Three Women Faculty Members Named President’s Professors at Arizona State University

Arizona State University has conferred the title of President’s Professor on four faculty members. The President’s Professor designation is one of ASU’s most prestigious faculty honors. It is designed to reward enthusiasm and innovation in teaching, scholarly achievements and contributions, and the ability to motivate and inspire students to create original works. Three of the four appointments went to women.

Heather Bimonte-Nelson is a professor of behavioral neuroscience in the department of psychology. Professor Bimonte-Nelson’s research is related to the cognitive and hormonal effects of transitional and surgical menopause. She is editor of The Maze Book: Theories, Practice, and Protocols for Testing Rodent Cognition (Humana Press, 2015). Dr. Bimonte-Nelson holds a Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut.

Eileen Díaz McConnell is a professor in the School of Transborder Studies. Her research concentrates on transborder communities and the effects of Mexican and Latin American migration to the United States. Dr. McConnell joined the faculty in 2006. Previously, she was an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Illinois. Professor McConnell is a graduate of St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. She holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.

Cynthia Lietz is a professor in the School of Social Work. She investigates subjects relating to family dynamics, especially when family members are confronted with challenges such as trauma or loss. Dr. Lietz is interested in how some families can overcome adversity and some can not. She has channeled the results of her research into social work practice through instrumental tools like strengths-based supervision to implement family-centered practice in child welfare settings. The model has been adopted by public child welfare systems in Arizona, Texas, and Idaho.