The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost announced today that Juanita Fain, Ph.D., will serve as interim vice president for student affairs, effective May 17, 2008. In addition to her current duties as vice president for planning, Fain will provide oversight of enrollment and student services, campus life, academic enrichment and outreach, police services, student wellness and student conduct, while UNLV searches for a permanent successor to Dr. Rebecca Mills, who is leaving to pursue another opportunity.
"Dr. Fain has been heavily involved in defining and shaping our goals and objectives for the coming years through the Focus 50 to 100 planning process," said Neal Smatresk, UNLV executive vice president and provost. "Since much of the planning impacts the quality of the student experience at UNLV, having Dr. Fain serve in interim capacity in student affairs is a wonderful addition."
In her 35 year professional career, Fain has served in a variety of administrative positions at Morristown College, the University of Tennessee and Ohio University. Further, since coming to UNLV in 1996, Fain has served as dean of enrollment management, vice president for administration (with responsibility for facilities management, public safety, diversity initiatives, human resources and enrollment management), vice president for planning, diversity and chief of staff to former UNLV President Harter, and finally in her current role as vice president for planning. Fain holds a B.A. in psychology from Knoxville College, a M.S. in educational psychology from The University of Tennessee at Knoxville and a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Ohio University.
Rebecca Mills, Ed.D., received her doctorate in secondary education from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville before joining UNLV in 1987 as an assistant professor in the Department of Instructional and Curricular Studies, later progressing to full professor in the same department. In 1998, Mills was appointed senior advisor to the president, serving in that capacity for two years before being named interim vice president for student life. She accepted that position on a permanent basis in 2001. In her time as vice president for student life, Mills is most proud of building productive relationships with student leaders that resulted in completion of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center and new UNLV Student Union, buildings that add to student experiences and learning outside the classroom.
