Dear Colleagues,
The spring semester officially begins on Tuesday, and I hope you’ve had some time over the past few weeks to rest and re-energize for what promises to be another busy and productive spring here at UNLV.
We have so much to look forward to as we start a new semester. Our spring enrollment is expected to again reach a new high for a spring term, continuing recent growth trends. This milestone is a direct reflection of your commitment to our mission and your care for our students.
Earlier this week, we also received the wonderful news that the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching renewed UNLV’s Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement. This is a significant honor and places UNLV in elite company, as less than 2% of the nation’s colleges and universities – and only 80 public universities – hold Carnegie’s top designations for both research and community engagement.
I hope you take pride in these achievements, as they serve as proof that the purpose-driven work you do each and every day at UNLV matters. This is true whether that work is forward-facing in our classrooms, clinics, and community, or behind the scenes in our research labs, advising centers, administrative offices or out on our grounds. Together, each member of our university advances meaningful connections and contributes to our success.
Campus Infrastructure Enhancements
To keep pace with our growth, a number of construction projects on our Maryland Parkway campus are either in planning stages or actively underway. This includes planning and design for the new Lee Business School building, for which we received a substantial financial commitment from Governor Joe Lombardo and the Nevada Legislature in 2025. Expect to hear more later this spring as fundraising progresses on this exciting and much anticipated project.
Construction will be completed soon on a project to improve the connection between the Performing Arts Center plaza and the Academic Mall. The upgraded space will feature an ADA-accessible ramp, seating, and new signage to strengthen the corridor between these venues and the larger campus. Pre-construction activities are also underway on a new parking structure behind the UNLV Transit Center and near Greenspun Hall that will add around 1,250 spaces when completed. And in December, plans were unveiled for the Faculty Senate-led memorial and healing garden to permanently honor and remember colleagues, teachers, and mentors lost on Dec. 6, and the many whose lives were forever impacted.
Organizational Updates
Recruitment efforts continue on two impactful nationwide searches. The search committee is now interviewing candidates for the permanent Vice President for Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer, and we anticipate finalists may be on campus later this month or in early February. The Executive Vice President and Provost search is also progressing, with a goal to welcome a strong pool of finalists for campus forums later this spring.
We will also commence our search for a new Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean of the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine this spring. Along with the two positions above, this role is critically important to UNLV’s continued progress and impact. We are committed to recruiting an accomplished leader who will advance the school’s academic, clinical, and research missions while strengthening its integration with the university and community.
Just before the holidays, I was pleased to welcome Kyle Ethelbah as the new Associate Vice President for Institutional Engagement and Experience. Kyle has more than two decades of experience at UNLV and has earned great respect campuswide for his ability to unite people around shared goals. He’ll be reporting directly to the president’s office in this new role, which will focus on increasing engagement, reinforcing shared values, and supporting a positive and mission-aligned campus culture that enhances belongingness and the workplace experience for all of our employees.
Another dynamic new campus administrator is Jan Jones Blackhurst, who is serving as our Interim Vice President for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement as well as Interim President of the UNLV Foundation. A longtime leader in Southern Nevada and former two-term mayor of Las Vegas, Jan has stepped into this role to strengthen the Foundation’s capacity; deepen relationships with donors, alumni, and community members; and help us secure the financial resources necessary to advance the university’s academic, research, and community impact goals.
Looking Ahead
Please mark your calendars for the afternoon of April 8 for my inaugural State of the University Address, where I’ll talk more about our continuing vision for academic growth, student success, and community impact.
I look forward to welcoming you all back to campus next week. Our university is truly at its best when it's bustling with the energy and excitement of a new semester, which brings with it new opportunities, continuing progress, and remarkable achievements. I look forward to seeing you around campus soon!
Warm wishes,
Chris Heavey
UNLV Interim President