Professors from the University of Michigan, April Zeoli and Monica Dus, have significantly influenced the fields of firearm safety and educational initiatives for the U.S. Navy, respectively, earning them the prestigious 2024 presidential awards for public engagement.

The accolades acknowledge the honorees’ evident dedication to public service, their substantial contributions towards impactful societal change through leadership at both national and state levels, and their relentless efforts to confront the challenges faced by communities on a daily basis.

The awards were presented to Zeoli and Dus by U-M President Santa J. Ono during a celebratory dinner held at the President’s Residence on March 31.

Zeoli, an associate professor in health management and policy at the School of Public Health, has been awarded the President’s Award for Public Impact. She stands as the foremost authority in the country on policy interventions addressing firearm use in cases of intimate partner violence. Her research on this subject has played a vital role in eliminating the “boyfriend loophole” in laws regulating firearms in domestic violence situations.

“Dr. Zeoli has had a pivotal role in offering research-backed testimonies and expert knowledge to lawmakers in Lansing and Washington, D.C.,” wrote those who nominated her. “It is uncommon and remarkable for academic researchers to achieve such a direct and evident impact on public policy as Dr. April Zeoli has accomplished.”

Dus, an associate professor of molecular, cellular, and developmental biology in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, is being honored with the President’s Award for National and State Leadership. She worked alongside the Secretary of the Navy as a White House Fellow during 2023-24, playing a vital role in educational strategies and initiatives within the Naval University System, the submarine industry, scientific and technological strategies, and enhancing force resilience, which also earned her the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award.

“Her strategic foresight and flexibility directly contributed to national security goals and highlighted her exceptional capability to unify diverse groups under a shared mission,” remarked Dus’ nominators. “Her capacity to confront national issues with vision and thoroughness, while promoting collaboration across sectors, exemplifies the principles and mission of the University of Michigan.”

Additionally, Zeoli holds the position of director of the policy core at the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention.

“Receiving this award holds significant validation for many reasons. When working in the domain of firearm violence prevention, the public doesn’t always recognize the value of your efforts,” said Zeoli. “It’s crucial to disseminate our research beyond paywalled journals and into public discourse. The motivation behind my research is to enhance the lives of individuals in Michigan and, more broadly, across the United States.”

Her interest in intimate partner violence was sparked in the 1990s, during her undergraduate years at U-M, when several of her female acquaintances were affected. She recalled contemplating, “something must be done to change this.” This introspection directed her towards public health with a focus on violence prevention.

“Firearms are involved in the majority of intimate partner homicides. Eliminating access to guns significantly reduces the likelihood of fatal outcomes. Hence, I began researching this issue,” she stated. “Currently, aside from intimate partner firearm violence and firearm legislation, I also delve into research on homicide and suicide, primarily concerning extreme risk protection order laws.”

Zeoli led the most extensive study to date on extreme risk protection order, or red flag laws, in the United States, analyzing over 6,600 case files across six states. This research resulted in the enactment of Michigan’s firearm safety laws in 2023, which include red flag provisions, safe storage regulations, updated background checks, and restrictions on firearm possession stemming from domestic violence misdemeanors.

She is set to take on the role of director for the Michigan Firearm Law Implementation Program to ensure that law enforcement agencies, judicial officials, healthcare organizations, domestic violence service providers, and suicide prevention entities are informed about the new laws and their implementation.

“We have numerous plans and extensive work ahead to enhance the safety of Michigan’s residents,” she remarked.

Zeoli received nominations for the award from:

• Denise Anthony, the Rubin Department Chair and professor of health management and policy, sociology, and information
• DuBois Bowman, the Roderick Joseph Little Collegiate Professor of Biostatistics and dean of the School of Public Health
• Patrick Carter, professor of emergency medicine and health behavior and health equity as well as co-director of the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention
• Marc Zimmerman, the Marshall H. Becker Collegiate Professor of Public Health, professor of health behavior and health equity and psychology, and co-director of the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention.

Dus, who directs the Office of National Labs in the U-M Office of the Vice President of Research, has her own podcast (How to Science), has contributed articles to The Conversation, and collaborated with the U-M Museum of Natural History on a comic book (Sugar Buzz). For her, public engagement comes naturally.

“I have always believed in the significance of being an active scientist in the world, engaging civically and publicly. Science extends beyond my office and our facilities; it is essential to integrate it into the public sphere and to incorporate the public’s perspective into science,” Dus stated. “The University of Michigan provides a remarkable environment for doing just that.”

Her experience with the U.S. Navy in enhancing educational prospects through the U.S. Naval Community College for enlisted personnel will assist in broadening their future career options.

“It’s a significant investment in both the people and the services,” she noted. “They started small, initially reaching a few thousand sailors, but in the coming years, they aim to scale that up to 20,000.”

Those who nominated Dus included:

• Arthur Lupia, interim vice president for research, the Gerald R. Ford Distinguished University Professor of Political Science, and research professor at the Center for Political Studies
• Brad Orr, an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, professor of physics, and associate vice president for natural sciences and engineering
• David Singer, professor of naval architecture and marine engineering
• Carlos Del Toro, 78th U.S. Secretary of the Navy
• Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, former lieutenant governor of Maryland and founder of Georgetown University’s Center for Retirement Initiatives
• Franklin Parker, the 19th assistant secretary of the Navy
• Steve Brock, senior adviser to the Secretary of the Navy

Dus expressed that being honored with the public engagement award means a great deal to her because she holds this work in equal regard to her research. “Thus, for the university to offer an award for this signifies their appreciation for it. That is truly astounding, as I don’t believe such recognition is commonplace in academia. It makes me feel especially proud to be a Wolverine.”