UNLV has selected two professors to receive the Distinguished Professor Award this year. In the past, only one has been named each year.
This year's recipients are foreign languages professor Catherine Bellver and English professor Joseph McCullough.
"We are extremely pleased to have two outstanding recipients of this prestigious award this year," said UNLV President Carol C. Harter. "Both of the award recipients have maintained such distinguished records of scholarship, teaching, and service throughout their tenure at UNLV that they are certainly deserving of our highest faculty honor."
UNLV Provost Douglas Ferraro added that "with two such exceptional candidates, it is fitting that both be awarded the title of distinguished professor. Their qualifications for the award -- exemplary research, reputations as wonderful teachers, and years of service to the university -- are extensive. Both recipients are to be commended."
Bellver, who joined UNLV's department of foreign languages in 1972, teaches a variety of Spanish classes, including upper division and graduate level Spanish language and literature courses.
A prolific writer, Bellver has authored nearly 40 journal articles, more than 80 reviews, and seven book chapters, as well as two critical monographs on Spanish writers Rafael Alberti and Juan Jose Domenchina. She has also presented 40 conference papers.
The recipient of several grants, Bellver also received UNLV's Barrick Distinguished Scholar Award in 1989. She was a two-time recipient of the "Hispania" award for the best essay in pedagogy in 1988 and 1989 and has received several grants.
She served as department chair for two years and has served on more than 50 university committees during her tenure at UNLV.
She holds a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University and a master's degree and doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley.
McCullough, who specializes in 19th century American literature and American humor, joined UNLV's English department in 1969.
An internationally recognized expert on Mark Twain, McCullough has authored seven books and more than 20 journal articles, mostly on Twain or author Hamlin Garland.
He has appeared on the television show "A&E Biography" as a featured expert on Twain and is currently conducting research on Twain's maxims.
McCullough was named Barrick Distinguished Scholar in 1996-97. He has also been named outstanding faculty member by the UCCSN Board of Regents, and he received the UNLV Alumni Distinguished Faculty of the Year Award in 1993. As a two-time recipient of the Fulbright scholarship, McCullough lectured in Helsinki, Finland, and later in Athens, Greece.
He served as chair of the English department from 1993 to 1997 and has served on numerous campus committees.
McCullough holds memberships in the Mark Twain Circle of America, the Association of Literary Scholars and Critics, and the American Literature Association, and he serves on the board of directors of the American Humor Studies Association.
He received his bachelor's degree from Gonzaga University and his master's degree and doctorate from Ohio University.
Recipients of the award will receive a $5,000 stipend and the title of distinguished professor.
