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MSI Task Force

From its earliest days as a small branch college to its current position as a major research institution, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas has long regarded diversity as one of its hallmarks. Located in a region that is inherently rich in multicultural diversity, UNLV makes every effort to reflect that diversity within its student body, its faculty, and its staff.

A key part of UNLV’s educational mission is to deliver a superior academic experience to students from all walks of life. UNLV prides itself on being an institution of opportunity where those who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education can receive the support they need to achieve their educational and professional goals.

The MSI Task Force, led by the university’s Executive Vice President and Provost, was established in Fall 2019. This group is a coalition of UNLV stakeholders dedicated to advancing student success initiatives for campus students of color, including promoting educational equity and eliminating the achievement gap.

2023-24 MSI Initiatives Survey

Near the end of the 2023-24 academic year, UNLV’s Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Task Force will roll out the MSI Initiatives Survey. This instrument is intended to collect a uniform set of data regarding the many UNLV initiatives that are specifically designed and/or intended to assist students, faculty, staff, alumni, and/or community residents who are members of one or more special populations or identity groups (e.g., racial and ethnic minorities, low-income individuals, LGBTQ+ persons, etc.). Questions about the survey can be directed to msidata@unlv.edu.

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About the Initiative Members & Subcommittees Learn More Contact

About the Initiative

Mission

The MSI Task Force provides institutional leadership and support for establishing UNLV as a leading MSI. Its work includes designing and maintaining institutional support systems to promote educational success for students of color and other underrepresented students in higher education.

The task force includes representatives from various administrative and academic units across the campus and is responsible for organizing a variety of programs and initiatives to support students and faculty of color as well as others underrepresented in higher education.

Members

The members of the MSI Task Force comprise a broad coalition of UNLV community members dedicated to promoting student success for students of color:

Subcommittees

A number of different subcommittees work in parallel to advance the goals and priorities of the MSI Task Force.

Purpose

The purpose of the Student Support subcommittee is to review student-facing programs, service frameworks, and policies with a focus on promoting equity and eliminating the achievement gap. The subcommittee is dedicated to sharing best practices throughout the campus and collaborating with various units to enhance current student services and develop new ones.

Members

Purpose

The MSI Student Council, also known as the MSISC, directly engages students in building a campus culture of equity and inclusion by empowering them to advocate for, create, and invest in initiatives, policies, practices, and programs aligned with being a Minority-Serving Institution. Using a student-centered and student-led model, the council ensures that diverse student voices are recognized and are involved in campus decision-making around MSI efforts.

Members

  • Dionna McDonald (Chair): Special Assistant to AVP/Director for Special Projects, Student Life
  • Anel Rojas: Student

Purpose

The Identity Groups Programming subcommittee seeks to work with UNLV’s identity groups to develop programs that foster inclusivity and a welcoming campus climate. The subcommittee devises tailored approaches to support a variety of minority and underrepresented populations on campus.

Members

  • Deanna Merino Contino (Chair): Associate Vice President, Student Life
  • Benny Balderrama: Program Coordinator for Involvement and Student Organizations
  • Janna Bernstein: Assistant Director for Leadership & Scholar Development, Student Engagement and Diversity-Service Learning and Leadership
  • Kyle Ethelbah: Director for College Programs, CAEO
  • Niki Fullmer: Educational Outreach Librarian, University Libraries
  • Sunny Gittens: Executive Director of Student Engagement
  • Lindsey Gruber: Executive Director of International Student and Scholar Services
  • Dionna McDonald: Special Assistant to AVP/Director for Special Projects, Student Life
  • Reyes Luna: Interim Assistant Director, Office of Student Diversity Programs
  • Reggie Ungos: Business and Administration Coordinator, Student Life

Purpose

The Resource Development subcommittee identifies grant opportunities from federal agencies and private foundations and assembles robust teams focused on applying for and securing extramural funding that will enhance the university's MSI initiatives.

Members

Purpose

The Faculty and Staff Programming subcommittee collaborates with other campus units on programs and initiatives designed to cultivate inclusive learning environments for diverse students, including efforts to encourage equity-minded teaching, academic advising, and mentoring.

Members

Purpose

The goal of the Community Partnerships subcommittee is to plan and execute strategies for engaging community partners and other collaborators to support UNLV’s MSI initiatives. The subcommittee explores and facilitates the creation of alliances with external stakeholders to advance student success and equity efforts on campus.

Members

Purpose

The purpose of the Data and Assessment subcommittee is to support the work of the task force by reviewing and providing data on student enrollment and achievement, faculty representation, campus climate, and other measures relevant to MSI initiatives. The subcommittee also helps to inform stakeholders about progress with MSI metrics and develops strategies to assess new and existing programs related to UNLV’s MSI work.

Members

Purpose

The aim of the Communications subcommittee is to keep campus units informed about MSI initiatives and to promote the work of the task force among the broader community. The subcommittee also undertakes efforts to share UNLV’s identity as an MSI, maintain a robust web presence for the task force, and keep stakeholders informed about data and metrics related to MSI work.

Members

  • Coleen Haines (Co-Chair): Director of Student Affairs Communications and Marketing
  • Jennifer Hurtado (Co-Chair): Communications Manager, Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost
  • Tondra De: Chief of Staff, Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost
  • Karyn Hollingsworth: Director of Communications, College of Liberal Arts
  • Kyle Kaalberg: Executive Director for Strategy and Strategic Initiatives
  • Heather Ortiz: Director of Communication, Business Affairs
  • Kaci Schroeder: Director of Marketing & Communications, Academic Affairs
  • Cate Weeks: Senior Director of Brand Content, Integrated Marketing and Branding
  • Beth DeBouk, Senior Editorial Specialist in the Integrated Marketing & Branding

Purpose

To facilitate and support the activities of the MSI Task Force and its various subcommittees.

Members

  • Chris Heavey (Chair): Executive Vice President and Provost
  • Keith Rogers (Co-Chair): Vice President for Student Affairs
  • Jose Melendrez (Co-Chair): Interim Vice President for Diversity Initiatives and Chief Diversity Officer
  • Harriet Barlow: Executive Director, The Intersection
  • Elizabeth Barrie: Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning Innovation
  • Constance Brooks: Vice President of Government and Community Engagement
  • Lori Ciccone: Assistant Vice President, Office of Sponsored Projects
  • Deanna Merino Contino: Associate Vice President, Student Life
  • Skip Crooker: Vice Provost for Decision Support
  • Tondra De: Chief of Staff, Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost
  • Coleen Haines: Director of Student Affairs Marketing and Communication
  • Emily Irwin: Assistant Vice President, Corporate and Foundation Relations
  • Kate Korgan: Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
  • Dionna McDonald: Special Assistant to the AVP for Student Services/ Director of Special Projects
  • Jeff Orgera: Associate Vice Provost for Student Success
  • Ariana Turiansky: Director of Operations, Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost
  • Jennifer Hurtado: Communications Manager, Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost

Learn More

To learn more about diversity and student success initiatives on the UNLV campus, please visit the following sites:

Data on student and faculty diversity at UNLV are available through the Office of Decision Support.

Contact

The MSI Task Force is an effort jointly led by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, the Division of Student Affairs, and the Division of Diversity Initiatives. If you have any questions or would like to get involved with the work of the Task Force, please contact:

Chris Heavey, Executive Vice President and Provost (Chair)

Phone: 702-895-3301
Email: chris.heavey@unlv.edu

Jose Melendrez, Interim Vice President for Diversity Initiatives/
Chief Diversity Officer (Co-Chair)

Phone: 702-895-5604
Email: jose.melendrez@unlv.edu

Keith Rogers, Vice President Student Affairs (Co-Chair)

Phone: 702-895-3656
Email: keith.rogers@unlv.edu

Tondra De, Chief of Staff

Phone: 702-895-0730
Email: tondra.de@unlv.edu