Arizona Daily Wildcat

The Arizona Board of Regents will vote today to approve the nominations of three UA professors to be promoted to regents professors, one of academia's highest titles.

Michael Marcellin, a professor of electrical and computer engineering, Malcolm Hughes, a professor of dendrochronology and Ofelia Zepeda, a professor of linguistics, have been nominated for the title.

"It feels great," Marcellin said of the nomination. "I was very surprised and honored when I heard."

Marcellin is known partly for his work in developing new techniques in film, which have won global competitions. He has been at the UA since 1988.

The title of regents professor was created in 1987 and is one of the most prestigious titles given to faculty members, as no more than 3 percent of tenured and tenure-track faculty can hold the rank at any given time. The promotion also comes with a $5,000 raise, according to regents' reports.

"To have the department and the university acknowledge your work on all levels is a tremendous honor," Zepeda said.

Zepeda is an internationally-renowned poet and series editor of Sun Tracks, a Native American literary publication. She said she doesn't know what her career will look like in the future if she receives the nomination.

"Regents professor is the highest level as far as special promotions for university faculty, so there really isn't much more beyond this as far as academics are concerned."

For Hughes, the nomination serves as an achievement in recognition for his entire department.

"It's always nice to be recognized," Hughes said. "Because I'm in a small unit, it's great if one of us gets some sort of an honor, because we all share it together."

Hughes, who has worked in the UA's laboratory of tree-ring research for 21 years, said he also hopes the nomination serves as inspiration to others.

"Hopefully this encourages other people to say, 'Hey, if that guy can do it, so can I.' "

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