Roshanak Rahimian, professor and chair of the physiology and pharmacology department, was named University of the Pacific’s 2021 Distinguished Faculty Award winner.

The award is Pacific's highest faculty honor, recognizing outstanding teaching, research, creative endeavors or service to the university.

"Dr. Rahimian represents the caliber of student-centered teaching that is at the core of a Pacific education. In both the classroom and lab, she exudes passion and an infectious enthusiasm which motivates and inspires a whole new generation of scholars," said Rae R. Matsumoto, dean of Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy. "Dr. Rahimian is a shining example of the heights to which the faculty have performed during an exceptionally difficult year. I am so proud of the faculty here at Pacific and am honored to have them as my colleagues."

Rahimian joined Pacific's Thomas. J. Long School of Pharmacy in 2001 after completing a three-year post-doctoral fellowship from the Canadian Institute of Health Research. She earned her doctor of pharmacy from Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran in 1988 and her master of science from the University of Ottawa in Canada in 1995. Rahimian also earned her doctor of philosophy from University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada in 1998.

Rahimian is a member of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET), American Physiological Society (APS) and APS Sex and Gender Interest Group. She has served as a reviewer for the American Heart Association and also serves as the faculty advisor for Pacific's Alpha Xi chapter of Lambda Kappa Sigma.

"Dr. Rahimian is a dedicated teacher-scholar for whom students have always come first," said Pacific Provost Maria Pallavicini. "She is an accomplished researcher whose enthusiasm for teaching and scholarship is recognized not only by her peers but across the university." 

Recipients of the award are nominated by colleagues and selected by the University Awards Committee. This year the award presentation will be made during Pacific’s virtual Commencement. A list of previous recipients can be found here.