Dr. Cecilia Maldonado, a native of Ohio, earned two B.S. degrees in Industrial Management and Elementary Education, and an M.S. in Technical Education from The University of Akron, and a Ph.D. in Workforce Education and Development from The Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Maldonado has held academic and administrative appointments at UNLV for nearly 23 years. She is an Associate Professor and has held administrative roles within the Office of Faculty Affairs, the Office of Faculty Excellence, and the Office of Academic Programs. She is currently with the Office of the Senior Vice Provost of Academic Affairs.

In addition to more than 9 years in administration, Dr. Maldonado served on numerous committees with various functions at the department, college, and university levels, and has extensive experience working with the administration in a shared governance capacity. She was the elected Chair of the Faculty Senate (2010-2011) during the economic downturn. She served the faculty (2009-2012) as an active member of the executive committee while holding the position of program and graduate coordinator for the Ph.D. in Workforce Development and Organizational Leadership.

In her current position, Dr. Maldonado partners with campus stakeholders in support of the growing workforce and career development-related activities across campus. Her major responsibilities are to provide strategic direction for embedding and implementing workforce and career development best practices on campus; develop and deliver professional development workshops, talks, and seminars; provide workforce data to colleges and departments to inform industry-aligned workforce preparation into the academic curriculum; support employer partnerships and engagement with faculty; and, serve as a liaison between the university and state and local workforce agencies to ensure alignment with state needs and university degree program offerings as well as UNLV’s representative for workforce development related events in the community. Prior to this evolution in her role, she managed the process for faculty/staff international travel to ensure compliance with NSHE’s International Travel Policy; the MGM College Opportunity Program, and new corporate partnerships, and she served as Chair of the University Policy Committee.

She is passionate about the field of workforce development and is enthusiastic about integrating best practices at an R1 institution, where traditionally it was not perceived to be relevant. She strongly believes this work will improve student outcomes. She has a long history of working closely with students and is most proud of her work mentoring students as dissertation chair through the deactivated doctoral program she established in Workforce Development and Organizational Leadership. Dr. Maldonado has one daughter, who is a UNLV graduate and is a new grandmother to Hendrix.