Named in honor of the first Associate Dean for Community Engagement, the University of Arizona’s Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH) announces the annual Jill de Zapien Excellence in Community –Engaged Scholarship and Practice Award. 

MEZCOPH is dedicated to promoting the health and wellness of individuals and communities in the southwest and globally with an emphasis on achieving health equity through excellence in education, research & service. This award is given to a MEZCOPH community partner (e.g., community-based organization, government agency, foundation) based on the exceptional quality and benefit of their community-engaged activities and demonstrated leadership in service of the populations they support and efforts towards meeting MEZCOPH’s mission. This award recipient has enhanced the quality of life in the communities they serve in meaningful and measurable ways, and has developed sustained, reciprocal relationships with community partners that enrich all participants.

2024 Recipient

Campesinos Sin Fronteras (CSF)

Campesinos Sin Fronteras (CSF) is a trailblazer in addressing the health and well-being of farmworkers through direct services, community leadership, and decades-long collaboration with MEZCOPH and the Center for Participatory Prevention, Evaluation and Action Research (PEAR) (formerly the Arizona Prevention Research Center). Since 1998, CSF has exemplified the power of community-academic partnerships, culminating in a landmark $6 million NIH ComPASS Award in 2024. This initiative targets structural barriers at the intersection of housing, labor, and health access in Yuma County.

From hosting the Farmworker Service Fair for 30 years, to mentoring students through internships, surveys, and participatory evaluation, CSF provides invaluable experiential learning and contributes deeply to public health research. Their leadership in initiatives like 2THRIVE! and annual collaborations with the Border Health Service Learning course highlight their ongoing commitment to youth, equity, and respectful community engagement.

Grounded in trust, insight, and impact, CSF continues to shape public health practice with compassion and rigor—making them a truly deserving recipient of the 2024 Jill de Zapien Award.