Stanford University and Elsevier recognized Tanya Heikkila and Christopher Weible among the world's top 2% of highly cited scientists in the 2026 rankings. The top 2% list is based on peer-reviewed publications, which represent 20 scientific fields and 174 subfields.

Heikkila serves as the Program Director, Master of Public Policy, and Co-Director of the Center for Policy and Democracy. Weible is Interim Dean, Distinguished Professor, and Co-Director of the Center for Policy and Democracy.

Their inclusion reflects the significant impact of SPA research on public policy, governance, environmental management, and public affairs scholarship. The recognition also contributes to CU Denver's broader achievement, with 29 university researchers earning a place on this year's highly cited scientists list.

Read the full article to learn more about the rankings, their significance in academia, and the research impact being made by faculty across CU Denver.