UNLV recently named Robert Boehm distinguished professor, the highest honor awarded to a faculty member at the university.
UNLV President Carol C. Harter named Boehm, a member of the mechanical engineering department faculty, a distinguished professor 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.
"Robert Boehm is not only an exemplary teacher but also an exceptional scholar," said Harter. "Through his dedication to students and commitment to research, he has made invaluable contributions to the field of engineering and to the community of southern Nevada and beyond. His accomplishments embody the very goals of this institution, and I am privileged to honor him with this award."
Since joining the UNLV faculty in 1990, Boehm has developed and taught courses on solar energy utilization, radiation heat transfer, design of thermal systems, and entertainment engineering, among others. In 1995, Boehm established the Center for Energy Research at UNLV, an interdisciplinary entity that focuses on the utilization of solar and renewable energy and the development of energy efficient technologies. He has collaborated in developing a hydrogen-fueled combustion engine for buses that could potentially reduce pollution and significantly improve air quality in urban areas. Currently he is working on projects related to the generation of hydrogen as well as a number of solar energy projects.
"It is a privilege to be designated as distinguished professor," said Boehm. "In receiving this honor, I owe a great deal to our excellent students, the encouraging atmosphere for research at UNLV, and the opportunity to develop interdisciplinary programs."
Boehm has published several books on the design of thermal systems and heat transfer, has written more than 300 articles in refereed journals and collections, and has been a featured presenter at conferences and workshops around the nation and the world. He currently serves as associate editor for several international journals and is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers International Energy Committee, which is charged with making recommendations on energy issues to Congress.
He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering from Washington State University and his doctorate from University of California at Berkeley. During his career at UNLV, Boehm has served as chair of the mechanical engineering department, director of research for the engineering college, head of the bylaws committee, and as a mentor for the college's Minority Engineering Program.
