Kristine Jan Cruz Espinoza, '24 Ph.D. Higher Education and '22 Graduate Certificate in Program Evaluation and Assessment, is an assistant professor in the Graduate School of Education at California Lutheran University. A peer-reviewed she co-authored with colleagues titled, "Oceania in the Desert: A QuantCrit Analysis of the (Under)Counting of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Students at an AANAPISI-HSI," was chosen as the 2025 Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Charles F. Elton Best Paper and was recognized on the AIR website and with recognition at the upcoming 2025 AIR Forum in May in Orlando, Florida.

Karen Hawkes, Esq., '96 BA Political Science, is the Founder of Hawkes Law, A.P.L.C., an intellectual property and business law firm specializing in trademark and copyright in San Diego, California. She launched her firm in 2014. Previously, Hawkes was a trademark and copyright litigator in a firm for over a decade. She also serves as director and law professor of the California Western School of Law Trademark Clinic, where she teaches students to become practitioners and represents pro bono clients nationwide before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, D.C.

George Polyard, '16 Hotel Administration, was promoted to chief operating officer at ComOps, a leading provider of strategy and operational support for the hospitality and gaming industries. Polyard has expertise in the gaming and hospitality sectors, and has been instrumental in driving operational improvements across ComOps’ portfolio of more than 50 casinos and hotels. His approach to integrating guest and employee feedback has led to significant enhancements in customer satisfaction, workforce engagement, and overall business performance. He's led numerous successful omnichannel CX implementations, including for a 3,600-room luxury integrated resort and the seamless migration from a legacy platform for a 16-property international luxury hotel brand. Polyard and his wife, also a UNLV grad, have two children and proudly live in Las Vegas, where they've persuaded both pairs of parents to retire.

Yolanda Tuttle, '07 BS Hotel Administration, returned to Las Vegas to join the Suiteness.com team as a concierge. She is excited to get reacquainted with Sin City and her Sigma Kappa sisters!