The ASU Alumni Association has announced the honorees for the 2025 Founders' Day celebration — an event that honors the vision, contributions and pioneering spirit of the leaders who founded the university’s predecessor, the Tempe Normal School.
The annual Founders’ Day event recognizes alumni, faculty and philanthropists who are ASU’s
outspoken advocates for academic excellence and inclusivity in higher education. This year's honorees include entrepreneurs, researchers and service leaders who demonstrate what is possible as a Sun Devil.
Event details
2025 Founders’ Day
6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 26
Omni Tempe Hotel at ASU, 7 E. University Dr., Tempe
The event also commemorates the anniversary of the day that the 13th Territorial Legislature
issued a charter for the school on March 7, 1885, planting the seeds of what has grown into a
leading public research university recognized by renowned rankings, publications and services.
“We are proud to recognize this year’s Founders’ Day honorees, whose dedication to
excellence, innovation and making a positive impact exemplifies ASU’s mission,” said Christine
K. Wilkinson, president and CEO of the ASU Alumni Association. “As we celebrate their
remarkable achievements, we also look ahead to the future, continuing to advance ASU’s
mission.”
Meet the 2025 Founders' Day honorees:
W. P. Carey Foundation
Philanthropist of the Year Award
The W. P. Carey Foundation, established in 1990 by William Polk Carey, is dedicated to
supporting educational institutions with the overarching goal of enhancing America’s global
competitiveness. The foundation is guided by Carey’s strong belief that education is the most
powerful tool to improve the lives of people and society. Much of the W. P. Carey Foundation’s
giving is directed to organizations with longstanding ties to the Carey family, including Arizona
State University.
In 2003, the Foundation generously donated $50 million to ASU’s business school (renamed the W. P. Carey School of Business) in honor of William Polk Carey’s grandfather, John Samuel Armstrong. Armstrong played a pivotal role in establishing an institution of higher learning in Arizona in 1885, which later became Arizona State University.
Mark McKenna, '02 BS in marketing
Alumni Achievement Award
Mark McKenna is a distinguished biotech entrepreneur, executive and director, celebrated for his leadership and contributions to the advancement of both entrepreneurship and science. With a commitment to partnering with innovative companies, McKenna strives to drive positive change for patients and families.
He is the founder, chairman and CEO of Mirador Therapeutics Inc. and has served as the chairman of Apogee Therapeutics Inc. since August 2023. From 2019–23, McKenna served as chairman and CEO of Prometheus Biosciences, where he led the company through a remarkable growth period. He raised over $1 billion in private and public financing, led the top-performing biotech IPO of 2021 and launched the first precision therapeutics clinical trial for immune-mediated diseases.
Audrey Ernst, '22 BS in nursing, '22 BS in health care compliance and regulations
Young Alumni Achievement Award
Audrey Ernst graduated from Arizona State University in December 2022 with dual bachelor’s degrees in nursing and health care compliance and regulations. During her time at ASU, Ernst was a triathlete and received various accolades, including being named a 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year National Top 30 finalist, an NCAA Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship Award finalist and he Pac-12 NCAA Tom Hansen Medal recipient.
Currently, Ernst works as a registered nurse in the surgical intermediate critical care unit at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Ernst's background in health care compliance and regulations has deepened her understanding of the complex dynamics in health care and the importance of maintaining integrity within the system. With an eye on the future, Ernst is considering law school to explore health policy and law.
Team Limelight Rainforest
Faculty Research Achievement Award
Team Limelight Rainforest is composed of a groundbreaking group of researchers and ASU professors who developed a technology to measure biodiversity in the rainforest. Formerly known as Team Waponi, Limelight Rainforest placed first in the XPRIZE Rainforest competition, earning $5 million to further their research. The project’s success reflects the creativity and collaboration of experts across multiple fields working together toward a shared vision.
Honorees from Team Limelight Rainforest include Garth Paine, an acoustic ecologist, composer and associate professor at the Herberger Institute of Design and the Arts; Pavan Turaga, professor at the School of Arts, Media and Engineering; David Manuel-Navarrete, associate professor at the School of Sustainability; Tod Swanson, associate professor of religious studies at the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies; Nicholas Pilarski, associate professor at the The Sidney Poitier New American Film School; and Ankita Shukla, who worked on the team as a postdoctoral research scholar at the School of Arts, Media and Engineering.
Rhett Larson
Faculty Service Achievement Award
Rhett Larson is the Richard Morrison Professor of Water Law at ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Larson’s research examines the impact of technological advancements on water rights, particularly in shared water sources between countries, and the sustainability impact of recognizing water as a human right. His research and teaching interests are in property law, administrative law and environmental and natural resource law, specifically domestic and international water law and policy.
He is the chief legal counsel to the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, advising an organization representing 10 of Arizona’s largest cities in water law and policy. As a scholar, he has made significant contributions in his field while educating students, policymakers and the public about issues related to water law and sustainability.
Kristin Hoffner, '06 MS in kinesiology
Faculty Teaching Achievement Award
In 2006, Kristin Hoffner graduated from ASU with a master’s degree in kinesiology (sport and exercise psychology). Since then, she has been dedicated to teaching and enhancing the excellence of the program. With expertise in exercise, health, performance psychology and kinesiology, she serves as a teaching professor at the College of Health Solutions, playing a pivotal role in student success.
In addition to her teaching, Hoffner serves as the director of career-track faculty success at the College of Health Solutions. In this role, she coaches and mentors career-track faculty, guiding them in achieving their professional goals. She also leads annual evaluation processes, and recommends, reviews and approves faculty professional development opportunities, illustrating a strong commitment to faculty growth in addition to student success.
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