Francisco Menendez, an associate professor and chair of UNLV's film studies department, has been named the November recipient of the Alumni Faculty Award for Excellence in Academics and Student Focus.

A member of the UNLV faculty since 1990, Menendez has authored or co-authored more than 30 scholarly articles and conference papers and delivered numerous lectures.

He has served as editor or formal respondent on 10 film projects and has produced and directed several of his own documentaries.

Menendez is a board member of CineVegas and SCRIPT -- the screenwriting arm of the University Film and Video Association. He has also chaired multiple media writing sections at past University and Video Association conferences.

He received his master of fine arts degree from the California Institute of the Arts and his bachelor's degree f om the University of Puget Sound.

Menendez was honored at the alumni leadership luncheon recently along with five other recipients ofthis year's Alumni Faculty Award.