Native Las Vegan Earnest Phillips has been hired by UNLV to work in its department of marketing and community relations as a strategic communications specialist.

In that role, Phillips assists department director Lynette Boggs McDonald with a variety of projects, including the "Be A Rebel" ad campaign.

Phillips came to UNLV from Weyerhaeuser Company in Seattle, the parent company of Pardee Homes and Weyerhaeuser Mortgage Company. He handled media, employee, and community relations and served as editor of the company newspaper.

Additionally, he developed and managed Weyerhaeuser Intranet and Internet websites. He also supported Weyerhaeuser lobbyists by writing congressional testimony and issue briefs and by developing public relations campaigns.

As a member of the Weyerhaeuser Foundation he evaluated funding requests and helped distribute foundation money each year.

Phillips graduated from Brigham Young University in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in communications arts. He is a 1987 graduate of Rancho High School.