About University of Arizona

Asha Devineni at the University of Arizona, provides a comprehensive exploration of Medicaid's complex healthcare system. The curriculum delves into government structures, delivery systems, managed care, state plans, social determinants of health, and Medicaid finance, with particular emphasis on the Arizona Healthcare Cost Containment System. Through 77 minutes of video lectures and 7 quizzes, the course caters to policy advisors, lawyers, advocates, legislators, Medicaid agency employees, nonprofit workers, and students. The course maintains an outstanding 4.8/5 rating from 35 reviews and a 4.9/5 instructor rating, with students particularly appreciating its thorough yet accessible approach to explaining Medicaid's complexities. Participants can access the course content for free in audit mode and have the option to purchase a certificate upon completion. The course begins with fundamental concepts and progressively builds to provide a comprehensive understanding of Medicaid policy, making it suitable for both newcomers and experienced professionals in the healthcare policy field.

Chris Impey, a British-born astronomer and University Distinguished Professor at the University of Arizona, has established himself as a leading figure in astronomy education and public outreach. Born in 1956, he completed his education at Imperial College London and the University of Edinburgh before joining the University of Arizona in 1986. His research portfolio includes over 180 refereed publications focused on observational cosmology and extragalactic astronomy, supported by $20 million in NASA and NSF grants. On Coursera, he offers three highly-rated courses: "Astronomy: Exploring Time and Space" with over 245,777 enrolled students, "Astrobiology: Exploring Other Worlds" with 33,798 students, and "Knowing the Universe." His teaching excellence is evidenced by eleven university teaching awards and his selection as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor in 2014. Beyond academia, he has authored eight popular science books, including "The Living Cosmos" and "How It Began," and gives numerous public talks annually to diverse audiences. His commitment to science education extends to digital platforms, with his Teach Astronomy website attracting thousands of weekly visitors and his YouTube content garnering over half a million views. His contributions have earned him prestigious recognitions, including fellowship in the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the position of Vice President of the American Astronomical Society.

David Soren, serving as Regents Professor of Classics and Anthropology at the University of Arizona and Director of the Orvieto Institute in Umbria, represents a unique blend of academic excellence and entertainment background. His journey began as a child performer on CBS's The Horn and Hardart Children's Hour, later earning his B.A. in Greek & Roman Studies from Dartmouth, followed by an M.A. in Fine Arts and Ph.D. in Classical Archaeology from Harvard University. His distinguished career encompasses groundbreaking archaeological discoveries, including identifying the epicenter of the 365 AD Mediterranean earthquake and establishing malaria's role in Rome's decline, while directing significant excavations across Cyprus, Portugal, Tunisia, and Italy. Currently leading the University of Arizona/Yale University/Stanford University excavation at Lugnano in Teverina, Soren has secured over one million dollars in research grants and authored nine books and more than 80 scholarly articles. His exceptional contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including the 2018 Teacher of the Year Award from the Archaeological Institute of America, the Esteemed Faculty Award from the University of Arizona, honorary Italian citizenship, and even having a new olive strain named in his honor. His work has gained international recognition through features on major networks like BBC, National Geographic, and The Learning Channel, while his early entertainment background has uniquely enhanced his approach to education and public outreach in archaeology

Kevin Bonine, a Tucson native and Flinn Scholar, serves as Director of Education and Outreach at Biosphere 2 while holding faculty positions in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Natural Resources at the University of Arizona. His extensive academic background includes dual bachelor's degrees in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Economics, followed by a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Physiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. At Biosphere 2, he oversees educational programs reaching 100,000 annual visitors and 10,000 K-12 students, while managing teacher professional development and research internships. His research focuses on conservation biology, particularly studying Gila monsters and canyon treefrog ecology. As an educator, he has taught numerous courses including Herpetology, Conservation Biology, and Vertebrate Physiology, earning recognition with the UArizona College of Science Distinguished Early-Career Science Teaching Award. Beyond academia, he chairs the board of trustees of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and serves on boards for Friends of Saguaro National Park and the Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans. His work bridges environmental stewardship with science education, emphasizing experiential learning and field research to advance understanding of Arizona's unique ecosystems

Kirin Goff, serving as Director and Professor of Practice in Law at the University of Arizona, brings a unique blend of legal expertise and public health knowledge to her role as instructor of the Medicaid Policy & Politics course on Coursera. Her academic background includes a Bachelor's in Cultural Anthropology from Willamette University, a Master's in Global Health from Arizona State University, and a JD degree. Her professional experience spans crucial roles including Senior Rules Analyst at the Arizona Department of Health Services, where she drafted regulations addressing the opioid epidemic, and work as a litigator specializing in political and constitutional law at the Torres Law Group. As a public health lawyer and founding member of the Applied Health Policy Institute, she has extensive experience in policy research, legal analysis, legislation drafting, rulemaking, and community-based participatory research. Her course on Medicaid Policy & Politics has garnered exceptional reviews, maintaining a 4.9/5 instructor rating, and demonstrates her commitment to making complex healthcare policy accessible to diverse audiences. As an Arizona native, she remains dedicated to improving community health both locally and nationally through her work in health impact assessment, tobacco policy, Medicaid, and built environment initiatives

Ron Garan's remarkable career spans multiple domains as a NASA astronaut, decorated fighter pilot, entrepreneur, and humanitarian visionary. During his time with NASA, he spent 178 days in space, traveling over 71 million miles in 2,842 orbits and completing four spacewalks totaling 27 hours. His space experience includes flights on both the US Space Shuttle and Russian Soyuz spacecraft, while his unique perspective extends underwater as an aquanaut who spent 18 days in the world's only undersea research lab. Before NASA, he served as a highly decorated Air Force fighter pilot and test pilot, logging over 5,000 hours in more than 30 aircraft types. His entrepreneurial ventures include founding Manna Energy Ltd., the first organization to register a UN Clean Development Mechanism carbon credit program for water treatment, and serving as Chief Pilot for World View Enterprises. Garan holds master's degrees in Aeronautical Science and Aerospace Engineering, along with numerous military honors including the Distinguished Flying Cross. As an author and speaker, he shares his "orbital perspective" philosophy through his book "The Orbital Perspective - Lessons in Seeing the Big Picture from a Journey of 71 Million Miles" and continues to advocate for social enterprise solutions to global challenges. His work in innovation extends to NASA's Open Innovation Initiative and partnerships with USAID, demonstrating his commitment to leveraging technology and collaboration for humanitarian impact