The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) has announced the recipients of the 2023 Distinguished Nevadan Awards, the highest honor bestowed by the institution. Since 1958, the award has recognized individuals who have made significant contributions to the cultural, economic, scientific, or social advancement of Nevada, or have provided exceptional educational services to the state or the nation. The 2023 Distinguished Nevadan award recipients are the Honorable Peter I. Breen (Ret.), Astrid Silva, Anthony “Nino” Galloway, Dr. Susan Desmond-Hellmann, and the Honorable James W. Hardesty (Ret.).
“These individuals are truly deserving of this prestigious recognition,” said Byron Brooks, Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents Chair. “Their achievements and contributions have not only positively impacted the state of Nevada but have also inspired others to follow in their footsteps. Selected for their exemplary leadership, commitment to excellence, and outstanding contributions to their respective fields, Nevada celebrates the impact each continue to leave in the community.”
Breen devoted 45 years to public service, including 32 years as a district and senior judge. A Nevada native, Breen’s devotion to the state’s judicial process has enabled the courts to be furthered, and access to justice to be expanded for residents.
Silva moved to Nevada when she was five, immigrating from Mexico with her family. Today, she is a leading voice for DREAMers and their families. She has been recognized as a rising civil rights leader and was named People en Espanol’s Poderosas 2020. She founded Dream Big Nevada to help fellow undocumented youth gain access to higher education and recently became the first director of the Clark County School District initiative UNIFY – Undocumented and Immigrant Family and Youth Success Services.
Galloway, a founding member of the Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation and Give Tribe, has been instrumental in supporting people affected by fire as well as struggling youth throughout the community. In July of 2022, he retired from the North Las Vegas Fire Department after 29 years of service.
Desmond-Hellmann, a board-certified internist and medical oncologist, has served as the CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and chancellor of the University of California, San Francisco. In 2021, DesmondHellman was appointed by President Joe Biden to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). She is a recognized leader on issues of higher education, public health, drug development, regulatory innovation, and more.
Hardesty has served as a justice on the Nevada Supreme Court since 2004. During his tenure, he made significant contributions to the court’s administration and has helped shape the state’s judicial system that is in place today. He has been active with the Foster Grandparents Program, served on the Nevada State Board of Education, and is past president of the Rotary Club of Sparks.
