For Victoria Mitchell, UNLV seemed like an impossible dream. She wasn't sure she could afford a university education, coming from a low-income family with no college graduates. With scholarships and financial aid, Mitchell's dreams of attaining higher education came true when she stepped on campus as an exploring major in the fall 2012.
Similar to many college students, Mitchell initially had a wide range of major interests. She narrowed her choices down to three: hospitality, education, and business, ultimately selecting marketing as her major. In less than a decade, she created a career by merging all three interests. She became the associate director for Lee Business School's Career and Professional Development Office, earned a dual MBA in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Hotel Administration. And this fall she is teaching the business school's first-year seminar, BUS 103.
Why’d you choose to study at UNLV?
I went to Advanced Technologies Academy (A-Tech), a magnet school in Las Vegas. College was the only option, but I didn't know how I was going to pay for it. I always thought I would end up at a community college like CSN because I was low-income, first-gen. UNLV didn't seem like a possibility. But I was encouraged to apply for admission and different scholarships.
My high school counselor had me apply for the Hixson Lied Success scholarship. I ended up getting that scholarship, which helped me pay for school. Then I had financial aid through FAFSA and the financial aid office, so I was able to pay for school and attend UNLV. To me, it was like a dream come true because I didn't think that was an option for me.
Can you share your journey from being a UNLV alum with a BSBA in marketing to your current role?
After I graduated with my bachelor's in marketing, I went to work for a couple of startup companies in marketing. Then I decided to come back to UNLV.
I always knew I'd get my MBA but didn't know when. I thought it was a good opportunity. So, I applied and talked to Lisa Davis about the MBA program. I ended up becoming a (graduate assistant) in the same office I work in now in 2018.
From there, I figured out that I really liked working with this team and students, but I still wanted to use my marketing degree. So it was a perfect fit for me to continue and go into the marketing position, which had just opened up. There was the career events and marketing specialist role, which I did part-time, but then it became a full-time role. Overall, I was in that position for about two and a half years.
When [my current] position opened up, I felt like it aligned with my goals of helping students while still contributing on the marketing side; I just wouldn't be executing marketing. So to me, it felt like a perfect combination of my experience and education. That's how I was led into this career path.
As a Las Vegas native, what unique perspectives or insights do you bring to your role connecting UNLV students with career opportunities?
First, I thought about how Las Vegas is growing so much. It's grown a lot since I was born. My dad says things that used to not be here. My dad was also born and raised here in Las Vegas and said “Well, that also used to not be here.”
From my role and perspective, it's obviously a huge opportunity for our students to experience things they never would have when I graduated. Like, the Golden Knights are here, the Super Bowl was here. There are many new opportunities that were never available to our students in the past. So I think that part is incredible.
Also, because I'm from here, grew up here, and went to school here, I've developed many connections. It's been nice for me to connect students with coworkers or colleagues, people I've known or connected with over the years, and allow them to do informational interviews or ask about job opportunities because my connections are mostly all in Las Vegas.
You've worn many hats at UNLV. How have these experiences shaped your approach to supporting students?
I got the student worker position in the Academic Success Center because I was a Hixson Lied scholar, and the Hixson Lied Success scholarship was housed in the Academic Success Center. They knew me and asked if I wanted to work at the front desk.
I had to field questions from a range of different areas. People asked about advisors, financial aid, or finding buildings. I kind of had to know everything. It was the perfect way to get acquainted with campus because it was still my first year as a student at UNLV.
I ended up growing to love helping students. This sparked my interest in working on campus because it was never really something I had considered before. I still wanted to work in my field, but UNLV was still where my heart is, so I came back.
As a GA, I felt it was really rewarding because I would hear the results of it. After I met with a student for an interview or a resume review, they would come back and say, “Hey, I got the job” or “Thanks for your help.” I got that reward from my efforts. And that's where I found out that I like working directly with students in a one-on-one capacity, where I can help, mentor, and guide them — and see their successes too. When I was a student worker, I would help them, send them on their way and I would never hear back.
Now as a director, I feel like I get that satisfaction of working one-on-one with students. But then I also get to see their growth, and I get to help and mentor them beyond just career documents; I can give them guidance on actual career opportunities, too.
Going back to the position in the Academic Success Center, because I had to learn so much about campus, I was always looking at the UNLV website and trying to learn more about different things. And that also led me to a lot of opportunities that I have done that I don't know that I would have found out about if I wasn't constantly scouring the UNLV website – like the International Ambassador program and being a LEE scholar. The way I approach students is I apply how I would have wanted to be mentored and guided; I tell them things that I wish I knew sooner, or I wish somebody had told me when I was in school.
How did your new role as lecturer come about?
I was approached by the person who oversees the program. I think it was because my experience on campus is so relevant to the students – the fact that I have been in their shoes and that I am first-gen. It allows me to relate to the students since I'll be teaching Business 103 to freshmen.
They don't know much about campus or UNLV, so I can share my knowledge that I gained as a student, which I wish people had told me sooner. I was excited because I have always wanted to teach. It's been very exciting for me so far.
Congratulations on being selected for the LEED Fellowship! Can you tell us more about this fellowship and how it aligns with your career goals?
The LEED fellowship is an 18-month program, and it's designed to help, figure out and combat issues and challenges within the K-12 system in the Clark County School District. I'm a product of the K-12 system here; I went to Clark County School District. So to me, it's personal. But also it aligns with my passions and interests, because I have a passion for education.
And now in this new role as a lecturer for freshmen who have just graduated from high school and are just entering college, I can see the impacts of that system on them. So whether that'd be good or bad, it's interesting for me to see how that is translating to college. And at the end of our fellowship, we have an opportunity to pitch our ideas for how to improve the K-12 system and get funding for it to investors; it's like a Shark Tank situation. Our ideas can range anything from an after-school activity to a new law. I'm really excited to see what comes with the fellowship and what ideas I can come up with – especially now that I have a freshman class. And maybe they can even help me with it.
Do you have any advice or lessons learned that might inspire current students or recent grads as they embark on their own career paths?
One of the most important things is knowing your worth and what to expect as soon as you graduate. Look for multiple employment opportunities and start looking before you graduate.
Advice that I've received that always stuck with me, that I think would still be helpful to students, is that you get 0% of what you don't ask for. Just ask. The worst that can happen if they say no, right? This can apply to careers – you can ask for a raise or negotiation.
Someone also told me that you should get other people to pay for your education. Look for scholarships and opportunities where other people can pay for your degree – especially for master’s and PhD programs.
And that's definitely common here in Las Vegas, because we have so many service line workers who work at the casinos and hotels and they may make decent tips. So they don't really want to get out of that industry, because they might have to start at a lower salary, even with their degree. Hopefully the growth potential is worth it. But if you have bills to pay, you can't always take those risks.
Can you tell us about the objects you chose for your photoshoot?
I had a custom blanket made with many of the shirts I have accumulated over the years from being a student and staff member. My mother-in-law makes wreaths, and I requested a UNLV wreath. She made it, and I get so many compliments on it!
What are your hobbies and interests?
I like to travel and explore new places. Recently, I went to Mexico for my honeymoon, and I swam with turtles, which was my favorite part. We also saw Cenotes and Mayan ruins; I like to see historical sites and stuff.
I also like to do creative things like scrapbooking, paint by numbers, and diamond dots to let out creativity. I put my wedding flowers in resin too to preserve them.
Other than that, I like to play board games with my friends or go hiking. Those are some of the things I've been doing recently.
What is a surprising fact about you?
I've never been on a plane until I was 20 years old when I went to London with the International Ambassador program. Everyone was really shocked that I took a 10-hour flight for my first flight ever.
Ever since then, I got the travel bug. And now I like to travel.
