Renee Brna, '13 BA Psychology, is pursuing her master's degree in marriage and family therapy at UNLV (expected December 2026). Brna is a co-author of the new book A Happy, Healthy Mom: Your Guide to Less Stress, Better Teamwork, and More Joy on the Journey (BenBella Books, August 2026). A former Broadway performer, Brna transitioned to the mental health field to focus on maternal wellness and psychological recovery for mothers.

Keri Hales Patterson, ’10 MHA, recently became the narrator of the audio soap opera Haven Falls. She is also preparing to release new recordings of two songs her mother originally recorded in 1978. After tracking down the Nashville producer behind the original recordings, Patterson surprised her mother with the opportunity to bring the songs back to life. Nearly 50 years later, the two are recording them together as a mother-daughter project. The original 45 received radio airplay on KBUH and KSOP, and a video of the surprise has garnered more than 200,000 views on TikTok ahead of the songs’ Aug. 28 release.

Cari Byers, ’02 MA Communication Studies, took over Premier Showgirls in 2014, an agency that books talent for events and specializes in Las Vegas showgirls. Under her leadership, the agency has expanded to produce live performances for events and a cabaret show that ran for three years. Byers said Premier Showgirls is proud of its Las Vegas roots and connection to UNLV, as well as its role as a locally based small business that gives back to the community. Byers said her UNLV experience reinforced the importance of communication in both business and life: “Listen first!” she said.  

Marty Gross, ’79 BS Hospitality Management, works in national sales and marketing for Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He has spent his career in the casino/hotel industry, including executive-level positions at Cannery Casinos, Station Casinos, M Resort, The Mirage, Riviera, and tribal gaming operations. He and his wife, Bonnie, have been married 46 years and have three children.  

Chelsea (Milko) McAllister, ’09 BA Political Science and BS Kinesiology, recently joined federal government contractor LMI as a senior strategic communications specialist supporting U.S. Customs and Border Protection. She previously worked in communications at the U.S. Agency for International Development before it was fully shuttered in 2025. McAllister and her husband, Derek, are active parishioners at Saints Philip & James Catholic Church in Baltimore, where they serve on the parish council and lead the families and couples ministry. Derek recently began a new position as an assistant teaching professor at Towson University’s Honors College. McAllister started the Most Spirited Rebel Competition in 2007 and is proud to see it continue.

Stacey Dallas Johnston, ’97 BA English, has spent 25 years with the Clark County School District, including 21 years as a teacher, two as a learning strategist, and two as a school administrator. She published her first book of poetry, Broken Record, in 2025 through BookLeaf Publishing and launched LOCAL POET, a small business selling handmade crafts, jewelry, and copies of her book at local markets and festivals. Johnston credits her UNLV experience with discovering the importance and joy of lifelong learning, and she continues to seek new ways to learn.

Leon Levitt, ’79 BA Communication Studies, enjoyed a 35-year media career that took him from Washington, D.C., to Scottsdale/Phoenix and Atlanta. Now retired on the coast in Wilmington, North Carolina, he enjoys traveling, good wine, Scotch, and golf. While at UNLV, Levitt served as editor of the Yell, an experience that helped refine his thinking and shape his career in media.

Patricia Galas, ’06 BA Communication Studies, has continued her career in the hospitality industry.

George Pierce, ’13 MBA, began his financial services career at Merrill Lynch shortly after earning his MBA from UNLV in 2013. In 2016, he went independent and joined LPL Financial, and in 2018, he and his father, Bill, founded Pierce Wealth Management at LPL Financial. The firm specializes in retirement plans, including 401(k)s, 529 college plans, and asset allocation for high-net-worth families, business owners, and working professionals. Pierce has been married to his wife, Alexis, since 2015, and they have two daughters, Maddison and Emma.

John Santana, ’95 BA Communication Studies, is the supervisor of medical libraries for St. Peter’s Health Partners in Albany, New York. He is also the rhythm guitarist in Kick Out the Rouge, a Kingston, New York-based rock band that performs throughout the Hudson Valley and New England. The band recently released its third album, “Late for the Future,” on all streaming platforms.

  Jessica J. Henning, ’04 BSBA Marketing, earned a master’s degree from Harvard University in 2019 and completed her Ph.D. at Pepperdine University in 2026, where her research examined mindfulness and its relationship to global leadership effectiveness. She is the founder of STATUS International Real Estate, which she has led since 2007, specializing in luxury residential and commercial real estate and development. She is now launching a new venture at the intersection of artificial intelligence and real estate. Henning is an avid international traveler and dedicated yoga practitioner and is the founder of The Well Living Foundation, which focuses on well-being and giving back.  

Denise Dennis, ’25 BA Criminal Justice, is a business coordinator at the UNLV International Center for Gaming Regulation, where she joined UNLV in October 2025. She began pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree at the University of Illinois Chicago in October 2025 and was selected to serve as MBA Student Outreach Vice President of GMARK for the 2026-27 academic year.