Stacey Dallas Johnston, ’97 BA English, has spent 25 years with the Clark County School District, including 21 years as a teacher, two as a learning strategist, and two as a school administrator. She published her first book of poetry, Broken Record, in 2025 through BookLeaf Publishing and launched LOCAL POET, a small business selling handmade crafts, jewelry, and copies of her book at local markets and festivals. Johnston credits her UNLV experience with discovering the importance and joy of lifelong learning, and she continues to seek new ways to learn.

Chris Jones, ’10 BA Psychology, is completing his doctorate in health sciences, researching the relationship between moral foundations and the supervisory working alliance among clinical supervisors and their supervisees in mental health training. He is the clinical supervisor at Child Haven, an emergency children’s shelter operated by the Clark County Department of Family Services, and operates a private practice, Anchor & Sail Psychotherapy. He also teaches graduate-level courses at University of Massachusetts Global. Jones is getting married to his longtime partner, Tara, in October and is enjoying mentoring her as she completes her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. Go Rebels!

Herb Santos Jr., ’85 BA Sociology, was inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), an organization of experienced trial attorneys and judges. Santos has spent more than three decades representing injured Nevadans and advancing the civil justice system through his work as a trial attorney, educator, and community leader.

Lucas Joel Thomas, ’20 MA English, is an adult ESL teacher at UCEDA School in Las Vegas. He previously taught high school English at Basic Academy of International Studies in Henderson. Since 2019, he has self-published 10 books, including three coming-of-age novels, three plays, and four poetry collections. Thomas enjoys reading, writing, learning new languages, and spending time with friends and family. His wife, Ana Thomas, ’24 MSW, recently completed training to become a licensed clinical social worker.

Andrea Corral Rodríguez, ’17 BA Psychology and Journalism and ’23 MSW, is a registered social worker in Québec, Canada.

Kaylyn Calove-Marella, ’24 BA English, is a marketing communications manager who leads branding, marketing strategy, and customer communications across multiple brands. She also freelances, helping small businesses build their brands and digital presence through design and marketing. Outside of work, Calove-Marella enjoys hiking and traveling throughout the Southwest, earned her skydiving license, and continues developing new creative and marketing skills.

Brittany Walker Hausle, ’09 BA Political Science, recently joined the law firm of Lex Politica, where she focuses her practice on election law, campaign compliance, and corporate governance. She also serves on the UNLV Alumni Association Board of Directors. Outside of work, Hausle enjoys spending weekends poolside with her husband, Michael, and their daughter, Reagan.

Mike Taack, ’02 BA English and ’11 M.Ed., is founder, CEO, and head of school for WYLEES, the Western Youth Leadership, Engagement, and Empowerment Middle School, a tuition-free public charter school near UNLV. He continues to collaborate with UNLV’s College of Education and support current and future educators. Taack enjoys photography, painting, traveling, writing, playing video games with his children, and attending live music performances.

Betsy (Porter) Buchheit, ’99 BA English, serves as acting deputy area director for the Social Security Administration’s Southern Illinois and Indiana area. She credits her UNLV experience with helping her become a more well-rounded person.

Mateo Tomas Portelli, ’25 BA History, is pursuing a Master of Science in cybersecurity at Old Dominion University. He recently earned the GIAC Response and Industrial Defense certification and published Democracy on Sale: The 7 Rules of Door-to-Door Political Canvassing. Portelli is an Army National Guard cyber warfare officer, information technology operations analyst, and founder of Martello & Pieto Consulting LLC.