Dear University Community,  This Friday, we’ll gather as a UNLV family to remember and reflect on that tragic day one year ago that will go down as the darkest point in our university’s history.  But as we assemble to solemnly memorialize our colleagues, teachers, and mentors lost on Dec. 6, 2023 – professors Jerry Cha-Jan Chang, Patricia Navarro Velez, and Naoko Takemaru –…

Dear University Community, We're preparing to enter the final stretch of a fast-paced fall semester at UNLV, which in many ways feels like it began just yesterday. I've had the privilege of attending numerous campus events this fall celebrating research and community successes, marking milestone anniversaries in the health sciences, and participating in signature activities like the annual…

On Monday, October 28th, a special Día de los Muertos ofrenda—a traditional altar for remembrance—was arranged in the courtyard of Beam Hall to honor the lives and legacies of three beloved members of the UNLV community: Naoko Takemaru, Patricia Navarro, and Jerry Chang. The ofrenda, beautifully decorated with photos, flowers, and meaningful items, provided a space for colleagues, students, and…

Dear University Community,   We’re now more than a month into the Fall 2024 semester at UNLV. As I’ve been out and about on campus in recent weeks, I’ve seen great energy and a strong sense of enthusiasm and optimism from our faculty, staff, and students about our university, the path we are on, and what we can accomplish together this academic year.   Every day, I continue to think…

  The Dec. 6 Memorial Committee is accepting applications for commissioned artwork to honor the victims of the Dec. 6 tragedy. The artwork will be installed at the entrance of Frank and Estella Beam Hall (BEH) to support healing, reflection, and recovery.   This call is open to all UNLV students, faculty, staff, and alumni who are 18 years or older. Submissions must be received by…

Dear Colleagues, This morning, my leadership team and I hosted our traditional town hall in the Student Union to kickoff the fall semester at UNLV and welcome faculty and staff back to campus for a new academic year. And we have so much to look forward to this fall – from record enrollment to thriving research, community engagement, and economic development efforts campus wide.  But…

Dear UNLV Community,  On Monday, for the first time ever we’ll welcome more than 32,000 students to UNLV for the start of the fall semester! We expect our enrollment this fall will be an all-time high, which is a testament to the hard work of our faculty and staff and to the exceptional quality of our university.  The start of any new academic term is exciting and – with enrollment on…

  Dear UNLV Community,  I hope you’ve had time this summer to rest and recharge in preparation for a busy and productive fall 2024 semester at UNLV.  We’re now just a month until classes resume on Aug. 26, and many members of the UNLV community have been working hard all summer to prepare the campus to welcome back more than 30,000 students and faculty.  As I mentioned…

Dear University Community, I know we’re all hard at work preparing for the end of the spring semester this week. As we continue to advance in many phases of our Rebel Recovery, I wanted to primarily focus this message on gratitude. Over the past five months, every member of our university community has gone above and beyond their normal professional roles to support our students and…

Dear University Community,  It was great to see faculty, staff, and students earlier today at our last all-hands meeting of the semester. I know this is an especially busy time as we prepare for commencement and place the finishing touches on an academic year that certainly didn’t go how any of us would have expected back in August.  When I launched the Rebel Recovery …

Dear University Community, It seems hard to believe, but we’re now entering the final stretch of the spring semester. As we prepare for the end of the semester and of the academic year, we remain committed to advancing our Rebel Recovery process. Earlier this month, the state’s Interim Finance Committee met and approved a transfer of $2.6 million in American Rescue Plan funds to NSHE to support…

Dear University Community,  Yesterday afternoon, I had the privilege of meeting with a number of UNLV students during the annual president’s mental health town hall in the Student Union. During the event, we discussed a variety of stress management techniques and coping skills, our wellness team shared available resources, and – perhaps most importantly – we checked in on one another. It…