Reno Reporter

The Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education recently awarded University of Reno, Nevada foundation professor Steven Hayes with the 2022 Career of Regents Distinguished Investigator Award.

According to a news release shared by the university, Hayes has been the proud recipient of national and international awards in the past.

"His renown is arguably unparalleled in psychology," Katherine McCall, acting dean of the College of Science said. "His Distinguished Researcher Award is well-deserved. His research has indelibly changed the field of psychology and his teaching has inspired a new generation of psychologists. Most major programs in the country now include at least one of the over 50 doctoral degree recipients he mentored."

Hayes conducts critical research on how language can help ease human suffering and leads the Behavior Analysis program in the Department of Psychology in the College of Sciences. He began his career at the university in 1986 as professor and director of Clinical Training in the Department of Psychology, according to the release.

"In the context of the many wonderful faculty members across the entire state, it's a special honor to receive this award because it covers all of the institutions in the Nevada System of Higher Education, and all of their departments and programs," Hayes said. "But UNR faculty do not do research or teach or supervise to win awards. We do it to serve the citizens of our state and humanity more generally."

Hayes added that he keeps his job in perspective and that he works for the students and the taxpayers of the state.