Whether he’s reminiscing about his days directing a theater company, describing the Planetary Society’s latest project, or talking Russian politics, David Sinclair can relate to virtually anyone – regardless of which side of the brain they favor. As the new assistant director of recruitment & admissions for the Honors College, Sinclair brings a refreshing perspective and diverse skill set that helps the university attract outstanding undergraduates from every major.
Why UNLV?
I’ve had an unconventional career, to say the least. Fine dining, hotel management, theater directing, call-center analytics, commercial construction, teaching, even editing the phone book! You name it; I’ve probably done it.
Working at the university has allowed me to synthesize all the knowledge and experience that I’ve accumulated over my life. My first role at UNLV was in the office of financial aid & scholarships where I spent three years. While I had fun and worked with some great people, I began missing the face-to-face contact with students I had experienced in teaching.
When I saw the position open up with the Honors College, I knew it was a perfect fit. Now, I get to spend time with bright, motivated students while working alongside some of the most amazing people I’ve ever had the pleasure of calling colleagues. And I get paid for this!
Where did you grow up?
I was born in Steubenville, Ohio, and lived there until the end of elementary school. I spent the rest of my childhood in a small town called Safety Harbor in the Tampa Bay area of Florida before heading off to New York University to study theater.
What’s the biggest misconception about your field?
Many people assume that college admissions is nothing more than going to high schools and events to recruit prospective students. There’s a very technical aspect to my job in managing applications, communicating student data to other Honors College staff, and developing tools and systems to better handle the entire admissions process. I came into this position with some competencies, but I’ve been challenged to grow and take my skills to a whole different level.
What’s the biggest challenge in your field?
Two come to mind. First, coordinating and scheduling presentations with more than 25 local high schools can be very time consuming. Something inevitably changes and rescheduling has to happen, and it’s like having a house of cards, trying to remove one card from the middle and find a place for it somewhere else in the structure.
Second, I face the challenge of correcting the misconceptions of a very savvy group of students who think they already know about their hometown university. But when it clicks that the Honors College and UNLV really is the right place for them, it’s magic.
Proudest moment in your life?
Without a doubt it would have to be the birth of my daughter. I wasn’t proud for me, however, but for her and her mom. Those two make me the happiest, proudest man I know on a daily basis.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
When I was at NYU I did a summer study abroad session in Amsterdam studying theater. While I was there a two-person circus came to town, Le Cirque Invisible, by Jean Baptiste Theirree and Victoria Chaplin, Charlie Chaplin’s daughter. The show was pure magic! I waited for them afterwards at the stage door. I introduced myself, explained that I had some circus training, and asked if I could travel with them as an apprentice. Victoria very gently declined my offer, but I can at least now tell people that I made an honest attempt to run away with the circus during my youth!
Who was your favorite professor and why?
My favorite professor of all time was Bulgarian actor, director, and master theater historian Damyan Popchristov. Damyan opened the highly imaginative world of Eastern European theater to me through his courses, as well as in his acting studio at NYU. His ability to translate scholarship into actual practice on stage was something to admire. He was an immensely inspiring figure, and I learned a lot about myself as a performer and a person under his direction.
Who is your hero?
I have so many, but again, I’ll go back to Damyan. He once directed a performance of Pluto’s Socratic dialogues in Moscow during the years of Perestroika, despite enduring personal threats and interrogation from the KGB. I don’t think I could have higher respect or admiration for another human being’s bravery.
Pastime or hobbies?
I’m a big space exploration nut. It started when I was young and watched the Star Wars and Star Trek movies. Since that time I’ve investigated the prevailing ideas more and more, always learning about breakthroughs in propulsion or new obstacles to be found in the ocean of space. I’ve recently become a member of the Planetary Society and do my part to chip in when new projects come up, such as the LightSail.
What can’t you work without?
Give me a quiet room and a cup of coffee and there is nothing I cannot accomplish.
