his profession, and the world at large. He has developed innovative methods for determining groundwater age and invented water sampling technologies used internationally.

His contributions advance the understanding of the water cycle and the vulnerability of resources to over-exploitation. Additionally, his expertise in addressing industrial water contamination benefits communities worldwide. The UN International Atomic Energy Agency frequently consults him for field studies on water use in developing nations.

Solomon’s research includes the use of environmental tracers to evaluate groundwater flow and solute transport processes in local- to regional-scale aquifers. He has helped develop the use of dissolved gases to evaluate groundwater ages, travel times, location, and rates of recharge, and the sustainability of groundwater resources. He operates one of only a few labs in the world that measure noble gases in groundwater. Solomon holds a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from the University of Waterloo and holds degrees in Geology and Geological Engineering from the University of Utah.

K-12 Education — Teresa Hislop

Teresa Hislop is a 30-year educator recognized by her colleagues as the most inspiring and committed educator, who invests her heart and soul in STEM education. Described as a master educator, Hislop’s commitment to experiential STEM learning extends far beyond the classroom. She organizes immersive field experiences that bring science to life in unforgettable ways. On a trip to the Oregon Coast, middle schoolers conduct field studies, explore tide pools, and work in professional science facilities.

In Newport, they dissect squid in a working science classroom and collaborate in hands-on investigations and robotics work. Students who might never otherwise have seen the ocean become marine biologists for a week.

Beyond her classroom, Hislop is a generous colleague and mentor. She shares resources freely, supports interdisciplinary collaboration, and serves as a beacon of light within the school community. Her enthusiasm is infectious, her standards are rigorous, and her dedication is unwavering.

Hislop currently teaches 8th-grade science at the Ogden Preparatory Academy and has been recognized by peers with several awards, including the Air Force Association State Teacher of the Year, Utah State Board of Education Teacher of the Year Runner-up, and the Utah Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year. Hislop received degrees from Brigham Young University and the University of Utah.

Industry — Jennifer Hwu, PhD

Jennifer Hwu has pushed the boundaries of high-frequency power amplifiers for space, telecommunications, aerospace, avionics, and terrestrial applications, and is a pioneer in extreme environment electronics. As co-founder, president, and CEO of InnoSys, Inc., she has successfully led numerous research and development projects for the Department of Defense/War, Department of Energy, NASA and other agencies, resulting in products that are designed and manufactured at InnoSys’s facility in Salt Lake City.

She has mentored and taught numerous STEM employees and students and is a role model, both at her company and as a former tenured professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Utah.

Hwu’s economic impact includes bringing private funding and highly competitive grants and contracts to Utah and building a 36,500 square foot combined office, R&D, manufacturing, and testing facilities in Salt Lake City, directly employing and supporting a significant number of technical staff.

She is highly sought after to serve on technical committees of premier conferences in radio frequency, from microwaves to terahertz, and has led and been instrumental in achieving world records in extreme electronics and communications performance.She received national recognition, including from the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, and the White House, recognizing her professional achievements.

These have influenced and greatly shaped her unwavering desire to help others and to advance Utah and the U.S. She received her PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles, in Electrical Engineering.

Government — Jed Hancock, Ph

Jed Hancock is the president of the Utah State University (USU) Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL), one of only 15 University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs) in the nation. His background in electrical engineering and optical science, and his ability to lead people and complex organizations, have resulted in achievements that have advanced science, strengthened national defense, and elevated Utah’s reputation on the global stage.

Under his leadership, SDL developed the camera suite for NASA’s Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification and Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission, the first U.S. mission to return samples from an asteroid to Earth.

He has been instrumental in building strategic partnerships with organizations such as the Naval Research Laboratory and the University of California, Berkeley, contributing to major national and international efforts, including the NASA Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) mission and its advanced scientific instrumentation. These collaborations reflect both his technical expertise and his ability to build and lead effective partnerships to address complex challenges.

Hancock played a key role in securing an Air Force Research Laboratory contract with a potential value of up to one billion dollars. Since 2021, SDL has grown from approximately 800 employees to more than 1,300 today, with revenues increasing to over $354 million in 2025. This growth has created high-quality jobs, strengthened Utah’s workforce, and expanded the state’s role in advanced aerospace and defense research. He received his PhD in Optical Sciences from the University of Arizona.

We congratulate these awardees for their dedication, passion, and commitment to science and technology and look forward to their continued impact on our community and the world.

Academic/Research — Dr. M. Denise Dearing

Dr. Dearing is a renowned ecologist whose pioneering research has advanced the field of ecology and helped position Utah as a leader in scientific innovation. She embodies the highest standards of excellence, educational leadership, and service to Utah’s values.

As the inaugural associate dean for research for the College of Science and later chair of the Department of Biology at the University of Utah, her leadership and vision have been instrumental in transforming the department into the School of Biological Sciences. Some of her many honors include the Distinguished Scholarly and Creative Research Award, the C. Hart Merriam Award, and being named a distinguished professor by the University of Utah.

Dearing has published more than 180 peer-reviewed publications with over 11,500 citations and has received extensive external funding to support her research projects. Her contributions continue to inspire students, peers, and future generations of scientists.

Industry — Mr. Sidney J. Green

Sidney Green is an engineer and entrepreneur who helped shape Utah’s high-tech industry. As founder, president, and CEO of TerraTek, he positioned Utah as a leader in geomechanics analysis, sparking economic growth that led to the development of other technology companies across the state.

Green has played a pivotal role in advancing science and engineering in Utah. He advised the governor and Legislature as a member of the Utah Science Council and was the founding chair of the Utah Technology Finance Corporation. In 1994, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering — one of only 15 members from Utah to serve in this capacity. He holds 24 patents, has published 119 peer-reviewed papers, and is internationally recognized for his groundbreaking technical achievements.

K-12 Education — Dr. Nicola Hack

Dr. Hack started her career in education after earning a Ph.D. in developmental neurobiology and working as a research scientist. Realizing a need for early STEM education, she collaborated with fellow experts to launch a science-focused charter school. Her commitment to interdisciplinary, science-based learning continues to shape students’ educational journeys.

Over the years, Hack’s visionary leadership has created impactful opportunities for students to excel while supporting future educators and leaders. Her leadership, unwavering commitment to equitable STEM education, ability to develop teacher capacity, and transformative impact on students exemplify excellence in education.

K-12 Education

Juliette Bautista Barahona, Founder and Director, Club Ability

Juliette Bautista is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and accessible environment. As the founder and director of Club Ability, she instituted a transformative approach to teaching technology. She began her journey working with children with disabilities.

From there, Club Ability expanded to fill a void in providing STEM education to girls and women and their families, especially those in Hispanic families that are sorely underrepresented in the field, where Latinos make up only 7% of Utah tech jobs despite being 15% of the Utah population. She has served nearly 1,000 K-12 students, primarily from low-income families.

Since Club Ability’s 2019 inception, the educational programs have served a Utah population that’s 93% low-income, 98% Latinx, and 20% have a disability.

Academic/Research

Cornelia Ulrich, Ph.D., M.S., Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah

Dr. Cornelia Ulrich is an internationally recognized cancer epidemiologist/cancer prevention scientist and an accomplished leader. She is the chief scientific officer and the executive director of the National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) and the Jon and Karen Huntsman Presidential Professor in Cancer Research in Population Health Sciences at the University of Utah. Dr.

Ulrich’s research focuses on lifestyle and biological factors in cancer prevention and prognosis. Throughout her career, she has committed herself to developing and leading organizations, multidisciplinary teams, and international consortia that seek to advance scientific discovery focused on cancer prevention in critical areas. Her leadership of HCI has led to its growing impact on cancer prevention, care, and control in Utah and beyond.

Industry

Gregory C. Critchfield, M.D., M.S., EarlyDiagnostics, Inc., Sera Prognostics, Inc., Myriad Genetics, Inc.

Dr. Critchfield is a successful business executive. In 1995, he became senior vice president and chief medical and science officer of Corning Clinical Laboratories/Quest Diagnostics, responsible for science, medicine, and innovation across the U.S. In 1998, he became president of Myriad Genetic Laboratories, building Myriad into one of the world’s leading molecular diagnostics companies, launching seven molecular diagnostic products, and contributing to numerous related publications.

Appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Science and Technology by Gov. Michael Leavitt, Dr. Critchfield became chair in 2006-07 during the term of Gov. Jon Huntsman. In 2010, he joined the board of Sera Prognostics, and in 2011, he became chair and CEO. His team discovered proteomic biomarker predictors of pregnancy outcomes, generating multiple U.S. and international patents. Dr.

Critchfield currently serves as co-CEO of EarlyDiagnostics, Inc., a leading biotech diagnostics company devoted to providing accurate, affordable, and noninvasive tests for early cancer detection and precision medicine.

Dr. Critchfield has decades of experience as an author, patent-holder, and business executive in private and public companies. He and his teams have made significant contributions to the health of women, newborns, and underserved populations.

K-12 Education

Lora Gibbons, Educator, Mountain Heights Academy

Lora Gibbons knows students are our future and inspires countless students through her teaching, mentorship, and fostering a love of learning with all students, from accelerated learners to those who require more support.

A teacher at Mountain Heights Academy with over 23 years of experience. Gibbons strongly supports STEM education in Utah, as shown by her involvement in various state and national STEM competitions. She has mentored nationally-winning eCYBERMISSION teams, state and national finalist Samsung Solve for Tomorrow teams, Lexus Eco Challenge teams, and Thomas Edison Pitch students. She’s on the Utah Science Teachers Association board and works on various Utah State Board of Education projects.

Academia/Research

Julie L. Valentine, Ph.D., RN, SANE-A, FAAN, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies and Research, Brigham Young University – College of Nursing

Dr. Julie Valentine’s groundbreaking research on sexual assault has driven Utah’s improvements in addressing sexual violence.

Dr. Valentine’s collaborative research study with the Utah Bureau of Forensic Sciences, starting in 2011, captures data on sexual assault cases to help reduce sexual violence. This growing dataset of approximately 10,000 sexual assault cases in Utah is the largest database of its kind, tracking information from evidence collection through sexual assault kit submission rates to DNA analysis findings.

Dr. Valentine’s research has informed national standards in sexual assault evidence collection and kit submissions. Her research has been foundational for several legislative bills, including House Bill 200 Sexual Assault Kit Processing Amendments mandating the submission and testing of all sexual assault kits resulting in statewide submission rates improving from 38% to 98%.

Dr. Valentine was the primary author of Utah’s original Sexual Assault Kit Initiative grant and District Attorney of New York grant, which awarded about $3.2 million to Utah to fund testing of over 11,000 backlogged sexual assault kits and identification of over 2,000 suspects. Dr. Valentine’s research has resulted in multidisciplinary reforms in education, practice, and policy in Utah and the United States.

Industry

David J. Bearss, Ph.D. , President, Chairman & CEO, Halia Therapeutics

Dr. David Bearss has a limitless and inspiring entrepreneurial spirit. His mentorship and achievements are transforming therapeutics, spawning discovery, seeding startups, and strengthening Utah’s life sciences community. His successful entrepreneurial track record of drug development spans the last 25 years in academics and pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Bearss has discovered 16 compounds that have moved forward in clinical development, started numerous companies, and, notably, Tolero Pharmaceuticals in Lehi, Utah, that resulted in a successful exit to Sumitomo Dainippon of nearly $1 billion (a state industry record). Dr.

Bearss helped establish the research arm of Huntsman Cancer Institute and the U2TAH Therapeutics Accelerator at the University of Utah, where investigators and researchers receive guided help to move their programs toward clinical studies and licensing opportunities.

In addition to being the current CEO of Halia Therapeutics, Dr. Bearss serves on the board of Halia Therapeutics, Biolexis Therapeutics, Canary Speech, Xenthera, and Galvan Health. Dr. Bearss is involved in many mentorship capacities, frequently being asked to contribute to panels and serve on advisory boards and task forces. He was one of the science experts Gov. Cox consulted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

K-12 Education

Kelli Booth, Executive Director, Principal – Davis Campus, Northern Utah Academy for Math, Engineering, and Science

Under the direction of Kelli Booth, NUAMES has earned a respected reputation as a premier STEM high school in Utah. During her tenure as executive director, science offerings have increased, providing more concurrent enrollment, AP courses, and greater health occupation opportunities, and the students’ test scores have improved. Faculty, staff, parents, and students all respect her abilities.

She’s mindful of economic driving forces and the skills students need to succeed.

Academic/Research

Bruce Gale, Professor; Chair, Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah

Dr. Bruce Kent Gale is a professor and chair of mechanical engineering and adjunct professor in bioengineering, electrical and computer engineering, and materials science and engineering at the University of Utah. He has graduated 28 Ph.D. and 23 MS students and supervised 11 post-docs. Dr. Gale and his students have published 150 journal articles, five book chapters, and roughly 300 conference papers.

He and his associates have 26 patents, with seven pending in biomechanics, microfluidics, and medical devices. Dr. Gale and his students have spun off six companies based on these patents.

Industry

Christopher Gibson, Co-Founder and CEO, Recursion

Dr. Christopher Gibson is a brilliant scientist and natural leader who has dedicated himself to building and sustaining Utah’s life science ecosystem. As a graduate student at the University of Utah in 2013, Dr. Gibson uncovered an opportunity to apply machine learning to cell images, which became the foundation for Recursion – a Salt Lake City-based company with the audacious mission to decode biology and industrialize drug discovery.

As Recursion’s co-founder and CEO, Gibson has led the company through exponential growth, including raising more than $1 billion in private and public capital, delivering four clinical-stage programs and more than 50 pre-clinical and discovery programs, and hiring over 400 highly skilled employees spread across life sciences, technology and operations.