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

Mentor the Next Generation

Share your experience and expertise as an alumni mentor to a current undergraduate student in any of our majors. Additionally, contact us if you are interested in supporting a pre-service teacher at your school.

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

Stay in Touch

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

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Join the Conversation on Social Media

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

College

Alumni Chapter

Alumni News and Announcements

Alumni Spotlight: Claire Lustumbo ‘18
  Name: Claire Lustumbo   Degree: ‘18 M.Ed. School Counseling   Current Employer: Clark County School District   How did UNLV prepare you for your career? Networking through UNLV has been extremely helpful. Not only did they prepare me for my job, but I’m also still friends with many of the cohort members I graduated with, and we bounce ideas off each other. To be able…
Serving Those Who Served: Alumna Amy Lesher's Journey in Veterans Support
  “Each time I hear that they get their benefits, it’s rewarding,” says Amy Lesher.    Her journey to working in Veterans Affairs (VA) was anything but straight. Amy, a proud UNLV alumna, ‘18 BS Human Services and '23 MSW Social Work, began her professional journey with an unexpected pivot.    Born into a family of educators and veterans, she tried to follow…
Advocacy-Driven Care: This EXHALE Scholar is all in for School-Based Mental Health Counseling
  “My biggest motivation is to advocate for my community.” When fourteen-year-old Ivana Hernández first arrived from Honduras, she barely spoke English. Each school day felt harder than the last, but she was determined. By the end of high school, not only had she mastered the language, but she also graduated in the top 20 of her class. That triumph—born from persistence and community…

View All

College of Education Alumni in the News Center

Events

  • Nov 15: UNLV vs Utah State Alumni & Friends Pregame Tailgate

    Rebels vs Utah State: Rebels Set to Tackle the Aggies Join the UNLV Alumni Association as we cheer on our Rebels against the Utah State Aggies on Saturday, November 15. Please join us for a fun tailgate experience…

  • Nov 21: UNLV vs Hawai'i Alumni & Friends Pregame Tailgate

    Rebels vs Hawai'i: Rebels Set to Tackle the Rainbow Warriors in the Ninth Island Showdown Join the UNLV Alumni Association as we cheer on our Rebels against the Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors on Friday, Nov. 21. Please join…

  • Nov 24: College of Education Reno Area Alumni Mixer

    UNLV College of Education alumni in the Reno area are invited to attend a free mixer. Connect with fellow alumni and celebrate the season as the Rebel Football Team prepares for the 51st Battle for the Fremont Cannon! About…

  • Nov 29: UNLV vs UNR Battle for the Fremont Cannon Tailgate

    Rebels at UNR: Rebels Set to Tackle the Wolfpack Join us at Mackay Stadium as UNLV takes on UNR in the fight to keep the Fremont Cannon Rebel red! Excitement is building for this in-state rivalry game. All eyes will be on…

  • Dec 07: UNLV Night at Magical Forest

    Join us for a UNLV Alumni Night Out this winter at Opportunity Village's Magical Forest! The Magical Forest is a holiday theme park filled with magically decorated trees, rides, a mini golf course, midway games, and the…

  • Feb 07: 11th Annual Summit on Nevada Education

    Join us at this year’s Summit on Nevada Education as we recognize the resilience and determination needed to improve Nevada's education and mental health spaces for students of all ages and stages. We'll explore a wide array…

  • Mar 16: Fred C. Albrecht Golf Tournament 2026

    All proceeds from the 2026 Fred C. Albrecht Golf Scholarship Golf Tournament will benefit the Fred C. Albrecht Student Scholarship. Tournament Details Check-In and breakfast - 7 a.m. Start - 9 a.m. Included: Green…

  • Mar 18: 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…

Class Notes

+ Submit a Class Note

Janna Bernstein Rogers

Janna Bernstein Rogers, '20 Ph.D. Cultural Studies, International Education & Multicultural Education is director of the College of Southern Nevada and an adjunct professor for UNLV's Lee Business School. She recently celebrated 11 years with NSHE. Janna married Steven Rogers on Aug. 17, 2025 (yes, like Captain America!).

Jillian McNiff Villemaire

Jillian McNiff Villemaire, '04 MS Sport and Leisure Studies, was promoted to full professor, awarded the 2025 North American Society for Sport Management Educator of the Year, and published Digital Innovations in Sport with Routledge.

John J. Starkey

John. J. Starkey, '10 BS Business Administration and '12 M.Ed. Leadership, is associate director of the Kerestesi Center for Insurance and Risk Management at UNLV. He was appointed to the Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada board of directors. A longtime champion of student success and civic engagement, Starkey brings a wealth of experience in higher education leadership, academic program development, and industry collaboration to support the nonprofit financial literacy organization’s mission of preparing young people for economic success.

Kristine Jan Cruz Espinoza

Kristine Jan Cruz Espinoza, '24 Ph.D. Higher Education and '22 Graduate Certificate in Program Evaluation and Assessment, is an assistant professor in the Graduate School of Education at California Lutheran University. A peer-reviewed she co-authored with colleagues titled, "Oceania in the Desert: A QuantCrit Analysis of the (Under)Counting of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Students at an AANAPISI-HSI," was chosen as the 2025 Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Charles F. Elton Best Paper and was recognized on the AIR website and with recognition at the upcoming 2025 AIR Forum in May in Orlando, Florida.

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.