Close up of the "Rebels Forever" logo on UNLV undergraduate gown.

Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement News

The Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement strives to build meaningful relationships with UNLV alumni and steward private investment in the university. We do this by supporting the mission and vision of the UNLV Foundation and the UNLV Alumni Association, two 501(c)3 organizations.

Current Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement News

vintage photo of Lyle Rivera writing at desk in dress shirt, vest, and tie
People |

Through his extensive fundraising efforts, Lyle Rivera laid the foundation for UNLV to rise as an educational institution and cultural center.

three women on couch in living room with walls covered in family photos
Research |

UNLV Special Collections workshop helps families collect oral histories, memorabilia, and records to pass down through the generations.

Stacy Shapin stands in an art gallery
People |

The College of Fine Arts advising director on the high value of arts degrees, quiet spaces, and being a late bloomer.

Piotr Tomasik wearing a shirt that says Tensorwave
Campus News |

Piotr Tomasik, a computer science graduate and serial entrepreneur, is driving a local tech renaissance one internship — and startup — at a time through new UNLV program.

Hospitality student David Jelinksy fishes in the UNLV pool. Members of the UNLV Swim Team dive underneath the water.
People |

UNLV student and 'Survivor' contestant David Jelinsky returns to campus with lessons learned from his reality show appearance.

exterior photo of MGM and Park MGM hotels in Las Vegas
People |

Go-getter Charles Weber found academic and professional development opportunities through MGM scholarship program at UNLV.

Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement In The News

KSNV-TV: News 3

UNLV welcomes more than 5,000 students, staff, faculty, and alumni for Rebel Homecoming Week. The university calls it the Happiest Homecoming on Earth as people gathered in the Student Union Courtyard & Plaza.

Hospitality Net

The UNLV William F. Harrah College of Hospitality announces a $1 million philanthropic gift from Marco Benvenuti to establish the Marco Benvenuti Excellence Endowment. The gift represents the culmination of years of support from the local entrepreneur and 2002 graduate.

U.S. News & World Report

Before closing out the fall semester, many schools observe different holidays through unique and time-honored traditions.

Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges

How does a new foundation CEO ensure long-term success? The first 100 days in office are critical to a successful tenure and depend on the CEO establishing candid, trusting relationships with the institution president, the foundation board, and internal and external stakeholders. Success also depends on the new CEO’s ability to understand the entire gamut of the position’s responsibilities, the corresponding gaps in their experience and expertise, and the means to address limitations.

Sports Handle

'Pioneering' grant announced one day before ESPN BET sportsbook launch

Vegas Inc

Cindy Rivelli is a seasoned fundraiser and manager who found her calling while studying and working abroad. After graduating from the University of Oregon, she taught English in Lille, France, before moving on to pursue her master’s degree in international relations at King’s College London. While there, Rivelli stumbled into fundraising after taking a job at UNICEF UK.

Recent Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement Accomplishments

Dr. Graham McGinnis (Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences) and his former doctoral student Dr. Michael Dial (Ohio State University), along with other members of the Exercise Physiology and Integrated Chronobiology Lab published an article titled, "Social jetlag alters markers of exercise-induced mitochondrial adaptations in the heart," in the…
Barbara Lewis, Chris Cochran, Erika Marquez, Neeraj Bhandari, Jennifer Pharr, Soumya Upadhyay (all School of Public Health), and  Stowe Shoemaker (Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement), co-authored an article, "Use of Hospital Patient and Family Advisory Councils: A Scoping Study," in the Journal of Patient Experience.  
Robert Rippee (Black Fire Innovation), Amanda Belarmino (Hospitality), and Ph.D. alumna Nasim Binesh recently had an article published in Current Issues in Tourism. Their paper, "User segmentation in human–robot interactions: insights from sports betting patrons using diffusion of innovation theory," groups together different types …
Darren Noble (Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement) attended the Alumni Career Services Network’s (ACSN) Annual Conference, hosted by the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. The event brought together practitioners from 150 institutions and organizations dedicated to alumni career services support. This year's theme was "Grow * Adapt *…
Rickey N. McCurry (Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement) co-presented with Greta Daniels, CFRE, senior vice president, RNL, at the 2024 RNL National Conference on Enrollment, Student Success, and Fundraising in Dallas, Texas. The presentation on “Reimagining the Advancement Business Model to Promote Healthy Pipeline Growth” discussed the balancing…
Heather Torgersen, DPP (Liberal Arts; Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement) was chosen as a member of Leadership Las Vegas' class of 2024. Leadership Las Vegas is a 10-month executive leadership program sponsored by the Vegas Chamber designed to expand knowledge in the community so that participants become more effective leaders and change…