Dear Colleagues, 

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Zachary Miles, J.D., as interim vice president for economic development, effective July 1, 2025. 

Zach has been serving as officer in charge of the division since late January and has more than two decades of leadership experience in university-based economic development, technology transfer, industry engagement, and research commercialization. 

After holding various leadership roles with UNLV’s economic development team from 2013-2020, Zach re-joined the university in 2022 as senior associate vice president of economic development and executive director of the UNLV Research Foundation. As interim vice president, he will focus on advancing the university’s role in our region’s innovation ecosystem by forging connections between industry collaborators and our talented faculty and students. This includes initiating and strengthening industry sponsored research collaborations, working with UNLV inventors to patent and license commercially viable projects, and expanding opportunities for student learning and entrepreneurship.

Zach has a strong track record in these areas, and I’m confident that he’ll continue to grow UNLV’s economic development efforts in our region and beyond. 

He has worked on the development of critical innovation infrastructure, including the launch of the UNLV Harry Reid Research and Technology Park. He has also played a key role in initiatives such as Rebel Forge, Electrify Nevada, and Black Fire Innovation, a research and business accelerator that has become a visible part of the university’s economic development portfolio.

Before joining UNLV, Zach held positions in economic development at Oklahoma State University and at the University of Utah, where he was instrumental in elevating Utah’s Technology and Venture Commercialization Office. 

In addition to his role as interim vice president, Zach will continue as executive director of the UNLV Research Foundation. He also holds a position on the board of the Association of University Research Parks, works closely with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance, and he is actively supporting Clark County in the development of its Innovation Corridor, anchored by the UNLV Harry Reid Research and Technology Park.

Please join me in congratulating Zach on his appointment and supporting him as he leads the next chapter of economic innovation and impact for UNLV and our region. 

Warm wishes, 

Chris Heavey
Interim UNLV President