Dorothy Arata Academic Award

"The Dorothy Arata Academic Award for the best dissertation each year is named in honor of one of the trailblazers in graduate education at the University of Memphis. This is a fitting award to honor Dr. Arata, the first dean of the graduate school, whose efforts towards attaining a consistent high quality in the graduate programs were crucial and helped in attracting and supporting outstanding graduate students. Dr. Arata's efforts were also crucial to the success of the graduate programs and the outstanding work that is reflected in the dissertations that the students in those programs are able to produce." - Dr. Thomas Nenon, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and UofM Provost

This award is given in memory of Dr. Dorothy Arata, Dean of the Graduate School at the University of Memphis from 1982 to 1993. Dr. Arata earned her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1956. Her research was in biomedical issues related to liver health and mineral deficiencies in the body. Before coming to the University of Memphis, she was a professor of biochemistry at the Michigan State University. 

By donating to the UMAR Dorothy Arata Dissertation Award, The University of Memphis' Association of Retirees (UMAR) will be able to award a larger prize to the post-doctoral student that submits the best dissertation each year. UMAR has awarded prizes to 4 outstanding and distinguished post-doctoral students since the awards inception in 2017.