Dear Colleagues,
During the final busy weeks of the spring semester, we worked to appoint new leaders to fill in for those who would soon depart from their current leadership roles. In each instance, President Whitfield and I consulted with faculty, staff, and other key stakeholders in thoughtfully selecting these successors from among our talented community of academic and administrative faculty.
Skip Crooker appointed permanent Vice Provost for Decision Support
Effective May 1, 2023, John (Skip) Crooker, Ph.D., has transitioned from his interim position to the permanent Vice Provost for Decision Support at UNLV. Since joining the university in 2018, Dr. Crooker has been instrumental in promoting a culture of data-informed decision-making. His work has helped increase the availability of standard reports, dashboards, and other business intelligence tools for campus users.
He holds a doctorate in economics from Iowa State University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Central Missouri. Before coming to UNLV, he was an assistant professor of economics at Texas Tech University. He also spent a decade at the University of Central Missouri, where he rose through the faculty ranks to become a full professor, associate dean, and then director of institutional research.
Active within institutional research communities at both the regional and national levels, Dr. Crooker has been acknowledged for his contributions to the field, notably receiving the Association for Institutional Research’s Charles F. Elton Best Paper Award in 2021. Under his leadership, the Office of Decision Support is poised to become a model of excellence among units of its kind.
In response to Dr. Crooker’s appointment, President Whitfield said, “Skip’s commitment to data infrastructure and information availability has been exceptional. His track record speaks for itself, and I'm confident he will continue to deliver in his new role, continually bringing best practices and innovation to the decision support function at UNLV.”
Tony Henthorne selected as Acting Dean of the College of Hospitality
As the outgoing dean of the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality, Stowe Shoemaker, prepares to take on a new role in the UNLV Foundation, Professor Tony Henthorne, Ph.D., has been selected to serve as Acting Dean.
Assuming his new role on July 1, 2023, Dr. Henthorne will remain at the helm of the college until a permanent dean is named. His leadership experience and institutional knowledge will be crucial as the college navigates through this transitional period. A search for the new dean is already underway, and interviews are expected to begin in the fall semester.
Dr. Henthorne came to UNLV in 2008 to chair the College of Hospitality’s then Tourism and Convention Administration department. He now serves as Executive Associate Dean of Academics and holds the Claudine Williams Distinguished Chair. Prior to his tenure at UNLV, Dr. Henthorne worked at the University of Mississippi in a variety of academic and administrative capacities. His research areas are destination development and Caribbean tourism, with publications totaling more than 90 articles and a book on the burgeoning Cuban tourism industry.
Lorraine Evangelista tapped to serve as Interim Dean of the School of Nursing
Following current dean Angela Amar’s appointment as dean of the Rory Meyers College of Nursing at NYU, the UNLV School of Nursing’s Associate Dean for Research, Lorraine Evangelista, Ph.D., has been appointed as Interim Dean, effective from July 1, 2023. A registered nurse and Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, Dr. Evangelista specializes in cardiovascular nursing and treating patients with heart failure, working to improve patient and caregiver outcomes.
An internationally recognized scholar, Dr. Evangelista has over 125 publications on adherence, self-care, quality of life, and health literacy. Her groundbreaking research in patient care for heart disease has secured over $10 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health.
Before joining UNLV, Dr. Evangelista served as the Associate Dean for Research & Scholarship and the Lena Finke Distinguished Chair for Nursing at the University of Texas Medical Branch School of Nursing. Her innovative approach to research has helped improve health outcomes for patients with heart disease. As she assumes the role of Interim Dean, her extensive research background and leadership experience are expected to strengthen the School of Nursing’s commitment to research and student success. A search for the permanent dean will commence this fall.
Both President Whitfield and I know our university’s strength lies in its people. Due to their exceptional expertise and commitment, Skip, Tony, and Lorraine will drive our institution toward further academic excellence and overall success.
Warm regards,
Chris L. Heavey, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Provost
Professor of Psychology