Richard Jones, '89 BA English, is the bestselling author of the Vatican Knights series. The books soon will become a TV series from Amber Entertainment on which he will serve as co-producer.

Alba Arango, '91 BS Education, '94 BA History, '97 MA History, retired from teaching in June to become a full-time author of children’s books. She is best known for the Decoders series and the JJ Bennet: Junior Spy series, both intended for a middle-grade audience.

Aaron Lovaas, '92 BA Political Science, '02 MBA, accepted a partnership position with Newmeyer & Dillion in October 2016. This follows 12 years of owning and operating his own law firm. He continues to practice business law and to represent and counsel a local, national, and international clientele.

Robyn Donaldson, '11 PhD Psychology, co-created SolaceClub, a care package company designed specifically for grief, in October 2016. She says it has allowed her to blend her education in psychology and with her desire to help those who are grieving. Not only does the company offer care packages, but also provides information on its website on how to better support those who are grieving. The death of her husband in a motorcycle accident in November 2013 was one of her inspirations for launching the company. She says that yoga also has helped her cope with her grief. As a result, the company co-sponsors Yoga for Grief classes at a local yoga studio. She lives in Henderson.

Valerie Pelton, '92 MA Political Science, is an attorney and mediator who has represented U.S. and international technology, telecommunications, and aerospace companies in Europe, Asia, and the Persian Gulf. She now represents the U.S. Postal Service in matters before the Postal Regulatory Commission and provides business, technology, and corporate law advice. Previously, she represented the U.S. Department of Labor in mediations and arbitrations and served as a contracting officer’s representative. Prior to entering federal service, she founded the Pelton Law Firm and advised aviation non-profits and international technology companies on business, software licensing, and employment law matters. Before that, she worked for a number of law firms. Prior to practicing law, she served as a U.S. Air Force officer in the areas of signals intelligence and adversary electronic combat operations. She earned an LLM with highest honors in national security & U.S. foreign relations law from George Washington University (GWU) Law School in 2014 and a master's certificate in government contracting from the GWU Business School in 2012. She is studying Chinese at the GWU Confucius Institute and was awarded a summer travel scholarship in 2015 and 2016. She earned a law degree from Whittier College and a dual baccalaureate in modern European studies and French from Vanderbilt University.  She is active in Washington, D.C., area sailing, business, and legal groups and enjoys Argentine tango, salsa, waltz, cruising on the Chesapeake Bay, and sailing Flying Scots on the Potomac River. She lives in Arlington, Virginia.  

Victoria Vaillancourt Young, '06 BA Psychology, is partner and managing member of Custom Cabinet Designs, a Las Vegas-based commercial millwork company that has completed projects across the United States and in Mexico. A military wife, she is one of the very few woman in Southern Nevada who own a commercial millwork company. Her hobbies include watching the Yankees, working out, and going on family adventures. She and her husband have been married since 2008 and have two children. The family lives in North Las Vegas.

Jamie Bichelman, '13 BA Psychology, is moving to Carson City to become public information officer for the Nevada department of transportation (NDOT). He will manage the public relations and information program for NDOT on a statewide basis; provide video interviews; write media releases, newsletters, and informational brochures; produce audiovisual presentations; and take photographs for the same agency for which his father worked for 33 years. A native Floridian, he previously spent two years managing communications for UNLV's public safety department.

Celinda Pena, '11 BS Human Services Counseling, '13 Master of Social Work, and Johnny Dominguez, '13 BA Political Science, were married May 5 after 12 years together. They both work directly with students on high school school campuses. Celinda, who is a licensed social worker in Nevada, works as a case manager, trying to assure that students graduate on time despite any barriers they may face. Johnny works as a college counselor preparing students for the next chapter of their education. Previously a UNLV admissions counselor, Johnny also is pursuing a master's degree in higher education at UNLV. Both are active in their respective Greek organizations, Kappa Delta Chi sorority, and Nu Alpha Kappa fraternity. They describe themselves as proud Rebels who enjoy adventure, exploring new things, cultural community events, spending time with family, and looking for ways to give back to their community. The couple lives in North Las Vegas.  

Nathaniel Taylor, '06 BA Political Science, founded the Taylor Consulting Group, a local government affairs and business consulting firm in 2009. His firm specializes in land use consulting, liquor licensing, gaming licensing, and government relations. He is one of only a handful of “enrolled agents” in the Nevada; this allows him to represent his clients before the Nevada Gaming Control Board and the Nevada Gaming Commission. Since graduating, he has worked in the public and private sector, experiencing very diverse challenges. His career has included working for the city of Las Vegas as a management analyst, working for former state Sen. Mark James as his district manager, working for Clark County as a business license specialist, and completing a public service internship in Gov. Kenny Guinn’s office. He also has managed the #1 Zagat-rated Italian restaurant in New York City and has served as a trainer for Outback Steakhouse, Inc. His experience in the hospitality industry gives him a unique perspective when representing his firm’s many restaurant clients.    

Jamie Bichelman, '13 BA Psychology, has worked as a full-time communicator/public relations person for UNLV's department of police services for two years. Now he will be taking his career to new heights by pursuing a master's degree in communication studies at UNLV. He will begin his studies in August.