The Faculty Senate Campus Affairs Committee has recognized the Foundation Outstanding Letter of Appointment (LOA) Instructional Faculty recipient and four LOA instructional faculty members with Exceptional LOA Awards for fall 2023. These awards are funded by the University of Nevada, Reno Foundation.

The awards are given after a careful review of nominations and they honor and acknowledge excellence at work by the awarded individuals. Eligible nominees include those on an LOA contract who exemplify the University’s standards for excellence and service to students and who show exemplary individual achievement, contribution and performance in their instructional role responsibilities and other related duties.

Winners receive a $1,000 monetary award and are recognized at the Honor the Best Ceremony each May.

Jocelyn Mata has been named the Foundation Outstanding Letter of Appointment Teaching Award for fall 2023. She is an LOA instructor with the School of Social Work. Mata has been teaching for the University since 2018 and has since taught seven cohorts of students.

“With my experience in child welfare, behavioral health and oncology social work I have met many social workers and have learned from each of them,” Mata said. “Teaching gives me the ability to impart with my students the knowledge and experiences I have had from working in our amazing field of social work.”

Mata immigrated to the United States from Mexico with her parents when she was seven years old and is incredibly grateful to them for making sacrifices that have allowed her to work hard for the life she has built here. She is honored to be recognized as the Foundation Outstanding LOA for fall 2023.

“There are no words to describe how humble I am to be receiving this award,” Mata said. “I believe that each person can make a difference in someone’s life and that is all I ever teach my students.”

Jocelyn Mata is featured on the University’s Wolf Pack Way banners around campus. She truly embodies The Wolf Pack Way. You can learn more about Mata’s life, career and journey with the University in her NSights blog post.

Exceptional Letter of Appointment awardees

Individuals who were awarded Exceptional Letter of Appointment awards include:

• Mustafa Hadj Nacer, Exceptional Letter of Appointment (LOA) College of Engineering Award for fall 2023.
• May Freitas, Exceptional Letter of Appointment (LOA) College of Liberal Arts Award for fall 2023.
• Joshua Padilla, Exceptional Letter of Appointment (LOA) College of Liberal Arts Award for fall 2023.
• Ilaria Vinci, Exceptional Letter of Appointment (LOA) College of Science Award for fall 2023.

Nominations for these awards can be submitted on the Foundation Outstanding Letter of Appointment Instructional Faculty Award webpage.