It’s Las Vegas, circa 1974.

The Huntridge Theater near downtown is the go-to spot for the latest films. Locals flock to the Boulevard Mall (the only one in the city) to shop for the latest fashions. And, Elvis is still headlining a series of shows at the International Hotel (now known as Westgate Las Vegas Hotel & Casino). 

A few blocks south, student enrollment at UNLV numbers less than 10,000, and the math department is housed in the William D. Carlson Education Building.

Inside, a young Satish Bhatnagar is teaching his first math class as a recently hired assistant professor. 

Now, jump ahead 50 years. The UNLV Department of Mathematical Sciences is located in Building 8 of the Central Desert Complex. And, professor Bhatnagar is still inside, preparing lessons to teach yet another generation of UNLV students about the foundation and history of mathematical sciences. 

Bhatnagar’s lengthy and inspirational commitment to both the university and its math students will be recognized on Dec. 2 during the Faculty Length of Service Program. The annual event honors academic and administrative faculty members who reach decade-specific employment milestones.

For his half-century of contributions to his students and the university community, Bhatnagar received a custom-engraved medallion, which he will wear with his academic regalia at future UNLV commencement ceremonies.

"Professor Bhatnagar’s five decades of service to UNLV is an exemplary accomplishment, and I’m impressed and inspired by his continuing commitment to his scholarship and to the success of his students,” said UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield. “I’ve had the pleasure of watching Satish serve as grand marshal and carry the university mace at commencement, and it’s gratifying to see him lead us into the Thomas & Mack Center with style and an incredible sense of pride.”

Chris L. Heavey, executive vice president and provost, added, “Professor Bhatnagar's 50-year career at UNLV is a clear testament to his passion for mathematics and his dedication to our students. We are grateful for his contributions to our university and the legacy he continues to build.”

To celebrate that legacy, we asked the math professor to take a trip down memory lane and recount his career journey and the personal passions that continue to inspire his work in the classroom.

Humble Beginnings 

Bhatnagar was living with his growing family in Bloomington, Indiana, trying to make ends meet in a struggling economy when a trip to the mailbox one day changed the trajectory of his life.

Inside that mailbox: a letter of appointment from UNLV. 

“When I showed it to my friends they said, ‘This is all phony, dear. There's no college in Las Vegas. They're all casinos,’” Bhatnagar recalled with a tinge of humor, adding that he immediately started planning his trip out West. 

With everything they owned packed into a station wagon, Bhatnagar and his family — which included two young children and his pregnant wife — set off to begin their next chapter in Las Vegas.

It was a sweltering August night, close to midnight, when they finally arrived in the city. As the car rumbled to a stop on the side of the road, Bhatnagar and his family stepped out, taking a moment to soak in the scene before them.

In the distance, the vibrant glow of the Las Vegas Strip lit up the vast darkness of the desert, a dazzling promise of the new life awaiting them.

They were officially home. 

“We stayed at a hotel for four or five days before we found an apartment right across UNLV called University Park Apartments,” Bhatnagar said. 

The distance between his home and campus allowed Bhatnagar to walk to work daily. At the same time, his family embraced the UNLV community by attending campus events and connecting with other faculty families. 

“The Faculty Wives Club was very helpful as we adjusted to the city and campus life,” Bhatnagar said. “It was very safe, and my kids would ride their bikes on the Academic Mall.”

When he wasn’t teaching students, the Bhatnagar clan took road trips to Southern California and on occasion ventured to Circus Circus on the Strip for the family-friendly entertainment and the self-proclaimed “World’s Largest Buffet.” 

Finding Meaning in Mathematics

A big benefit to spending 50 years on the same campus: You have a front-row seat to its transformation. During his tenure, Bhatnagar has witnessed UNLV’s exponential growth in student enrollment and available degree programs, not to mention the addition of dozens of colleges — just to name a few of the changes.  

Despite the evolving nature of the world around him — both in Las Vegas and at UNLV  — Bhatnagar remained committed to his field, teaching the subject of mathematics for a combined 63 years. In that time, he has self-published multiple mathematics books focused on the history of the subject (sometimes intertwined with his Hindu faith), as well as memoirs reflecting on his storied life. 

“I call myself a multi-dimensional polymath and have written 13 books in seven different genres. And, it is because UNLV provided me that atmosphere, that intellectual atmosphere, that was not forcing me to stay in one dimension,” Bhatnagar said. “I do not think if I were anywhere else I would have developed the way I have intellectually.”

How strongly does Bhatnagar believe in the discipline of mathematical sciences? In 2003, he established the Bhatnagar Awards Endowment along with his son Avnish Bhatnagar, a 1989 UNLV Honors College graduate, to recognize top math students who demonstrate “sheer academic excellence.” 

"Mathematics is the window of my life, and I want to share it with others,” Bhatnagar said. “It’s not about the material being new; it’s about you being new. The students are new, and I have to convey my excitement and knowledge of mathematics to you. That’s the challenge that is always renewed." 

When asked to recall a specific year in his career that he would like to relive, Bhatnagar took a brief pause to ponder a thoughtful response: “The year I got promoted to the rank of a full professor.”

What’s Next

Mathematics is deeply woven into the very essence of Bhatnagar's identity. Which is why retirement isn’t on his short-term agenda.

Instead, he chooses to keep his mind sharp and engaged by continuing to teach mathematics. After all, education is a family affair. His eldest daughter is preparing to retire from teaching, while his youngest daughter continues to teach at a local high school.

On some days, he can count on a visit to his office from his grandson, who’s pursuing his undergraduate degree.

Meanwhile, as he reflects on his past and future, Bhatnagar shares some parting words of wisdom for the current and next generations of UNLV faculty and students.

“To the faculty: Develop your research and hone your teaching skills — after all, teaching is always new because the students are always new,” Bhatnagar said. “For students, explore every opportunity to learn something new. Sample courses, and when one excites you, take another one until you find the right fit."