Tenaya (which rhymes with papaya) supports the dean's office administration and engagement efforts. She also serves as executive assistant to Dean Danica Hays. Before her role at UNLV, she was the administrative support coordinator for the vice president of student affairs at California State University, Chico. She earned her bachelor's degree in political science and a minor in public policy from UC Berkeley. Her background includes a judicial administration fellowship through California State University, Sacramento, and then served several years as a court services analyst at the Butte County Superior Court.