Dear University Community,

I am deeply honored and humbled that the Board of Regents has entrusted me with the opportunity to continue to lead UNLV as its 12th permanent president. I am grateful to the Board and to Chancellor McNair, the UNLV Foundation Board of Trustees, Faculty Senate, student government, and to the campus as a whole for your support and confidence in my leadership. 

UNLV’s momentum is strong, with recent record graduation rates, renewal of Carnegie’s highest classifications for research and community engagement – and attainment of its inaugural sustainability classification – and with research spending hitting all-time highs. These achievements, and many others, are indicative of a university on the rise, and they reflect the deep commitment of our talented faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and other supporters who believe in the power of what our university can become.

What UNLV means to our community cannot be overstated. I’ve often said, and believe more strongly than ever, that UNLV is more vital to Southern Nevada than any other institution is to the region it serves. More than half of our students are the first in their families to earn a college degree, our academic and service programs deliver vital resources every day, and we’re educating a workforce equipped to support and lead an economy that drives one of the most dynamic cities in the world. 

From major research grants and emerging technologies to new programs and initiatives that enrich the student experience, our people continue to advance UNLV’s mission in meaningful ways. Working together, we are building UNLV’s brand, expanding our reach, strengthening our national reputation, and creating new opportunities for our students and the communities we serve.

But there is much work to be done and much greater heights to be reached in the coming years. I’ve dedicated my career to this institution and have seen it grow alongside Southern Nevada. I believe deeply in the power and impact of public higher education, the vital mission of UNLV, the people who make this university extraordinary, and in what we can continue to accomplish working together with shared purpose.

Let us continue to ride the wave of this momentum and commit to serving the needs of Southern Nevada, our state, and beyond. Thank you for your partnership and support, and Go Rebels!

Warm wishes, 

Chris Heavey
UNLV President