UNLV President Carol C. Harter recently named Hal Rothman a distinguished professor, the highest honor awarded to a faculty member at the university.
Rothman was selected for this honor based on the recommendation of a university committee. The designation of distinguished professor is not made every year. The honor is granted only after very serious consideration of a highly select group of faculty. Nominees must have demonstrated extraordinary qualities both as teachers and scholars and must have achieved national and international recognition in their fields of study.
"Anybody who has ever studied seriously the often beguiling and complex history of this city, state, or region has surely been enlightened by Hal's scholarship," said Harter. "He is an invaluable member of this campus and of our community, and I'm privileged to honor him with this award."
Harter will also award Rothman the President's Medal at UNLV's afternoon commencement ceremony on May 13.
"It is a tremendous honor to receive this award," Rothman said. "It is even more meaningful because it was conferred by my peers on the faculty and presented by President Harter."
Rothman joined UNLV's department of history in 1992 and served as its chair from 2002-2005. During his tenure, Rothman received numerous awards for his scholarship, teaching, and contributions to the academic environment in Las Vegas, including the Marjorie Barrick Distinguished Scholar Award, the Harry Reid Silver State Research Award, and the Alumni Association Distinguished Faculty Award.
Rothman is also a prolific author and has published numerous books and articles on a variety of topics, including tourism in the Western U.S., Las Vegas history, and the environment, to name just a few. He has won five prizes for his books and was named to the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame. He is considered one of the nation's foremost experts on the America West, environmental history, post-industrial America, and all things Las Vegas.
As a member of the Clark County Growth Management Task Force, he shared his knowledge of Las Vegas and helped address some of the most pressing issues facing Southern Nevada. Rothman also currently hosts a public affairs radio program on KUNV 91.5 FM. He also writes a weekly column for the Las Vegas Sun.
Rothman received his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and both his master's and doctoral degrees from The University of Texas at Austin. He is currently serving on review boards for numerous local, state and national organizations, as well as editorial boards for a number of regional publications.
