Born in Topeka, Kansas, Monique Edwards — administrative assistant IV in the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine — spent a lot of her upbringing exploring new cities, both nationally and internationally. With a mother who worked in the Department of Defense for the Air Force and a father who was in the U.S. Army in aviation, this moving around was normal, and the family eventually settled in Germany.

After graduating from high school in Germany, Edwards worked in financial aid at the University of Maryland Global Campus Europe, where she assisted members of the Armed Forces with attending school.

When Edwards' mother accepted a job in Las Vegas the family ended up moving to the city. From there, she worked at the former Art Institute of Las Vegas, Nevada System Sponsored Programs and EPSCoR, and the Desert Research Institute before joining the medical school in 2024. She assists both the marketing and communications and information technology departments.

What’s a meaningful object that you have? Why is it meaningful? 

They say cherished objects that people own have stories. The objects that stay with me are:

• A varsity letter jacket that reminds me of the experiences and the friendships that were made living and going to school in Heidelberg, Germany. I wear it from time to time, and the jacket is a conversation piece. Former members of the armed forces or students who lived or studied abroad would tell me stories about their time overseas. It’s like an unexplainable connection.   
• A gold ring band that my mom gave to me when I was in grade school. I wore it around my neck until I was old enough to wear it on my finger.
• A CH-47 Chinook helicopter figurine that I carry with me all the time. During my dad’s time in the army, he loved working as a Chinook crew chief on CH-47 helicopters.

Can you describe your role at the school of medicine? What would your departments look like without you?

I ensure that both departments are organized and that we keep track of ongoing projects and tasks. My typical day involves checking my inbox emails and flagging urgent messages; reviewing the calendar for meetings for the day; handling business travel arrangements; and meetings with vendors to get update statuses on purchasing items or invoices to close out purchase orders.

Additionally, I assist various departments at UNLV Health in several key areas, including purchasing items necessary for our operations and processing license renewals in a timely manner. 

Without me, there would be an added workload to my colleagues who are also busy with their tasks.

What drew you to the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV? 

The opportunity to work in an environment dedicated to advancing healthcare and supporting future medical professionals truly excites me. Overall, the school of medicine represents not just an educational institution, but a place where I can grow, contribute, and make a meaningful impact.

What are some things that you love about your job and why?

1. Leaders who encourage you to succeed in your career.
2. Room to grow; you feel more driven in your role.
3. Interacting with my coworkers. 

If you weren’t working at UNLV, where do you think you’d be?

I think I would be in the fashion industry or would own a vintage boutique. My interest in fashion started in grade school. I would sit in my room and practice drawing fashion figures. I would watch this show called Fashion Television back in the day to see the designers’ spring/summer and fall/winter collections. I also read a lot of fashion magazines to get ideas on what to wear or the latest fashion trends.

What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?

I enjoy going to art galleries and museums but can’t handle the museums with the large animal figures. Maybe it’s a phobia, but I freak out.

I’m also hooked on watching any food and traveling shows – from Anthony Bourdain to Gordon Ramsey to Alisa Reynolds. They can show you certain techniques in the kitchen, how certain ingredients from various parts of the world are made, and chef/host interaction with the locals.

What is something you are passionate about? 

I’m passionate about learning different music genres and styles. From hip-hop to punk rock, reggae to blues. I can listen to music for hours. I have to give much credit to my parents. They have great taste in music, and music would always be playing in the house — volume up loud. 

I also like watching music documentaries of various music artists telling the story of how their career got started or what inspired them to write the lyrics to their songs.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

I watch SheerLuxe on YouTube – a show that features news on the latest fashion, beauty, and wellness. They have an online lifestyle magazine as well. 

Also, I’m addicted to popcorn. I can eat a big bowl of popcorn all by myself!

What advice would you give your younger self?

1. Don’t be afraid to try new things. It’s scary, but if you don’t try to get out of your comfort zone, how will you know?
2. Mistakes are lessons, not setbacks. Learn from mistakes and move forward.
3. My favorite... Life’s too short to eat bad food. You should enjoy the foods you love to eat. Food is part of that joy. Treat yourself to a great meal every now and then.