Joe Valacich Receives 2024 University Distinguished Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award

May 9, 2024

Joe Valacich, professor of management information systems and Muzzy Endowed Chair, has recently been selected to receive the 2024 University Distinguished Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award.

This award was created in 2021 to recognize individuals who have demonstrated significant impact in any aspect of research, commercialization or education through innovation and/or entrepreneurship, making exceptional contributions at the University of Arizona. 

Recipients of the University Distinguished Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award receive a one-time allocation of $5,000 in University funds for research purposes to facilitate further work within their discipline.

This award is indented for those who demonstrate outstanding commitment to innovation in any of the following ways:

  • A significant record of innovation in their field, with a particular focus on translation and impact
  • Commercial impact improving the lives of Arizonans and people around the world
  • Sustained engagement with RII to encourage participation and innovation and impact among the student population
  • Significant sustained achievement in entrepreneurial education

Valacich will be recognized at a University ceremony honoring other University faculty awards.

Valacich is a distinguished scholar, tech entrepreneur, and educator, specializing in human-computer interaction. He has authored over 115 journal articles, including 37 in various journals recognized by the Financial Times, and holds an h-index of 80. In 2014, he co-founded Neuro-ID, a company that has since attracted $50M in investments, aiming to combat online fraud and enhance customer experiences. Dr. Valacich is an award-winning teacher and co-author of several computing textbooks, contributing significantly to academic programs. His accolades include being a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors, a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Montana, and a Fellow of the Association for Information Systems (AIS). He has received several prestigious awards such as the AIS Impact Award for impact beyond the academy in 2021 and the AIS Leo Award for lifetime achievement in 2022. Neuro-ID was named the I-Squared (Innovation and Impact) Startup of the Year in 2020 by Tech Launch Arizona, which also honored Dr. Valacich as the I-Squared Inventor of the Year for Information Technology in 2016. Most recently, in 2024, he was awarded the University of Arizona Distinguished Innovation & Entrepreneurship Award.