Sign of the Honors College Building

Academic Advising

Guiding you toward your goals

Honors Academic Advisors understand the unique perspectives, challenges, and stresses of high-achieving students. But we do much more than check boxes on a degree worksheet; our goal is to help you design the life you want by guiding you toward all the tools and experiences you need.

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Advising Appointments

We strongly recommend that you meet with an Honors Advisor at least once each semester. During these 30-60 minute appointments, we’ll cover your academic progress, plan future semesters, and personal and professional goals. Bring us your questions and concerns – we want to help you overcome challenges and celebrate your successes!

We work closely with your Major-specific Advising Center(s) to create your individualized plan of study at UNLV. For select majors, we offer "joint advising" where students consult with an Honors and Major-specific advisor in the same meeting.

Appointments

Students may schedule an advising appointment with the HC advisor in one of two ways:

Quick Questions

The HC Advising Center Rebel Success Hub Ask Queue can be used to ask quick questions in lieu of a full-length advising appointment.

Advisor Assignments

Honors students are assigned to an academic advisor based on the college in which their major resides:

Business

HC Advisor: Mónica J. Hernández-Johnson, Ph.D.

Education

HC Advisor: Derek Sommer

Engineering

HC Advisor: Marlon Urquico

Exploring Majors

HC Advisor: Marlon Urquico

Fine Arts

HC Advisor: Mónica J. Hernández-Johnson, Ph.D.

Health Sciences

HC Advisor: Dr. Rachel Ali Rodriguez

Hospitality

HC Advisor: Mónica J. Hernández-Johnson, Ph.D.

Liberal Arts – Psychology and Neuroscience majors

HC Advisor: Dr. Rachel Ali Rodriguez

Liberal Arts – All Other Majors

HC Advisor: Marlon Urquico

Sciences

HC Advisor: Derek Sommer

Urban Affairs

HC Advisor: Dr. Rachel Ali Rodriguez

Not sure which college your major belongs to?

Visit the UNLV Degrees Directory for clarification.

Meet Your Honors College Advisors

Tony Terrell, Ph.D.

Director of Advising and Recruitment
Headshot of Tony Terrell
Dr. Tony Terrell is a three-time graduate of UNLV (B.A.’02, M.Ed.’07, Ph.D.’12), UNLV Athletics Hall of Famer, and Rebel Pride Ambassador. He has been a higher education professional for 15 years at UNLV and Nevada resident for over 18 years. His employment history at UNLV is unique and centered around student learning, service, and advancement. Working with students as an admissions/recruitment…
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Derek Sommer

Associate Director
Derek Sommer
Derek is a Las Vegas native and completed his undergraduate degree in English and a Masters of Education at UNLV. Derek loves the Las Vegas community and especially the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels basketball team. He started as a graduate assistant in the Wilson Advising Center in 2006 and has been working in academic advising ever since. Joining the Honors College in 2019 is the pinnacle of Derek's…
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Marlon Urquico

Assistant Director of Advising, RPC Management & Initiatives
Marlon Urquico
Born and raised in Las Vegas, Marlon received both his bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in political science in 2009 and master’s degree in history in 2013 from UNLV. His fields of interests are in African American history, the Atlantic Slave Trade, U.S. political and presidential history, and U.S. foreign policy during the Vietnam War era. Before becoming the Assistant Director of…
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Mónica J. Hernández-Johnson, Ph.D.

Academic Advisor, Student Transitions Programs
Mónica J. Hernández-Johnson's Portrait
Mónica J. Hernández-Johnson, Ph.D., is the academic advisor in UNLV’s Honors College (HC) and an instructor of graduate-level mixed methods research. She earned her Ph.D. in educational psychology in May 2025, and holds dual M.A. degrees in curriculum & instruction and U.S. history from UNLV. Over the past eight years as a researcher and instructor at UNLV, she has advised and mentored…
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Rachel Ali Rodriguez, Ph.D.

Student Success Coordinator
Headshot of Rachel Ali Rodriguez
Rachel Ali Rodriguez, Ph.D., plays a multi-faceted role that includes academic advising, major/career planning for assigned caseloads, and coordinating innovative high-impact programming/events for first-year and upper-class students. Additionally, she serves as the Honors College (HC) Peer Mentor Program Coordinator, where she provides leadership and oversight for this important initiative.…
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