Honor the Best
Join us for the 2026 event as we celebrate excellence in teaching, research, service, and leadership across the University.
May 12, 2026
Honor the Best is an annual celebration recognizing the outstanding achievements and contributions of the University of Nevada community. This distinguished event honors emeriti faculty, recipients of Regents and Foundation awards, university and student award winners, and other exceptional individuals whose dedication exemplifies the values of our institution.
May 12, 2026
12:30 p.m.
Jason Geddes Rising Researcher
Scott Allen
Jason Geddes Rising Researcher
Sandhya Narayanan
Jason Geddes Rising Researcher
Elnaz Seylabi
Sam Lieberman Regent's Award for Student Scholarship
Elena Chau
Sam Lieberman Regent's Award for Student Scholarship
Lauren Whitenack
Undergraduate Academic Advisor
Gina Sella
Regents' Academic Advisor Award, Graduate
Jenny Ouyang
Regents' Humanities and Social Sciences Researcher
Valerie Fridland
Regent's Teaching Award (non-tenure track)
Kelly Keselica
Foundation Professor
Valerie Fridland
Foundation Professor
Robert Harvey
Foundation Professor
Tin Yau (TY) Tam
Established Innovator
Dean Burkin
Innovative Impact
Marquez Wilson
Foundation Early Career Innovator
Krista Carlson
Outstanding Letter of Appointment Instructional Faculty
Kristina Bergen, Fall 2025
Outstanding Letter of Appointment Instructional Faculty
Joshua Padilla, Spring 2026
Foundation Classified Employee of the Year
Marilyn Fry
Administrative Faculty of the Year
Sheena Harvey
Outstanding Faculty Committee Service
Elliott Parker
Outstanding Faculty Committee Service
Peter Reed
Outstanding Leadership & Supervisor
John Pratt
Excellence in Lab Safety
Yfta Tal-Gan
F. Donald Tibbitts Distinguished Teacher
Mandi Collins
F. Donald Tibbitts Distinguished Teacher
Pamela Sandstrom
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility Leadership
Monica Miller
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility Excellence in Practice
Gabrielle Bachand
Postdoctoral Award for Exceptional Mentoring
Ashley Cale
Graduate Academic Advisor
Jenny Ouyang
R.O.T.C. Governor's Award
Matthew Horan
R.O.T.C. President's Award
Cadet Alex Arcadia
Thornton Peace Prize
College of Liberal Arts and Core Humanities
Outstanding Researcher (STEM)
Franco Biondi
Outstanding Researcher (Social Science, Art, Culture or Society)
Richard Scott
Paul & Judy Bible University Teaching Excellence
Lyndsay Munro
Ozmen Global Engagement Award
Ann Weber
Student Employee of the Year
Madison Croney
Cavanaugh Community Volunteer Award
Jacob "Jake" Xie
Henry Albert Senior Public Service
Marlee Comba
Henry Albert Senior Public Service
Julia Kaiser
Henry Albert Senior Public Service
Lizbeth Perez
Outstanding Senior
Emily Hohman
Outstanding Senior
Emma Doty
ASUN Service-Learning Faculty Award
Samantha Bickert
Outstanding Graduating Graduate
Claire Williams
Outstanding Graduate Student Researcher
Hossein Jamali
Phi Kappa Phi Award
Daniel Lindbergh Lang
Phi Kappa Phi Award
Kaden Ackerson
Distinguished Classified Employee
Jennifer Prager
Distinguished Faculty
Matt Leone
Distinguished Service
Melisa Choroszy
Distinguished Outreach & Engagement
Karla Hernández
Moses Achoka
Nyleen Adams
Catherine (Kate) Berry
George (Buddy) Borden
Shannon Brown
Iain L.O. Buxton
Teresa Byington
Shirley K. Chambers
Max Johan Coppes
Christine Cremo
Michael Crognale
Jane P. Davidson
Craig M. dePolo
Kirk Elias
Isabel Evans
Cahit A. Evrensel
Jane E. Fisher
Brenda Freeman
Greg Gardella
Justin Gifford
Stefanie Givens
Pedro M. Goméz-Ramírez
Lourdes Gonzales
William Rhea Gustafson
Jeffrey J. Hutsler
Bob Ives
Kathleen (Katie) A. Jameson
Gary E. Johnson
Geoffry Kettling
Thomas R. Kozel
Normand Leblanc
Melanie Lever
Susan W. Liebman
Grant Mastick
John K. McCormack
Charlie Nazemian
Paul A. Neill
Claudia E. Ortega-Lukas
David Quilici
Maurice L. Robinson
Nancy Roget
Robert O. Ryan
David Shintani
Tamzen Stringham
Marsha Urban
Rochelle Walsh
Eric Wang
Jian Li You