Graduation ceremony, person in foreground has "UNLV" written in rhinestones on their graduation hat

Alumni

In 1957, UNLV set forward its first graduating class. You are part of a special tradition - a tradition of excellence in education, service as professionals, and support of future alumni. Wherever your life’s work takes you, we hope UNLV and the College of Education will always feel like “home” to you.

With an alumni base of more than 25,000 and growing each year, we encourage our graduates to take advantage of the variety of services and opportunities available to support them and their families. UNLV alumni are encouraged to support the values of higher learning through advocacy, involvement, and giving.

Get Involved

With the growth of our research and academic programs, there are a number of ways for alumni to get involved. If you're interested in:

  • Mentoring pre-service and new teachers
  • Participating in research opportunities
  • Supporting our recruitment efforts by meeting with prospective students
  • Serving on the college’s alumni chapter board
  • Participating in a panel or networking event

Please let us know by completing this involvement interest form.

Jennifer Oshiro Rivers
Jenn Oshiro

Jenn Oshiro Rivers '05 '08 M.Ed.

Associate Director of Alumni Engagement
Phone: 702-895-3375
Email: jennifer.oshiro@unlv.edu

 

Stay Connected with Your College of Education

Submit Your News

We want to hear from you! Submit your news, appointments, accomplishments, honors, and awards. We'll share your news with alumni and current students.

Submit an Update View All Class Notes

Lead Through the Alumni Chapter

Our Alumni Chapter aims to benefit the UNLV community and next generation of professionals through outreach, engagement, and philanthropy.

Learn More and Get Involved

Recognize and Honor Our Graduates

Our alumni are amazing and we celebrate their many contributions through specific college awards as well as those through the UNLV Alumni Association.

Awards and Recognition

Continue Developing

Keep up with the latest research and best practices through our many professional development opportunities. The latest events are always listed on our college calendar.

Summit on Nevada Education Scholarship in Practice Webinar Series

Alumni Mentorship Program

Be mentored as a recent graduate (within five years) or share your experience through the Alumni Mentorship Program. Additionally, contact us if you are interested in supporting a pre-service teacher at your school.

Recent Graduate Interest Form Alumni Mentor Interest Form

Request Program Verification

Need to get verification of your degree for teaching outside Nevada? Submit the details of your request and upload any forms you need online and a member of our team will process it within 7-10 business days.

Program Verification Form

Speak to Our Students

Interested in being a guest speaker at one of our classes? Share your information and expertise and we'll share it with faculty looking to bring real-world experiences to our students.

Speaker Interest Form

Join UNLV as a Part-Time Instructor

Interested in expanding your professional influence to your alma mater? Become a Part-Time Instructor to share your wealth of expertise to future educators and mental health professionals.

Learn More

Join the Conversation on Social Media

Get the latest info by following the college and alumni chapter on your preferred platform.

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Alumni Chapter

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Sign up to receive periodic news updates and event announcements from the College of Education.

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Alumni News and Announcements

From Academic Advisor to CEO: Melissa McCormick is a Success Story
When Melissa McCormick, ‘18 M.Ed. Higher Education, walks into a room, people don't always assume she's a CEO. At 32, she’s not just leading Nevada State High School, one of the top charter schools in the state; she’s one of  Vegas Inc’s 40 Under 40 for 2026.  Under Melissa’s leadership, staff turnover has fallen from over 60% each year to less than 10%, and the school's five-star…
Alumni Spotlight: Jonah Shulman ‘22
Name: Jonah Shulman   Degree: ‘22 Ph.D. Curriculum & Instruction (Math Education)   Current Employer: CCSD/UNLV   What was a unique class you took? I had to take two from Dr. Travis Olson and Dr. Micah Stohlman; they helped me redefine what a math classroom looked like, and that's when I really started thinking I can do this differently. I always try to do stuff…
Alumni Spotlight: Nicole Holmgren ‘20
  Name: Nicole Holmgren    Degree: ‘20 M.Ed. Special Education   Current Employer: Rochester Public Schools   What is something people don’t know about your field that you believe they should know?  In my field, especially in special education, there are many behaviors. I think what I learned is that all behavior is communication. Flipping the lens and…

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College of Education Alumni in the News Center

Events

  • Sep 21: College of Education Alumni Campus Tour

    When was the last time you visited UNLV? College of Education alumni are invited back to campus for a custom 60-minute campus golf cart tour. Reminisce about the time you spent here for your studies and activities and check…

  • Oct 11: College of Education Alumni Campus Tour

    Happy Homecoming, Rebels! When was the last time you visited UNLV? College of Education alumni are invited back to campus for a custom 60-minute campus golf cart tour. Reminisce about the time you spent here for your studies…

Class Notes

+ Submit a Class Note

Thomas Monk

Thomas Monk, ‘99 BS Secondary Education, is assistant principal at a middle school for Los Angeles Unified School District.  

Cristina Gutierrez

Cristina Gutierrez, ’25 BS Secondary Education, began her teaching career in January 2026 after being selected for a full-time secondary English position with Coral Academy following the completion of her student teaching at UNLV. While at the university, she served as a Global Ambassador and substitute teacher, experiences that helped strengthen her sense of community, adaptability, and cultural awareness. Gutierrez is passionate about teaching and enjoys reading, writing, and travel.  

Neil Woolf

Neil Woolf, ‘12 Ed.D. Higher Education Leadership, serves as president of New Mexico Highlands University. He also served as executive vice president at Southern Oregon University, associate vice president at Eastern Washington University, director of enrollment services at Nevada State University, and senior policy analyst for the Nevada System of Higher Education.

Vanessa Tu

Vanessa (Haroan) Tu, 17 BA Psychology and '18 M.Ed. Special Education, is the founder of Bright Minds, a California-based behavioral health agency with a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and technicians serving children with autism. Since graduating from UNLV, she has co-founded two startup ventures, launched behavioral services within California public school districts, and published a workbook for parents of nonverbal children on the autism spectrum. Her work focuses on building scalable care models that bridge clinical and educational settings. Her husband, Cheng Yang Tu, ’20 DPT, is also a UNLV alumnus.

Rebels Forever!

Once you’ve been a Rebel, you’re always a Rebel! Check out UNLV’s Rebels Forever program to find out all the benefits and perks of being a UNLV Rebel Forever.