Karen Hawkes, Esq., '96 BA Political Science, is the Founder of Hawkes Law, A.P.L.C., an intellectual property and business law firm specializing in trademark and copyright in San Diego, California. She launched her firm in 2014. Previously, Hawkes was a trademark and copyright litigator in a firm for over a decade. She also serves as director and law professor of the California Western School of Law Trademark Clinic, where she teaches students to become practitioners and represents pro bono clients nationwide before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, D.C.

Johnny Dominguez, '13 BA Political Science and '18 M.Ed Higher Education, was recently appointed executive director of Improve Your Tomorrow for the Nevada region, a national nonprofit focused on increasing college access, persistence, and completion for young men of color through mentorship, academic support, and college-to-career programming. He continues to focus his career on educational equity and empowering first-generation students. Dominguez is excited to return to statewide impact work through his role at Improve Your Tomorrow, serving the same Southern Nevada communities he grew up in. He was recently honored as a 2024 Las Vegas Raiders “Inspire Change Changemaker” and is a proud alumnus of Leadership Las Vegas (Class of '22) and Surge Academy Las Vegas. Outside of work, he enjoys exploring new places with his wife, Celinda (Pena) Dominguez, '11 BS Human Services and '13 MSW, and two young children; weight training; and rooting for the Dodgers.

Patrick W. Naughton, Jr., '04 BA History and '13 Emergency and Crisis Management, recently published a book for those who have served and for those who seek to understand war and its generational impact. April 2025 will be the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. Born from War: A Soldier’s Quest to Understand Vietnam, Iraq, and the Generational Impact of Conflict provides a fresh perspective on Vietnam for a new generation who just went through 20 years of their own wars, which their children, too, will one day struggle to understand. In addition to being an author, he is also a husband, father, U.S. Army officer, and historian.

Jennifer Hatcher, '08 BS English and '16 J.D., was made partner at Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP.

Hillary Maxson-Kobayashi, '08 BA History, received her Ph.D. in Japanese history from the University of Oregon in 2018. She then taught East Asian history at Pacific University for two years. In 2020, Maxson-Kobayashi moved to Japan, where she worked as a freelance writer and editor. She's now working on starting an editing business in Japan. She lives with her husband, daughter, and cat. The family loves to travel around Japan and internationally. On their days of, they go to the hot springs. Maxson-Kobayashi volunteers for a women's organization that grants scholarships to women and people with visual impairments. She enjoys reading books and cooking new recipes in her free time.  

Brad Weiss, '00 MA Communication Studies, is a brand and operations manager for 2.9 FM ESPN. He was selected as the #1 Mid-Market Sports Radio Program Director for 2024 by a Barrett Media panel of broadcast executives across the country. This is Weiss’ second time being recognized as a top mid-market program director. He was on-air as "Brad Kelly" at KMXB-FM (Mix 94.1) in Las Vegas from 1998-2000.  

Robin Burke, '17 BA Social Sciences, is a development coordinator for UNLV's College of Liberal Arts.  

Paul Bruno, '09 MA History, released a new book, The Original Jeeps, Vol. 2.  It's the true story of how three companies competed from 1940 to 1942 to develop America’s first all-terrain, ¼-ton 4x4 vehicle, the Jeep, helping the allies emerge victorious in World War II. The book is now available at Amazon. Bruno has been recognized as one of the most knowledgeable living experts on the earliest history of the origins, design, implementation and worldwide delivery of the iconic Jeep vehicle.  

Gregg Lee Carter, ’73 BA History, was awarded professor emeritus status after 40 years of teaching at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. He earned his MA, M.Phil., and Ph.D. degrees in sociology at Columbia University. Including original manuscripts, multiple editions, and edited anthologies, he has authored or coauthored 25 books, including Gun Control in the United States (ABC-CLIO), Guns in American Society (ABC-CLIO), How to Manage Conflict in the Organization (American Management Association), Population and Society (Polity), The Gun Control Movement (Twayne), and Working Women in America (Oxford University Press). His writings on contemporary social issues have also appeared in more than a dozen academic journals. He lives in Rhode Island with his wife, Lisa, and enjoys family time with his four children and three grandchildren. His hobbies are underwater photography, and he's currently researching the effects of social class on health.

Ken White, '90 BS Marketing, is an economic development specialist and main street director for the City of Eden in North Carolina. White is living life and enjoying spending time with his sons and their families, including his 2-year-old grandson.