“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…

  Name: Krystal Green   Degree: ‘16 M.Ed. Early Childhood Education   Current Employer: Clark County School District   What are some key aspects of campus culture that helped prepare you for the professional world? The university has a strong connection to Las Vegas industries—especially education and hospitality—so they’re not guessing at what employers want. The…

  Raymond Wilson has heard the phrase, “Put your money where your mouth is,” more times than he could count. So, when he decided to make his first personal gift to support UNLV, the Silver State Schools Credit Union (SSSCU), senior vice president and chief financial officer (SVP/CFO) chose to instead put his money where his heart is–with his son, Brandon. In addition to a very early Autism…

  Name: Todd Polk Degree: ‘22 M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction Current Employer: Arbor View High School   What is something that people don’t know about the field, specifically secondary science teachers, that you think people should know? I think one thing about science that I think a lot of people need to focus on isn’t so much the facts, but rather the skills. I think the…

“Is this even important?” “Why do I need to learn this?” As a middle school educator for over 15 years, Mike Taack, ‘11 M.Ed. Secondary Curriculum and Instruction, had heard those questions from his students more times than he could count, so much so that he sought and found a solution in project-based learning.  By connecting teaching approaches to students' interests, Mike helped his…

Name: Annie Macias Degree: ‘12 Ph.D. Educational Leadership Current Employer: California State University San Marcos   What are your favorite memories from UNLV? One of my favorite moments is when I met some of the folks from my cohort. We almost became like each other’s families away from family. We had potlucks at my house. We had New Year’s parties at my house. I’m happy to say, I’m…

  Name: Brent Florence Degree: ‘14 M.Ed. School Counseling Current Employer: CCSD Sunrise Mountain High School    What was your favorite/secret study spot? The top floor of the Lied Library was my go-to spot. The tables by the glass railing offered a peaceful view and quiet space — hardly anyone ever went up there.   What do you know now that you wish you knew when…

Name: Yodit Hagos Degree: ‘21 M.Ed. Curriculum & instruction Current Employer: Nevada State, McNair Scholars Program   What accomplishments have made you most proud here at UNLV? I'm most proud of my ability to persevere through my time at UNLV while balancing multiple roles. As a mother working full-time and pursuing an advanced degree, it took a lot of sweat equity and…

  Name: Jorge Guillen Degree: ‘13 BS Human Services, ‘15 MEd School Counseling Current Employer: Clark County School District, Rancho HS How did your experience at UNLV help you find your first position after graduation? My experience at UNLV was incredibly valuable. It gave me hands-on insight into what school counselors actually do—beyond just scheduling and setting up classes…

Ikaika Regidor, ‘08 B.S. Early Childhood Education and ‘11 M.S.W. Social Work, didn’t plan to end up at UNLV. In fact, his sights were set on his dream school in Washington. But when it came down to it, UNLV made the most sense financially.  “In hindsight,” he says, “things really lined up for me in Las Vegas. I don’t know that the same opportunities would’ve emerged if I’d gone somewhere…

  Name: Kimberly M. Florence Corsaro Degree: ‘13 MEd Higher Education, ‘17 PhD Higher Education Employer: Nevada State College Department of Psychology & Counseling    What are you most proud of from your UNLV experience? I am most proud of the opportunities I had outside the classroom, particularly working on a grant program that allowed me to teach high…

Join us for the 11th Annual Summit on Nevada Education  Mark your calendars for 8 a.m.-2 p.m.on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, for our annual gathering of education and mental health professionals, researchers, policy leaders, and community partners. Our programming will center on this year's theme, "Embracing our Purpose. Committing to Progress.," celebrating our resilience and determination to…