For the fall 2024 semester, the 推荐杏吧原创 Faculty Senate Campus Affairs Committee has honored three individuals with Foundation Letter of Appointment Instructional Faculty Awards, one receiving the Outstanding LOA award and two others honored as Exceptional LOAs. The recipients of the Outstanding and Exceptional LOA awards are deeply honored by this recognition and grateful that their areas of expertise are being highlighted.
Outstanding LOA Emilio Parga
“We’re hidden in the death and dying field, so to be recognized is rare and powerful,” Outstanding LOA awardee Emilio Parga said. “We’re saving lives. The young adults in the course learn about themselves and pay it forward to go and save more lives. This field deals with grief and loss, but it’s also about love, life and memories. Learning to be comfortable listening, hearing and acknowledging the experiences and pain of others and of themselves.”
Parga teaches a course entitled Death and Dying, Life and Living. Death is a topic that many don’t discuss openly, but the course, offered through the Human Development and Family Studies Department in the College of Education and Human Development, helps students discuss death and grief openly, honestly and with empathy for their own emotions and those of others.
Self-reflection is integrated into the fabric of the curriculum. As part of the course, students are required to write and read aloud their obituary as part of their own funeral. They have deep conversations with one another about losses they’ve experienced. They learn how to listen and learn from adults, children and teens about death and dying. While the course is about loss, it’s also about love and remembering. As Parga says, students become comfortable being uncomfortable.
“They’re moving beyond what they were taught regarding talking about death and dying. Yes, people go through the five stages [of grief], and when talking with someone who’s experienced a loss, you still say ‘I’m sorry’ but the students learn that they’re not actually sorry – they’re saddened,” Parga said. “It’s a privilege to learn about the person who has experienced a loss and to have them talk about their feelings around it. They learn to express that they’re saddened and are there to listen. They learn how to communicate more accurately by saying things like ‘I’m so sad this has happened to you. I’m here to listen about this any time you’re ready to talk.’ The students practice with role play and learn how effective this method is at forming true connection.”
Parga is honored to be recognized but is perhaps even more grateful that the subject matter is getting recognized.
“This class is important because it takes us through a journey of what the grieving heart goes through,” Parga said. “Grief depends on many factors including religion, culture, military experience and how we were raised. But the grieving heart is in pain, it remembers, it loves, it has its traditions. It goes through all the things we go through as human beings. It’s a great class to teach. There is so much growth and healing for students, like remembering that it’s okay to cry as a Latino. They challenge family and cultural norms. They learn how to help people in their own lives outside of class. It has generational impact.”
Parga is a dedicated professional who cares deeply about his students, the community and this subject. In addition to teaching the course, he is the executive director of , a nonprofit in Nevada that supports grieving children, teens and adults. He also is a school counselor and performs grief counseling for schools and workplaces. He loves taking his lessons learned and passing them on to others.
Exceptional LOA awardees
Amy Absher and Reeham R. Mohammed were both named Exceptional LOA faculty instructors for the semester.
Amy Absher
Amy teaches a number of courses for the College of Liberal Arts including Religious Studies, Social Movements, Gender in Society and The Holocaust in its European Context.
Absher is a passionate educator who takes great care of the mental well-being of her students. She speaks of a sacred trust built between them and is honored to have the opportunity to care for them.
“I love knowing my students, hearing their ideas and spending time one-on-one working on their projects,” Absher said. “Every day, I appreciate their kindness toward me and how invested they are in our classes. I thank them for their time in class and encouragement of my work.”
Absher shares pride in being named an Exceptional LOA with her students and fellow awardees.
“We all work hard to create the classes,” she said. “This award is an indication that the classes have been important to my students and contributed to their lives.”
Reeham R. Mohammed
Reeham R. Mohammed teaches Communication Research Methods and Organizational Communication for the Department of Communication Studies in the School of Social Research and Justice Studies, part of the College of Liberal Arts.
Reeham is passionate about teaching. She strives to create an interactive, conversational environment where students not only learn but grow.
“I work hard to ensure that my classroom is a safe, inviting and welcoming space for everyone,” she said. “My students connect with me on various levels—academically, intellectually and through shared experiences, such as learning English as a second language, being an international student and being a professor woman of color navigating academic life.”
She makes a point to check in with the students at the start of every class, showing her commitment to their well-being, intellectual development and personal growth.
“I know my students by name, I am invested in them, and I welcome their opinions,” she said. “I encourage open and respectful discussions and remind them that it’s not just about having different opinions but how we express them. I love being in the classroom, and while it can be challenging, every experience helps me grow as an educator.”
Being recognized as an Exceptional LOA means a great deal to Reeham who demonstrates her care and compassion daily with her students.
“This recognition is deeply meaningful to me because it reflects the impact I strive to make in my students' lives,” she said. “To me, education is about more than just transmitting knowledge—it's about inspiring curiosity, fostering critical thinking and creating a space where everyone feels seen, heard and empowered to reach their full potential.”
To her, the recognition affirms the effort she puts into designing engaging learning experiences, supporting students' growth and challenging them to think deeply. It also motivates her to continue innovating and refining her teaching methods. Above all, she says, it’s a reminder that education is a partnership, and she’s grateful for the opportunity to learn as much from her students as they do from her.
推荐杏吧原创 the awards
The Faculty Senate’s Campus Affairs Committee awards are given after a careful review of nominations, and they honor and acknowledge excellence at work by the recipients. Each individual recognized embodies The Wolf Pack Way with their commitment to using what they have learned and providing it for the benefit of others.
Eligible nominees include those on an LOA contract who exemplify the University’s standards for excellence and service to students and show exemplary individual achievement, contribution and performance in their instructional role responsibilities and other related duties. These awards are funded by the 推荐杏吧原创 Foundation. Winners receive a $1,000 monetary award and are recognized at the Honor the Best Ceremony each May.
