Associate professor of sociology Barbara Brents has received the first-ever Alumni Faculty Award for Academic Excellence and Student Focus.

The February 1998 award recipient was honored recently at this year's alumni scholarship luncheon. The new award is also given out in March, April, September, October, and November.

Brents has been with UNLV's sociology department since 1988. Within that time, she has authored or coauthored numerous published articles, book chapters, and conference papers on a variety of topics ranging from national business and political issues to the local sex industry.

In addition to teaching sociology, she also teaches courses in the women's studies and interdisciplinary honors programs and has taught for the UNLV Honors Program Institute for Gifted and Talented High School Students.

Brents has received several grants, including the College of Liberal Arts Research Award and the University Research Council Grant. She has served as chair and as a member of several sociology department graduate degree committees and has supervised undergraduate internships in sociology and women's studies.