Being a Rebel doesn’t mean fighting without fear; it means having the courage to keep going despite it. Tiffany Payne officially became a Rebel when she joined UNLV in 2021, but the Rebel spirit in her was shaped much earlier. 

At 19, while a pre-med student on the East Coast, she was diagnosed with stomach cancer and told she might not live past 30 years old. She placed her plans of becoming a heart surgeon on hold as she stepped away from school to focus on treatment and recovery.

Years later, she moved to Nevada and decided it was time to return to the classroom. At 27, she re-enrolled with a renewed commitment. Payne told her family and friends that she intended to give everything she had to her education — and that if her time came before she finished, she would take pride in knowing she “died trying.” That mindset — an unwavering commitment to your goals— is how she defines being a Rebel.

That same resilience shapes the way Payne shows up for students every day as assistant director of programs & operations for the Lied Center for Real Estate. In our conversation, she reflected on her journey, her purpose, and the lessons she hopes to pass on.

Your journey took an unexpected turn at age 19. How did that experience shape the person you are today? 

When I was diagnosed with stomach cancer, everything stopped. I had to leave school, go through surgery, and face a future I didn’t have answers for. It was hard. But it also made me more patient, more realistic, and more determined. I learned not to take opportunities for granted.

When you returned to college, your academic path shifted. How did you find clarity about what you wanted to study?

I started pre-med because I loved math and science and wanted to help people. After getting sick and stepping away, that part of me didn’t change, but the way I wanted to help did.

When I returned years later, psychology and sociology made sense to me in a way they didn’t before. They helped me understand people’s experiences, including my own. Changing my major wasn’t abandoning a dream; it was being honest about what made sense for me after everything I’d been through.

Who has influenced your perspective and who inspires you?

My mother. She had my sister at 17, and people didn’t expect much from her. She proved them wrong. She went on to earn her MBA and worked in the education field for 40 years. Before retiring, she served as the director of a business college in New Jersey.  

When I changed my major, I was nervous to tell her. She said, "You’ll still be a heart doctor. You’ll just be healing people in a different way." That really stuck with me.

How do your psychology and sociology degrees shape your work and influence the way you support students today?

They’re a big part of how I work with students. Psychology helps me listen carefully and pick up on what someone might be struggling to say. Sociology helps me recognize the outside pressures they’re dealing with.

My degrees help me slow down, listen, and understand what students are actually trying to navigate.

What led you into student support and eventually to the Lied Center for Real Estate?

I didn’t expect to work in education. Becoming a peer mentor at Nevada State opened my eyes to how much I enjoyed supporting students — especially because my own path hasn’t been easy.

At the Lied Center, I get to use that experience every day. As assistant director, I work on budgets, events, outreach, and partnerships, but the part of my job that stays with me is the student interaction.

I remember a student who sat outside my office in tears because she thought she had to drop out. She’d failed a class twice and felt like she was out of options. I shared my story with her, and we talked through what was still possible. When she later returned with a passing grade, it reminded me exactly why I do this work.

Tell us more about the Lied Center for Real Estate and the work of your team.

The Lied Center is really about connecting students to the real world. We work closely with industry professionals to offer events, research, and programming that help students understand what a career in real estate actually looks like.

Our team handles everything from budgets and events to partnerships and outreach, but at the core, it’s about student support. We create opportunities for students to learn, network, and feel confident stepping into the industry. Being part of that process — and watching students realize what they’re capable of — is the most rewarding part of the work we do.

You often mentor students who feel overwhelmed or unsure of their next steps. How do you support them in those moments?

I’m honest with them. I worked full time, went to school full time, and there were days I was completely worn out. I know what it feels like to wonder if you can keep going.

So when students ask, "How did you do it?" I say: the same way they will: with time management, hard work, and allowing themselves to grow at their own pace.

Setbacks happen to everyone; they’re part of the process. The advice I give most often is simple: Take the next step, even when it feels hard.

What does being a Rebel mean to you today?

To me, being a Rebel means showing up for yourself, even when things get hard. It means knowing your timeline might look different than you planned, but your goals are still worth pursuing.

I’m applying to the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership program at UNLV because I’m still growing and still have things I want to do.