Dear Colleagues,

We are thrilled to announce the names of the academic faculty members who have been awarded tenure and/or promotion effective July 1, 2026. The tenure approvals were issued by the Board of Regents during their quarterly meeting held March 5–6, 2026.

This marks a significant milestone in their professional journeys, reflecting years of dedication to innovative research, excellence in teaching, and meaningful service to our community.

Tenure and Promotion to Associate Professor

• Kavita Batra, Ph.D., MPH, BDS, FRSPH, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine
• Jennifer Bellor, Ph.D., School of Music, College of Fine Arts
• Gabriela Buccini, Ph.D., M.S., IBCLC, Dept. of Social and Behavioral Health, School of Public Health
• Melissa Carrion, Ph.D., Dept. of English, College of Liberal Arts
• Katherine Feather, Ph.D., LCPC, Dept. of Counselor Education, School Psychology, and Human Services, College of Education
• Zhange Feng, Ph.D., Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences
• Timothy Grigsby, Ph.D., Dept. of Social and Behavioral Health, School of Public Health
• Samantha John, Ph.D., Dept. of Brain Health, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine
• Jarret Keene, Ph.D., Dept. of English, College of Liberal Arts
• Makayla Lavender, Ph.D., Dept. of Economics, Lee Business School
• Nirmala Lekhak, Ph.D., RN, School of Nursing
• Erika Marquez, Ph.D., MPH, Dept. of Environmental and Global Health, School of Public Health
• Kenneth Miller, Ph.D., Dept. of Political Science, College of Liberal Arts
• Brenna Renn, Ph.D., Dept. of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts
• Payal Sharma, Ph.D., Dept. of Management and Entrepreneurship, Lee Business School
• Jacob Skousen, Ed.D., Dept. of Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education, College of Education
• Jennifer Vanderlaan, Ph.D., MPH, CNM, School of Nursing
• François Vozel, Ph.D., Dept. of World Languages and Cultures, College of Liberal Arts

Tenure Only

• Amanda Koziura, MLIS, University Libraries
• Zaijing Sun, Ph.D., Dept. of Health Physics and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Integrated Health Sciences

Tenure and Promotion to Professor

• Joseph Regalia, J.D., William S. Boyd School of Law

Promotion to Professor

• Scott Abella, Ph.D., School of Life Sciences, College of Sciences
• Arpita Basu, Ph.D., RD/LD, Dept. of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences, School of Integrated Health Sciences
• Rebecca Benfield, Ph.D., CNM, FACNM, School of Nursing
• Lung-Wen Chen, Ph.D., Dept. of Environmental and Global Health, School of Public Health
• Chih-Chien Chen, Ph.D., Dept. of Resort, Gaming, and Golf Management, William F. Harrah College of Hospitality
• Madeline Clark, Ph.D., LPCC-S, LPC, NCC, ACS, Dept. of Counselor Education, School Psychology, and Human Services, College of Education
• Xan Goodman, MLIS, University Libraries
• Kendall Hartley, Ph.D., Dept. of Teaching and Learning, College of Education
• Kathleen Krach, Ph.D., NCSP, Dept. of Counselor Education, School Psychology, and Human Services, College of Education
• Szu-Ping Lee, Ph.D., PT, Dept. of Physical Therapy, School of Integrated Health Sciences
• Katrina Liu, Ph.D., Dept. of Teaching and Learning, College of Education
• Ian McDonough, Ph.D., Dept. of Economics, Lee Business School
• Rosan Mitola, MLIS, University Libraries
• James Navalta, Ph.D., Dept. of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences, School of Integrated Health Sciences
• Steven Nelson, Ph.D., J.D., Dept. of Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education, College of Education
• Wonyong Oh, Ph.D., Dept. of Management and Entrepreneurship, Lee Business School
• Aaron Saiewitz, Ph.D., CPA, Dept. of Accounting, Lee Business School
• Rei Serafica, Ph.D., MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CNE, FTNSS, FAAN, School of Nursing
• Jason Steffen, Ph.D., Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, College of Sciences
• Ikseon Suh, Ph.D., CPA, Dept. of Accounting, Lee Business School
• Joshua Vermillion, M.A., School of Architecture, College of Fine Arts
• James Woodbridge, Ph.D., Dept. of Philosophy, College of Liberal Arts
• Danny Young, Ph.D., PT, DPT, Dept. of Physical Therapy, School of Integrated Health Sciences

Promotion to Senior Lecturer

• Raymond Ahn, M.S., Dept. of Mathematical Sciences, College of Sciences
• Debra Biordi-Fusaro, CPA, Dept. of Accounting, Lee Business School
• Karen Eisenberg, MSN, RN, CNE, School of Nursing
• Tim Meagher, Ph.D., Dept. of Mathematical Sciences, College of Sciences
• Heidi Shelton, D.C., R.T. (R) (ARRT), Dept. of Health Physics and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Integrated Health Sciences
• Dawn Sturgeon, M.S., Dept. of Mathematical Sciences, College of Sciences

Promotion to Affiliate Associate Professor

• Katie Leung, M.M., School of Music, College of Fine Arts

Promotion to Associate Research Professor

• Aude Picard, Ph.D., School of Life Sciences, College of Sciences

Promotion to Associate Professor in Residence

• Danielle Finn, J.D., William S. Boyd School of Law
• Kris Gunawan, Ph.D., Dept. of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts
• Keoni Kins, PT, DPT, LAT, ATC, Dept. of Physical Therapy, School of Integrated Health Sciences
• Kirk Silvernail, Ph.D., Dept. of Management and Entrepreneurship, Lee Business School
• Van Whaley, Ed.D., DC, Dept. of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences, School of Integrated Health Sciences

Promotion to Associate Professor

• Rooman Ahad, M.D., Dept. of Pediatrics, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine
• Brian Ward, M.D., Ph.D., FACS, Dept. of Surgery, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine

Promotion to Professor in Residence

• Abigail Aguilar, Ph.D., Dept. of Philosophy, College of Liberal Arts
• Bobbie Barnes Webb, Ph.D., Dept. of Hospitality Management, William F. Harrah College of Hospitality
• Finley Cotrone, Ph.D., CHE, Dept. of Hospitality Management, William F. Harrah College of Hospitality
• Kerie Francis, Ph.D., Dept. of Sociology, College of Liberal Arts
• Chelsie Hawkinson, Ph.D., Dept. of Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education, College of Education
• Sheila Janofsky, Ph.D., Dept. of Environmental and Global Health, School of Public Health
• David Jeffery, Ph.D., Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, College of Sciences
• Sean Neiswenter, Ph.D., School of Life Sciences, College of Sciences
• Christy Strong, Ph.D., School of Life Sciences, College of Sciences

The contributions of these faculty members have greatly enriched our university. We look forward to witnessing the continued impact of their work on our students, our community, and our world.

Warm wishes,

Chris Heavey
UNLV Interim President

Kate Hausbeck Korgan
Acting Executive Vice President and Provost