Dear Colleagues,
Innovation and economic development are integral to UNLV’s mission, and nurturing continued growth in these areas is central to our success as an institution and within the communities we serve.
With that in mind, I am pleased to share that I have appointed Zachary Miles, J.D., as vice president for economic development, effective Nov. 1. Zach will also continue in his roles as executive director of the UNLV Research Foundation and Innovation Foundation.
Zach has been a key part of UNLV’s economic development leadership team for more than a decade of combined service. He has been successfully leading the office in an interim role for much of the past two years and brings to the position more than two decades of university-based leadership experience in economic development, technology transfer, industry engagement, and research commercialization – here at UNLV and during stints at Oklahoma State University and the University of Utah.
Under Zach’s leadership, the university advanced the UNLV Harry Reid Research & Technology Park and its signature building, Black Fire Innovation. They have become core elements of the university innovation, industry engagement, and community outreach infrastructure and serve as an anchor in Clark County’s economic development corridor. Earlier this week, Intermountain Health broke ground on Nevada’s first dedicated children’s hospital, which will be located at the park. I appreciate Zach’s contributions to this important project, which will help meet the healthcare needs of our growing region and provide new opportunities for research, workforce, and community engagement.
Zach has also been instrumental in the creation of the UNLV Innovation Foundation, which was established in 2025 to support technology commercialization efforts. All of this activity comes amid a period of growth in innovation and industry engagement on campus, which includes rising patent activity and the launch of several promising faculty-led startup businesses stemming from UNLV research.
Within just the past month, the Association of Public & Land Grant Universities designated UNLV as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity institution, and the university earned nearly $6 million from the National Science Foundation to support infrastructure and programs that will bring promising faculty-led innovation to market faster than ever before.
These highlights, and others like them, are indicative of UNLV’s rising economic development profile here in Nevada and beyond. I am confident that Zach and our talented economic development team will continue to strengthen our region’s innovation ecosystem, and UNLV’s place in it, in the years to come.
Please join me in congratulating Zach on his appointment and supporting his continued success as he leads our university’s rising economic and innovation impact.
Warm wishes,
Chris Heavey
UNLV President