The UNLV Harrah College of Hospitality celebrates the contributions of industry innovators from all generations and corners of the world. Here, we recognize some of the trailblazing women who have changed the face of the industry right here in our own backyard. 

The Las Vegas Pioneers: Past and Present

Judy Bayley (1915–1971), alongside her husband, played a pivotal role in launching the renowned Hacienda Hotel in Las Vegas. Initially a family-owned and operated casino, Bayley assumed sole leadership of the business following her husband’s passing.

Sarann Knight Preddy (1920–2014): A key figure in the civil rights movement in Las Vegas (and co-founded the Las Vegas Black Historical Society), Preddy was the first African American woman to receive a Nevada gaming license when she opened her own establishment in 1950. 

Claudine Williams (1921–2009) was a pioneer in ownership and management, co-owning the Silver Slipper and Holiday Casino. Williams became the first female president and general manager of a major Strip casino.

Jeanne Hood (1926–2009) made history in Las Vegas as one of the first women to run a major hotel-casino. She operated the Four Queens from 1977 until 1993 and assisted with the revitalization efforts of Downtown Las Vegas in the early 1990s.

Hattie Canty (1933–2012) rose from a guest room attendant to become the first Black woman elected president of the Las Vegas Hotel and Culinary Workers Union (CWU), where she advocated for fair contracts and significantly improved the livelihoods of hospitality workers.

Elaine Wynn (1942–2025), an influential figure in the casino business, co-founded Wynn Resorts with her former husband, Steve Wynn. Her role extended beyond the co-founder title, as she actively contributed to the company’s success to become a leading name in the gambling industry.

Ann Meyers: A single mother of two, Meyers was the first female sole owner of a casino in Las Vegas. Harnessing her entrepreneurial spirit, Meyers transformed the former Casbah Casino into the Ann Meyers Queen of Hearts Hotel.

Diana Bennett: In 2000, Bennett co-founded Paragon Gaming, a company that developed casinos in Las Vegas and throughout North America. Following in the footsteps of her father, casino mogul William Bennett, she was inducted into the Nevada Business Hall of Fame in 2014.

Jan Jones Blackhurst: The first woman to serve as mayor of Las Vegas (1991–1999), Blackhurst later became a top executive at Caesars Entertainment. She is now a board member for the Women's Hospitality Initiative (WHI) and executive director of Black Fire Leadership Initiative (UNLV).

Elizabeth Blau is credited with transforming Las Vegas into a culinary destination by bringing award-winning chefs and restaurateurs to the city. Blau is a staunch community advocate and co-founder of the Women's Hospitality Initiative, supporting women in the industry. 

Susan Wolfla: In 2011, Wolfla made history as the first female executive chef of a hotel on the Las Vegas Strip at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. She remained in her position, pushing the envelope of culinary creativity, until 2020.

Lorena Garcia: Venezuelan-born restaurateur and media personality Lorena Garcia became the first Latina executive chef on the Strip. Garcia expanded her Miami-based restaurant group to The Venetian Las Vegas in 2017 with CHICA.

Harrah College of Hospitality Alumnae at the Top of the Industry

Cindy Kiser Murphey ’80, ’95 MS, has worked as a top executive at MGM MIRAGE, New York New York, and later as the general manager of the Palms Resort Casino. The two-time alumna has received numerous accolades recognizing her leadership and philanthropy, including being named the college’s 2008 Alumna of the Year.

Paula Lauzon ‘89: A UNLV alumna highlighted for her significant contributions to the field of hospitality, Lauzon was a long-time top executive for Boyd Gaming (Senior VP). She is the current chair of the college’s Dean’s Global Advisory Board and was the college’s 2012 Alumna of the Year.  

Ann Hoff ’90 enjoyed a 34-year-long career with MGM Resorts International before retiring from her role as COO of Bellagio and Park MGM in 2025. She is a former member of the college’s Dean’s Global Advisory Board and Industry, and was recognized as the college’s Industry Leader of the Year in 2018. 

Michele Polci ’90: A 34-year catering professional, Polci currently serves as director of citywide catering sales (Las Vegas) for Caesars Entertainment. In 2024, Polci received the National Association for Catering and Events (NACE) Hall of Fame Award. 

M.J. Maynard-Carey ’92 is the chief executive officer for Las Vegas’ Regional Transportation Commission (RTC). Before joining the RTC, Maynard-Carey spent 25 years in the Las Vegas hospitality industry, where she worked in food and beverage, eventually rising to VP at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

Colleen Birch ’99, a previous executive with Fontainebleau (COO) and The Cosmopolitan (senior VP), is recognized for her distinguished career and multiple awards. Birch serves as chairwoman for the Hospitality Charitable Foundation and was named Hospitality College Alumna of the Year in 2019.

Educators Who Transformed Hospitality Academia

Kathleen Bell, Ph.D. (1943–2022), joined the Harrah College of Hospitality in 1988 as an assistant professor. During her 22 years at UNLV, Bell taught food and beverage classes, worked as an academic advisor, and led various student clubs. In honor of her and her husband Donald Bell's legacies, the college established the Bell Faculty Fellowship after their deaths.

Patti Shock, Ph.D. (1941–2019), who joined UNLV in 1988, spent 18 of her 25 years with the college as chair of the Tourism and Convention Department. Shock co-authored numerous books and book chapters for professional associations. She was a sought-after public speaker and received many accolades over the years, including the Claudine Williams Distinguished Chair.

Audrey McCool, Ph.D. (1940–2024), taught for over twenty years at the Harrah College of Hospitality, where she held an endowed chair and established the Food and Beverage Management team. The late educator was known for providing students with valuable real-world experience, including the opportunity to manage several hospitality events at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. 

Kathleen Pearl Brewer, Ph.D.: A distinguished researcher and student favorite, Pearl Brewer came to UNLV in 1993 and went on to serve as a professor, department chair for Hotel Management, and director of graduate studies (2003). The retired professor chaired countless thesis committees, helping students hone their research and find successful career paths.

Jean Hertzman, ’06 Ph.D., was a foundational figure in the Harrah College of Hospitality's Food and Beverage program from 1994-2015. As an associate professor and director of enrollment, Hertzman claimed numerous honors, including 1998 “Chef of the Year” by the Fraternity of Executive Chefs of Las Vegas, and UNLV’s 2013 Outstanding Faculty of the Year. 

Gail Sammons, Ph.D., retired in 2024 after a 28-year career with the Harrah College of Hospitality. A former food and beverage professional and hotel owner/operator (and 1987 UNLV alumna), Sammons brought her extensive industry experience into the classroom, teaching human resources for undergraduate and graduate students and training for the college’s executive master's program.