Outstanding International Alumnus award announced

University of Nigeria professor and administrator Peter Nwangwu, 1974 University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate, is the winner of the Nebraska Alumni Association's 2008 Outstanding International Alumnus Award. The award will be presented May 9 at the All-University Celebration and Salute to Alumni Achievement.

Nwangwu is professor of pharmacology, toxicology and clinical pharmacy; executive assistant to the vice chancellor; and chief development officer at the University of Nigeria in Nsukka, Enugu State. He also is president and CEO of the university's Research and Economic Development Foundation. Widely regarded as one of the top 10 most educated pharmacists/pharmacologists in the world, he invented a screening methodology to identify drugs that can cure irregular heartbeat in 1976, a methodology for identifying heart attacks in 1981, and seven drugs used to correct irregular heartbeats. His methodologies are still in use around the world. Before returning to his homeland in 2006, Nwangwu spent 34 years in the United States, earning accolades such as the 2006 Congressional Medal of Distinction, the American Biological Institute's Man of the Year 2005, and the U.S. Business Advisory Council's Businessman of the Year 2005.

The award was established in fall 2006 to honor an alumnus who was a non-U.S. citizen during his or her attendance at UNL and who has achieved prominence through efforts in education, sciences, technology, agriculture, the arts, business, humanities, government or other world endeavors.