John Joseph Starkey (he/him/his) is a West Virginia native who began his college experience in 2005 as an undergrad at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). John spent his undergraduate career pursuing a B.S.B.A. in marketing from Lee Business School while working for UNLV’s Housing & Residential Life Office. Working in the residence halls and being involved on UNLV’s campus inspired John to pursue an M.Ed. in educational leadership also at UNLV. While a graduate student, John worked as an academic success coach, where he discovered a love of working with first-generation, first-year college students. John also interned for both the Office of Student Conduct and the Student Engagement and Diversity Office at UNLV. After completing his master’s degree in 2012, John was hired as an academic advisor for Lee Business School’s undergraduate advising office at UNLV. He quickly established himself as a leader and a reliable team member, and he was promoted to senior academic advisor in 2015. Working as an advisor at UNLV has allowed John to take on many additional roles that have influenced his advising philosophy, including becoming an advocate for transfer students and adult learners. In addition to advising, John currently serves as a supervisor for LEE peer mentors, a search advocate for human resources, an instructor of first-year seminars (BUS 103), and as the representative on the Administrative Faculty Committee for Lee Business School, William F. Harrah College of Hospitality, and William S. Boyd School of Law.

John is most proud of his following accolades:

• His BUS 103 students have fundraised over $50,000 for local nonprofit organizations since 2012
• Inaugural UNLV Leadership Experience Participant, Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, 2021-2022
• UNLV Faculty/Staff Community Outreach Award, Office of Community Engagement, 2021
• Senior Administrative Faculty Member of the Year, Lee Business School, 2020
• UNLV Academic Advisor of the Year (Undergraduate Level), Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, 2020
• Leadership Las Vegas Graduate, Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, 2018
• Graduate Student Ambassador Award, Academic Success Center, 2018
• Certificate of Merit for Excellence in Advising Award, NACADA, 2017
• UNLV Administrative Faculty Member of the Year Award Recipient, Administrative Faculty Committee, 2016
• Outstanding Great Strides Partner, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 2016
• UNLV Professional Staff Member of the Year, Division of Student Affairs, 2015
• Jr. Professional Staff Member of the Year, Lee Business School, 2015
• Academic Advisor of the Year, UNLV Academic Advising Council (voted by students), 2015
• Inaugural UNLV Creates featured speaker, 2013
• Professional Staff Member of the Year, Lee Business School, 2012