Homecoming 2025: Where Memories Met Milestones
On November 7, faculty, alumni, members of the national advisory board, and friends of the college came together to celebrate Homecoming 2025. More than 180 guests attended the evening reception to reconnect with familiar faces, reflect on their student days, and learn about the exciting progress and accomplishments of fellow PharmCATS. The event also honored a special milestone, the 50th anniversary of the Class of 1975.
For over 30 years, the Coit College of Pharmacy has honored alumni and community supporters for their professional achievements, service to the college or health care, and leadership in the pharmacy profession. It is important to pay tribute to the meaningful impact they have made in the community and in shaping the future of the pharmacy profession. Alumni Council co-chairs, Bill Jones ’72, and Al Scorsatto ’70, led the awards portion of the evening, announcing the recipients of the Jack R. Cole Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Danny and Rae Jacob Award for Pharmacy Practice, the University of Arizona Alumni Professional Achievement Awards, and two new awards: the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy Community Service Award and the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy Honorary Alumni Award.
Erstad delivered the final award of the evening, the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy 2025 Alumni of the Year, to Alan and Christine Barreuther. Every year, the university honors alumni for their achievements, public service, advocacy for education, volunteerism, and service to students, the colleges, and the university. “Even though the Barreuthers received this award back in February at the University of Arizona Alumni Awards ceremony, we’d like to take this opportunity to once again acknowledge their commitment and express our gratitude,” stated Erstad.
Homecoming is a time to celebrate our shared history and the strong bonds that unite us as Wildcats. “Homecoming isn’t just about nostalgia, it’s about connection, inspiration, and community. It’s great to have alumni back on campus, sharing stories, offering guidance, and reaffirming their support for current and future generations of PharmCATs. Events like this help us strengthen our community and build momentum for the future while honoring and celebrating our incredible past. This year’s homecoming was yet another example of what makes the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy so special… our people,” says Brian DeSpain, Director of Development.
Visit our Alumni page to learn how you can become a mentor, preceptor, or participate in exclusive college events.
2025 Alumni Award Recipients
The Jack R. Cole Distinguished Alumnus Award - Rick Schnellmann, PhD
Dr. Schnellmann earned his doctorate in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Arizona Colleges of Pharmacy and Medicine in 1984. At the South Carolina College of Pharmacy at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston, he was an eminent scholar and distinguished university professor and was chair of the college’s Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences from 2001 to 2015.
In 2016 he was appointed Dean of the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, where he would go on to fundamentally reshape the college’s trajectory. Under his leadership, national research funding more than doubled, placing the college among the top four pharmacy schools in the nation. PharmD class sizes increased from 2016 to 2024, groundbreaking dual-degree programs launched, and new undergraduate and graduate degrees were created to align with the evolving needs of healthcare. Through his tenure, he raised over $106 million, an unprecedented achievement in the university’s history, enabling transformative investments in the people, programs, and physical spaces.
His research has been continuously funded since 1987 and focuses on mitochondrial dysfunction and the development of therapeutics for conditions such as acute kidney injury, diabetic kidney disease, stroke, and spinal cord injury. His work has brought about the founding of three spin-off biotechnology companies focused on drug discovery and development and has generated more than 250 peer-reviewed papers and more than 30 book chapters. In 2025, he stepped down as dean to return to research and teaching, continuing to make a profound impact in the field of pharmaceutical sciences through mentoring the next generation of pharmacists and scientists and advancing research that improves lives.
The Danny and Rae Jacob Award for Pharmacy Practice - Joshua Carzoli, PharmD, MBA, BCACP
Dr. Carzoli graduated with a PharmD from the College of Pharmacy in 2010. After graduation he joined El Rio Health as Director of Operations, where he oversaw expanded patient engagement through centralized communication centers and reduced call abandonment. In 2020 he became Chief Operating Officer, going on to lead a major system conversion in drug pricing and directing operations across medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, and ancillary service lines to ensure safe and efficient care delivery. In 2023 he joined Marana Health as Chief Executive Officer, restructuring executive leadership, improving cross-functional decision making, and implementing digital transformation strategies to enhance patient access, workforce analytics, and population health management. He has also been a Clinical Pharmacist with Tucson Medical Center since 2010, collaborating with other healthcare professionals to ensure the highest quality care, focused on medication utilization and delivery.
Carzoli is involved in local community service as an active board member of the Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness, and is a speaker for Health Values and 340B Policy and Practice, enabling pharmacies to stretch Federal resources to provide comprehensive services to low income and uninsured patients.
The University of Arizona Alumni Professional Achievement Award - Lisa Whittington, MS, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP
Dr. Whittington earned her PharmD from the College of Pharmacy in 2007. Over the course of her career she has held positions with Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital and Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital, as well as serving as the Co-Owner and consultant for Myriad Counseling and Consulting, LLC. In 2017 she joined the University of Southern California as Associate Professor and Senior Director of Residency Programs at the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Her leadership in this role has resulted in the strategic expansion of programs, increased recruitment, and the successful accreditation of multiple residency tracks—efforts that have directly shaped the next generation of pharmacy leaders.
In addition to her career accomplishments, Whittington has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications and numerous book chapters, with a focus on improving access to mental health care, integrating digital health into pharmacy curricula, and advancing the role of psychiatric pharmacists in interdisciplinary care. In 2012, she was recognized as the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy’s Preceptor of the Year. Whittington served as President of the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP) from 2019-2020, where she led strategic initiatives to expand the visibility and impact of psychiatric pharmacy nationwide.
The University of Arizona Alumni Professional Achievement Award - Jerry Overman, PharmD, BCPP, FAAPP
Dr. Overman earned his PharmD from the University of Arizona in 1994. With over three decades spent in pharmacy, Overman has maintained a commitment to excellence and outstanding achievement. After graduation, he completed three years of postdoctoral residency and fellowship training at the University of Texas at Austin and San Antonio. He became board-certified in Psychiatric Pharmacy Practice and created a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist position in Psychiatry/ Substance Abuse at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System, where he served as Residency Director, while also working as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Texas. Later, he held a faculty position with the University of Illinois before joining the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In 2002 he became the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist for the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), a position he still holds today.
Overman is recognized in the psychiatric pharmacy community as a leader and has received numerous awards for his service, research, and leadership. He has been actively involved in pharmacy practice and gives presentations, is involved in academic teaching, helps with post-graduate training, and has authored numerous publications and book chapters. Overman is actively involved in research at NIMH and has been given administrative responsibilities on several national committees.
The R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy Community Service Award - Marjorie Ford Nenadich, PharmD
Dr. Ford Nenadich graduated from the College of Pharmacy with a BS in Pharmacy in 1985 and a PharmD in 1986. She spent three decades with the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System and the University of Arizona, where she taught students in the ambulatory care clinic as an adjunct faculty member. She has also been active with the Arizona Society of Health- System Pharmacists and is an author of 15 peer reviewed publications.
Since her retirement in 2017, Ford Nenadich has given presentations at local schools about her work as a pharmacist, along with presentations on poison prevention. As a student, she was a volunteer for the Arizona Poison Control Center. She has worked with multiple health screening clinics and programs over the years, focusing on anticoagulation, diabetes, hypertension, GI, lipid, endocrine, geriatric, pain and primary care. For her dedication to patient care and interactions, she has received numerous awards and accolades since 1986. Ford Nenadich continues her commitment to volunteer service with several local organizations, including the Tucson Boys Chorus, the Tully Elementary School Parent/Teacher Organization, the Sonora Bells, and WORKship.
The R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy Honorary Alumni Award - John Murphy, PharmD, FASHP, FCCP
John Murphy, PharmD, FASHP, FCCP, earned both his BS and his PharmD from the University of Florida. Before joining the University of Arizona in 1991, he was professor and vice chair of Pharmacy Practice at Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia, and director of Pharmacokinetic Services at a 500-bed medical center. Murphy served on the Board of Directors of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (AHSP) for three years and was its president from 1997-1998. He has also served as president of the Georgia Society of Hospital Pharmacists and is active in several pharmacy organizations.
With more than thirty years’ experience, Murphy is a fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and the American College of Clinical Pharmacology. He has published more than 125 papers on clinical pharmacy, pharmacy education, and pharmacokinetics, and is a frequent speaker at continuing education meetings for pharmacists. His research interests include outcome analysis of pharmacy services and drug therapy, pharmacy education, and clinical pharmacokinetics. His commitment and service to the college has shaped generations of Arizona pharmacists and pharmacy educators.
Alumni of the Year Award - Alan Barreuther, ‘73 and Christine Barreuther, ‘77
For more than fifty years, Alan and Christine Barreuther have been integral members of the PharmCAT family, embodying the spirit, service, and dedication that define the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy community. After earning his bachelor’s degree in 1973, Alan completed his doctorate and residency at the University of Michigan before returning to Tucson to teach at the college. During his 16 years on faculty, he helped establish clinical pharmacy services at University Medical Center and Tucson Medical Center and expanded the Arizona Poison Control and Drug Information Center into a statewide resource. Alan later worked in managed care and medical affairs before retiring in 2015. His many honors include the Bowl of Hygeia Community Service Award and the Jack R. Cole Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Christine, a 1977 graduate, completed her residency at the Phoenix VA Hospital and went on to serve veterans for 33 years at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System. Recognized for her outstanding patient care, she received the VA Secretary Hearts and Hands Award and later became a certified diabetes educator, serving patients at El Rio Health and Clinica Amistad. Together, Alan and Christine continue to uplift their alma mater and community through service, mentorship, and the Christine J. and Alan D. Barreuther Scholarship Endowment—ensuring the PharmCAT legacy thrives for generations to come.