Honors and awards

Libraries Distinguished Alumna, Ann Ronald

Ann is a celebrated literary scholar, nature writer and professor emerita whose work has shaped the way readers understand the American West, especially Nevada’s unique landscapes. She joined the University of Nevada, Reno in 1970 as an assistant professor of English. Over nearly four decades, she taught British and American literature and nature writing, while also serving as chair of the University English Department, acting dean of the Reno Graduate School, and dean of the College of Arts and Science.

Ann’s field of study helped define the field of Western American literature. Her first book, an analysis of Zane Grey, was published in 1975. In 1982, she released The New West of Edward Abbey, the first book-length study of the iconic desert writer, establishing herself as a leading voice in environmental literature. She later turned to personal essays, exploring the underappreciated beauty of Nevada and the Great Basin.

Her 1995 collaboration with photographer Stephen Trimble, Earthtones, paired vivid images with Ronald’s verse to celebrate Nevada’s diverse terrain. She continued to publish widely, including GhostWest (2002), Oh, Give Me a Home (2006), and Friendly Fallout 1953 (2010), a blend of fact and fiction about atomic testing in Nevada.

Ann’s contributions have earned her numerous honors, including the Western Literature Association’s Wylder Award for Distinguished Service (1999), the University’s Outstanding Researcher Award (2005) and induction into the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame (2006). She was named a Foundation Professor in 2001 and received the Distinguished Faculty Award upon retirement in 2008.

Through her writing, teaching, and mentorship, Ann has profoundly influenced the literary landscape of Nevada and the broader West — inspiring generations of writers to see beauty where others saw none.