Dr. Jake Thompson, Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education at UNLV, discussed the university's new microcredentials program. Microcredentials are bite-sized, skill-specific credentials that can be for or not for credit. Examples include podcasting, DNA analysis, and hospitality management. These credentials are designed to enhance students' employability by certifying specific skills. Thompson emphasized the program's ease of access, with automatic enrollment and awarding upon complet...
May 25, 2025•29 min•Ep. 151
Dr. Chris Heavey, the new interim president of UNLV, discussed his background, including his PhD from UCLA and his return to Las Vegas in 1992. He emphasized AI's impact on higher education, advocating for a "brace AI" approach to empower students. Heavey highlighted UNLV's priorities: student success, efficient resource management, and community support. He mentioned the need for a new business building and a housing complex for freshmen. He also stressed the importance of mental health support...
May 18, 2025•27 min•Ep. 150
In the "Let's Talk UNLV" podcast episode from May 11, 2025, hosts Dr. Sammie Scales and guests Makaylen and Kyle Broyard discuss the benefits of living on campus versus commuting. Michael, the Housing Operations Coordinator, highlights the convenience, support services, and community aspects of on-campus living, including theme floors for diverse student groups. Kyle, the Housing Assignments Coordinator, emphasizes the ease of room changes and the amenities like mail lockers and 24/7 staff. They...
May 11, 2025•30 min•Ep. 149
The UNLV cultural celebrations for student success are set to begin on May 6 with the Lavender Celebration for LGBT graduating students, followed by the Asian Pacific Islander Middle Eastern Celebration on May 8 and the Latinx Celebration on May 11. The African Heritage Celebration will be held on May 16, coinciding with the post-baccalaureate graduation. Each event allows up to five guests per student, except for the African Heritage Celebration, which allows two. Special guests and performance...
May 04, 2025•30 min•Ep. 148
Srishti Avesti, a graduate assistant at UNLV's Wellness Center, discussed the university's comprehensive wellness programs. She highlighted the wellness wheel, which includes eight dimensions: occupational, spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, social, financial, and environmental wellness. UNLV offers various resources, such as the Student Health Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, and the Wellness Zone, which provides free wellness supplies and training. Avesti emphasized th...
Apr 27, 2025•30 min•Ep. 147
Monesia Hobbs, co-chair of the African Heritage Affinity Graduation Celebration at UNLV, discussed the significance of the event, which honors students with African heritage. The celebration, now in its 38th year, has evolved from an awards ceremony to a graduation event, emphasizing cultural elements like African drumming and elements of the Black Church. Hobbs highlighted the importance of recognizing students' achievements and providing a supportive community. She also mentioned the Roosevelt...
Apr 20, 2025•29 min•Ep. 146
Lisamarie Tomassetti, Program Coordinator for Residential Education at UNLV, discussed the benefits of on-campus living, including convenience, access to resources, and community engagement. She highlighted the "Rebel Ready Week" for new students, free programming funded by housing fees, and the role of RAs in fostering student success. Theme floors, such as engineering and fine arts, enhance academic engagement. Dining options include mandatory meal plans with various options, and security meas...
Apr 06, 2025•30 min•Ep. 145
Jose Melendrez, Interim Vice President for Diversity Initiatives at UNLV, discussed his journey from a UNLV political science graduate to his current role, emphasizing his 18-year tenure and contributions to diversity initiatives. He highlighted UNLV's diverse student body, the growth of minority enrollment, and the institution's designations as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. Melendrez stressed the importance of creatin...
Mar 16, 2025•30 min•Ep. 144
Coach Cooper, the Director of Football and Player Development at UNLV, shared his journey from East Texas to becoming a successful football player and coach. He emphasized the importance of accountability, availability, and durability in player development. Cooper highlighted UNLV's recent successes, including winning more games in the past 24 months than in the previous 50 years and achieving the highest GPA. He discussed the challenges of the transfer portal and the need for players to develop...
Mar 02, 2025•30 min•Ep. 143
Imani Patterson, Senior Assistant Director for Student Diversity Programs at UNLV, discussed the upcoming Black Mini Con, a new event inspired by the Queer Mini Con and featuring various lectures on Black history and culture. The event, scheduled for February 25, 2025, from 10 AM to 2 PM, will cover topics like Black joy, the mis-education of Black America, and community organizing. Patterson emphasized the importance of collaboration with departments like African American and Diaspora Studies a...
Feb 23, 2025•28 min•Ep. 142
Kyle Fairweather, president of UNLV's Collegiate 100 and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, shared his journey from Houston to UNLV, where he pursues an International Business major with a Japanese concentration. Kyle discussed his military background as a combat medic and his transition to UNLV. He highlighted the Collegiate 100's focus on professional development, networking, and mentorship, including recent trips to Atlanta and Colorado. Kyle emphasized the importance of leadership, accountability, ...
Feb 16, 2025•30 min•Ep. 141
Dr. Nicole Hudson, Executive Director of Workforce Education at UNLV, discussed her non-traditional educational journey and career progression, including her roles in opening campuses and teaching online. She highlighted her current role in bridging academia and industry, focusing on workforce development and employer partnerships. Hudson emphasized the importance of internships, paid opportunities, and career readiness programs, such as the Career Internship Fair on February 26. She also mentio...
Feb 09, 2025•30 min•Ep. 140
Justin Griffin, Director of Development for the Lee Business School at UNLV, shared his journey from Tallahassee, Florida, to his current role. He discussed his background in football, education, and sports management, and his mentorship experiences. Griffin highlighted the importance of building relationships with alumni and donors, and detailed the fundraising process, including cold calls and aligning donor interests with university needs. He emphasized the significance of experiential learni...
Feb 02, 2025•30 min•Ep. 139
Imani Patterson, Senior Assistant Director for Student Diversity Programs at UNLV, discussed upcoming events for Black History Month and Welcome Weeks. Key events include meet and greets for various groups, such as African American, LGBTQ+, Latinx, and Native American students, with faculty and staff present to provide mentorship and resources. Patterson emphasized the importance of networking and building connections. Specific events include a line dance class, intergroup dialog, and a bus tour...
Jan 26, 2025•28 min•Ep. 138
Dr. Sammie Scales interviews three officers from UNLV's Police Department (UPD). They discuss their backgrounds and roles, emphasizing community engagement and safety measures. Key points include the importance of the Rebel Safe App for emergency notifications, the presence of over 100 emergency phones, and the use of surveillance cameras. The officers highlight their efforts in community outreach, such as safety presentations and collaborations with local law enforcement. They also address crim...
Dec 15, 2024•33 min•Ep. 137
Lisa Marie Tomassetti, the Program Educator for Residential Education at UNLV, discussed her journey from a transfer student to her current role, highlighting her involvement in Res Life and higher education. She detailed the responsibilities of a Residential Life Coordinator (RLC), including managing buildings, supervising RAs, and handling conduct issues. Tomassetti emphasized the importance of theme communities like Stonewall Suites and Howell Town for fostering a sense of belonging. She also...
Dec 01, 2024•30 min•Ep. 136
Ash Quinn, coordinator for UNLV's Basic Needs Program, discussed their journey from a UNLV undergraduate to their current role, highlighting their work in housing and student diversity programs. They detailed the "Take What You Need" program, which distributes 18,000 items monthly, serving over 200 students. Quinn emphasized the importance of breaking stigmas around seeking help and shared that the program has grown from supporting 900 students initially to over 3,000 this year. They also discus...
Nov 17, 2024•30 min•Ep. 135
Dr. Chris Heavey, UNLV's Executive Vice President and Provost, discussed his 32-year tenure at the university, emphasizing his role as the chief academic officer. He highlighted initiatives to support student success, such as monitoring engagement, providing personalized support, and creating a new chatbot for student inquiries. He also mentioned the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), noting UNLV's designations as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), Hispanic Serving Institut...
Nov 03, 2024•30 min•Ep. 134
Kyle Broyard, the Housing Assignment Coordinator at UNLV, shared his journey from graduating high school at 17 to his current role. He discussed managing room assignments for 1,800 students, emphasizing the use of the Housing Director tool for accurate billing and student preferences. Broyard highlighted the importance of DEI in roommate matching and the COVID-19 protocols for isolating infected students. He also detailed the collaboration with various campus departments, including the Disabilit...
Oct 27, 2024•30 min•Ep. 133
AJ Angulo, a Career and Life Design Specialist at UNLV, discussed his career journey from psychology to career coaching, emphasizing the importance of career readiness for students. He detailed the services offered by UNLV's career coaching, including resume assistance, mock interviews, and job search strategies. Angulo highlighted the significance of understanding company mission statements and job descriptions, and the evolving role of AI in the job market. He advised students to attend events...
Oct 20, 2024•30 min•Ep. 132
Phillip Haynes III, Director of Student Athlete Development at UNLV, shared his journey from playing football at UNLV to working in student athlete development. He highlighted the Empower Her program funded by the Diana Bennett family foundation, aimed at women student athletes and allies. Haynes emphasized the importance of balancing academics, athletics, and personal development, and discussed challenges like scheduling conflicts. He also mentioned collaborating with various campus departments...
Oct 13, 2024•29 min•Ep. 131
Isabel Herrera-Pedro, from UNLV's Student Diversity Programs, discussed her educational journey from Clark High School to Utah Tech University, where she pursued a Criminal Justice undergraduate degree and is currently working on a Public Administration master's. She highlighted her role in DEI initiatives, including organizing events like the Hispanic Heritage Month kickoff and the upcoming "Loteria and Lowriders" event. Isabel emphasized the importance of student feedback, networking, and leve...
Oct 06, 2024•30 min•Ep. 130
Mario Rodriguez, Assistant Director for Multicultural and STEM Pipelines at UNLV, shared his journey from La Puente, California, to UNLV, highlighting his financial constraints and the importance of scholarships. He emphasized the significance of family influence and the value of a college education. Rodriguez discussed his role in supporting K-20 students, including Spanish-speaking families, and the importance of campus connections for academic success. He also mentioned the need for more scho...
Sep 29, 2024•30 min•Ep. 129
Dr. Harriet Barlow, Executive Director of the Intersection Academic Multicultural Resource Center at UNLV, discussed her 27-year tenure and the center's role in supporting first-generation and students of color. The Intersection, established in 2017, offers academic support, financial counseling, and a snack pantry funded by CSUN and MSI. Barlow highlighted the importance of mentorship programs, including a first-generation faculty and staff mentoring initiative. She emphasized the need for more...
Sep 22, 2024•30 min•Ep. 128
Imani Patterson, Senior Assistant Director of Student Diversity Programs at UNLV, shared her journey from being a top student at Valley High School to her current role. She highlighted her involvement in the Black Student Organization, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and her transition from fraternity and sorority life to student diversity programs. Patterson discussed the planning and execution of identity and heritage month events, emphasizing the importance of student feedback and collaboration w...
Sep 15, 2024•30 min•Ep. 127
In this episode of Let's Talk UNLV, we welcome back Dr. Lauren Gatto, Assistant Director of First Year Experience at UNLV, along with peer mentors Sky and Georgia. They share their journeys and insights into the transformative power of peer mentorship. Discover how peer mentors at UNLV support new students in navigating the challenges of college life, fostering a sense of belonging, and achieving academic success. Learn about the attributes and training that make an effective mentor and hear ins...
Jun 30, 2024•30 min•Ep. 126
Dr. Sammie Scales sits down for an in-depth interview with Patricia Gatlin, UNLV's Talent Acquisition Coordinator.
Jun 16, 2024•28 min•Ep. 125
Join Dr. Lauren Gatto, assistant director of UNLV's First Year Experience (FYE) Program, as she delves into the journey of incoming students at the university. From orientation to personalized support, Dr. Gatto discusses how FYE fosters a sense of belonging, provides essential resources, and empowers students to navigate the challenges of their first year. Discover the critical role of peer mentors, innovative strategies, and the impact of FYE on student success. With insights into the program'...
Jun 09, 2024•29 min•Ep. 124
In this episode of "Let's Talk UNLV," join us as we dive into the essentials of campus housing with Mr. Tem Sedgwick, the Assistant Director for Residential Life at UNLV. Tem shares his journey and extensive experience at the university, highlights the benefits of living on campus, and outlines the unique features of UNLV's residence halls, including themed floors and community building initiatives. Gain valuable tips for incoming freshmen on transitioning to campus life, dealing with homesickne...
Jun 02, 2024•30 min•Ep. 123
Join Dr. Scales in an engaging conversation with Christian Shelton, a remarkable voice talent and Las Vegas native, on this episode of Let's Talk UNLV. Discover Christian's journey from discovering his passion for singing in high school to becoming a celebrated opera performer at UNLV. Learn about his family's musical legacy, influential mentors like Dr. Alphonse Anderson, and the transformative experiences that shaped his career. Christian shares memorable moments, including international perfo...
May 26, 2024•30 min•Ep. 122
