2025 Alumni Association Award Winners

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI OF THE YEAR
Dr. Theodore DeWeese | 1986 | Chemistry

Theodore DeWeese, M.D. is the CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine and The Frances Watt Baker, M.D., and Lenox D. Baker Jr., M.D. Dean of the Medical Faculty—overseeing one of the nation’s preeminent medical schools and leading global health systems. A professor of radiation oncology, oncology, and urology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, his areas of clinical expertise include prostate cancer and urological oncology.

Dr. DeWeese earned his M.D. from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and completed his residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he served as chief resident and performed a laboratory research fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Oncology Center and the James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute. He was the founding Chair and Professor of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Johns Hopkins, which became one of the most successful and highly ranked departments of its kind under his leadership.

An international expert in the management of men with prostate cancer, Dr. DeWeese has conducted several “first-in-human” clinical translations of novel therapies. He has published over 225 peer-reviewed papers, authored numerous book chapters, given more than 130 national and international lectures, and mentored countless trainees, medical students, and residents.

In addition to his appointment to numerous committees and councils at Johns Hopkins, Dr. DeWeese served as President and Chair of the Board for the American Society for Radiation Oncology and was appointed by the National Academy of Sciences as a scientific counselor for the Radiation Effects Research Foundation in Hiroshima, Japan.

 

ALUMNI PHILANTHROPIST OF THE YEAR
Robert Bell, Jr. | 1980 | Management

In 2012, Bob Bell founded Food for Thought Denver after discovering a heartbreaking reality: many of Denver’s schoolchildren were going hungry, particularly on weekends when they couldn’t rely on school meals. Fueled by compassion and determination, Bell, along with volunteers from the Arvada Rotary Club, raised enough donations to begin supplying weekend food bags, known as PowerSacks, to two Denver public schools.

Today, Food for Thought Denver has grown into a vital lifeline for the community, serving 75 schools across the Denver area—all while remaining a 100% volunteer-driven organization. Despite many students qualifying for free and reduced breakfast and lunch during the week, weekends often leave them without enough food. Our mission is clear: to close this weekend hunger gap and ensure that no child in our community goes hungry.

ALUMNI VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Emmy Trujillo Jacobson | 2000 | Aviation Technology

With over 25 years of experience in the aviation industry, Emmy brings a wealth of expertise in sales, account management, and leadership. Currently serving as a Sales Director for Airbus subsidiary NAVBLUE and previously holding the position of Senior Manager for Americas Digital Aviation Solutions Commercial Sales at The Boeing Company.

Emmy holds an MBA from Regis University and a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Technology from Metropolitan State University of Denver. Additionally, she has obtained several certifications, including a Women in Leadership Certificate from Emory University.

As a graduate of MSU Denver, Emmy has continued to stay close with the university, performing mock interviews and volunteering for new student orientation, therefore joining the Foundation Board seemed like a great fit for her to continue her family’s value of servant leadership. She looks forward to giving back to the institution that cultivated her passion for education and aviation. Emmy is proud to be a Roadrunner!

Eric Lansing ALUMNI CAMPUS EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
Mark Kochesky | 2009 | History

Mark graduated Summa cum laude with a History B.A. and concentration in Secondary Social Studies in 2009. He has held a professional position at the MSU Denter since 2013 and has served as an academic advisor in the School of Education since 2015.