JAMES DEACON James E. Deacon, Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Departments of Environmental Studies and Biological Sciences passed away Feb. 23, 2015. Prof. Deacon received his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in 1960 and joined UNLV the same year. He was promoted to Full Professor in 1968 and received the campus' highest academic honor as Distinguished Professor in 1988. Jim's major research efforts centered on regional ecology, the biology and conservation of desert fishes and later, sustainable water supply and use. He published more than 90 peer-reviewed articles and chapters and numerous interpretive articles, reports and advocacy essays. On campus, Prof. Deacon served as Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences and was the Founding Director and later Chair of the Department of Environmental Studies. Less