The offices of the Executive Vice President and Provost and Faculty Affairs are pleased to announce the 2023 recipients of the following academic achievement awards:
2023 UNLV Distinguished Professor Award: Francis Cucinotta
Francis Cucinotta is professor in the department of health physics and diagnostic sciences in the School of Integrated Health Sciences and has been in that role since 2013. Prior to that, he was at NASA for 23 years as chief scientist for radiation research and radiological health officer for human spaceflight. His research focuses on biophysics models of health effects caused by radiation on Earth, including radiation treatment of cancer, and in space travel, including astronaut risk assessment. “Professor Cucinotta has been an exceptional teacher and mentor to our students at all levels at UNLV. He has been a wonderful colleague and an exceptional member of our faculty who has contributed so much to the intellectual vitality of the University,” said one of his nominators, who went on to say that Cucinotta is a “remarkable scientist, educator, and human being here at UNLV.”
2023 UNLV Outstanding Department Chair/Academic Director Award: Rajiv Kishore
Rajiv Kishore joined UNLV in 2018 as chair of the department of management, entrepreneurship, and technology (MET), which is the largest department in the Lee Business School. Kishore has been pivotal in creating multiple departmental initiatives, including new departmental research grants, additional faculty support, and the hiring of high-quality, research-active faculty. "Leading such a diverse and huge department takes courage, conviction, patience, and decisiveness," said his nominator. "Dr. Kishore exhibits those qualities in ample measures."
2023 UNLV Top Tier Award: Hyunhwa "Henna" Lee
Hyunhwa Lee is associate professor with tenure in the UNLV School of Nursing. She specializes in cognitive health, including topics such as brain injury and sleep disruption. Dr. Lee "has demonstrated a strong record of scholarly accomplishment based on her publication, presentation, and research funding," said her nominator, adding that she also has successfully engaged students in scholarship. This includes her role as mentor and chair of both Ph.D. and DNP nursing students for their scholarly projects and her work with undergraduate and graduate students from multiple disciplines.
Congratulations to the recipients of these highly prestigious awards.
These and other award recipients will be featured in UNLV’s 2023 Academic Achievement Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at 3 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom.
