The College of Arts and Sciences is recognizing John DeWulf and Amy Struthers with Distinguished Alumni awards. They will be honored at the college's Celebration of Excellence on May 10.
The award honors the remarkable accomplishments and service of our alumni who have demonstrated lifetime career achievement or excellence in their field and community.
Amy Struthers
Struthers earned her BA degree (English, French) in 1976 and MA degree (Modern Languages and Literatures) in 1979 from the College of Arts and Sciences and a PhD in Education Studies from the College of Education and Human Sciences. She is an emeritus professor in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications (CoJMC).
She founded Jacht, CoJMC's student advertising agency, which made her a national leader in experiential learning in advertising and public relations, and its National Student Advertising Competition Team. As interim dean (2018-2020), enrollment, participation in the college's Learning Community, and alumni engagement increased, and a new college core curriculum, Media Production option, and graduate certificates were launched.
After studying in France as a student, Struthers has been a passionate advocate for international travel as an educational experience and established a scholarship in the College of Arts and Sciences supporting similar opportunities. She enhanced the college's study abroad programs, first as a faculty member in 2006 with a unique, interdisciplinary course in Paris, and then, as interim dean, with trips to China, Oman, India, Turkey, and Spain.
Struthers' research includes a seven-year collaboration with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services that was implemented in schools across Nebraska and two interdisciplinary projects: The World of Viruses, funded by the National Institutes of Health, and The Omaha Science Media Project.
John DeWulf
DeWulf earned his BA (economics, minors in business, political science, English, psychology) in 1978 from the College of Arts and Sciences. Outside of the classroom, he was involved in the Innocents Society, Mortar Board, Nebraska Human Resources Institute, and Sigma Chi fraternity. He earned his J.D. from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1981.
He is a partner at Coppersmith Brockelman with almost four decades of experience in complex commercial litigation. He has handled numerous cases before state and federal courts and administrative agencies in a variety of areas; represented large multi-national clients, regional and local businesses, and individuals; and achieved multi-million-dollar jury verdicts and arbitration decisions.
DeWulf has been honored by The Best Lawyers in America©, Southwest Super Lawyers, Chambers USA, AZ Business Magazine, and AZ Big Media. He is a Senior Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society limited to less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers.
Phoenix Business Journal wrote, "John DeWulf is the one other attorneys call when they need representation."
He has also been recognized multiple times for his pro bono work including being named a Top Pro Bono Attorney in Arizona by the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services for obtaining guardianships to protect Phoenix area children.
