Mariellen Van Winkle is a native from Massachusetts, however has lived in various parts of the country and abroad as part of a military family. She relocated to Las Vegas in 1996 to attend UNLV as a student. She began working at UNLV in 2006 for the Enrollment Services Center, obtaining her degree in Public Administration in 2012. She left the University for a few years to spend time with her newborn son and has returned as an Academic Advisor for the Office of Student Advising at the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality in 2015. Becoming an advisor felt like the natural move as she had the experience as both a student and a staff member at UNLV. Most importantly, she enjoyed working with students to help develop their potential and to help them make decisions about their future. Utilizing her own experiences helps her to understand the needs of her students. In her spare time she enjoys spending as much time with her husband and son as possible. She enjoys rooting for the Boston Red Sox, reading young adult novels and historical fiction, and working on crafts, such as making cards, scrapbooking, and cross stitching.