Homecoming 2026

Alumni of the Year Award

Mark Chalmers

BS, mining engineering, 1980

Mark Chalmers is the former CEO of Energy Fuels, the largest producer of uranium in the U.S. His career in the uranium industry spans 50 years, starting as an underground miner in 1976.

Under Chalmers’ leadership, Energy Fuels transformed into a fully integrated multi–critical mineral producer. It acquired Base Resources, Australian Strategic Minerals and is in the process of owning Vacuumschmelze – expanding the company from 100 employees to over 5,000 global workers.

In addition to his time with Energy Fuels, Chalmers served in key roles with Heathgate in South Australia, Paladin Energy in Africa and Cameo in the U.S.

Global Achievement Award

Marla Smith-Nilson

BS, civil engineering, 1991

A U of A civil engineering graduate, Marla Smith-Nilson is the founder and executive director of Water1st International. She has built a distinguished career providing sustainable access to safe water and sanitation to the world’s most underserved communities across Latin America, Asia and Africa.

Previously, she worked with USAID in Honduras and CH2M HILL in Egypt. She also co-founded WaterPartners International (now water.org), helping shape early innovations in community-based water programming.

Sidney S. Woods Alumni Service Award

Celine M.J. Cohn

PhD, biomedical engineering, 2015

A triple graduate of the U of A, Celine Cohn earned a PhD in biomedical engineering in 2015, specializing in engineered biomimetic materials. She earned a master’s in education in 2006 and a bachelor’s in environmental science in 2005.

Cohn co-founded AZ Technica, a medical device compliance firm, in 2020 with alum Meghan McGovern. Prior to that, she worked with Thayer Medical and SynCardia Systems.

AZ Technica sponsors a Craig M. Berge Design Day award and established a biomedical engineering scholarship. For the BME department, Cohn volunteers at career panels, co-teaches a course and serves on the industry partner board.

Advocacy Award

Lawrence G. Dykers

Starting his career as a mine laborer, Larry Dykers is now chairman for Tri Minerals Holding Corp in Tucson. He previously served in executive roles at Obed Mountain Coal Company Unocal and Cleveland-Cliffs and as general manager at various companies.

He is a longtime advocate for mining education outreach organizations, including the Mining and Mineral Education Foundation, the Society of Mining, Metallurgical and Exploration Engineers, and the U of A Lowell Institute for Mineral Resources.

Dykers and his wife Iris have long supported the U of A School of Mining Engineering and Mineral Resources and the San Xavier Underground Mine.