Colin Kaltenbach, director of the Agriculture Experiment Station and vice dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is the first recipient of the Charles H. Peyton Distinguished Research Administrator Award.

The award, given by the Office of the Vice President for Research, Graduate Studies and Economic Development, recognizes a University of Arizona community member who best exemplifies sustained excellence in research administration.

Those who nominated Kaltenbach said that he is of the highest integrity, a compassionate administrator supportive of his faculty and staff, and a creative and innovative problem solver sought for advice on complex problems.


He has played a pivotal role in research administration, serving the University for over 20 years in major research assignments.


Kaltenbach helped write policies and procedures for handling University intellectual property generated through research and the research section of the University self-study for NCAA accreditation. He has been the chairman of the Institutional Review Committee for more than 10 years.


Kaltenbach also is a leader in the national and international research arenas. He has served the United States Department of Agriculture in many capacities and recently was awarded the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service Hall of Fame award for his research leadership. He currently serves as president of the International Arid Lands Consortium.