As a teenager in the winter of 1992, Zhanna Aronov immigrated to the United States from Moscow with her family, stepping into a place that felt both full of promise and uncertainty. The language, the culture, the school system, and the challenge of “starting over” were all new. Like many immigrants, Aronov faced moments of doubt and hardship while learning to navigate unfamiliar surroundings. Yet those challenges also became the foundation of her strength.

Now she's the associate vice president for retention and outreach at UNLV's Dr. William W. Sullivan Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach (CAEO), where she has made a career of helping others through the same programs that helped her.

In high school, Aronov found the guidance and support she needed through the UNLV Upward Bound program. With determination and long hours of work, she quickly learned English and soon joined regular classes at Chaparral High School in East Las Vegas. Within months, she was not only keeping up with her peers but excelling, earning the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. and winning a gold medal in mathematics at the Upward Bound Olympics.

What began as a difficult transition became a defining chapter in Zhanna’s life.

The experience of starting over in a new country taught her persistence, resilience and gratitude for opportunity. Those lessons about uncertainty, limited resources and the courage to keep moving forward continued to shape her ambitions long after her high school and college years.

You have been at UNLV for many years — what keeps you here?

As a first-generation college student who came to the United States as a teenager, I have encountered many challenges and even more opportunities that have allowed me to call UNLV my home for more than three decades. I have earned both of my degrees from UNLV, formed long-lasting friendships and valuable work relationships, and contributed to the successes of many students, staff and programs on this campus. My amazing peers, the mission of our work and a sense of community keep me at UNLV.

Who has influenced your perspective and who inspires you?

My family, from grandparents to children, have influenced my perspective and inspired me to continuously learn and remain objective. All of the personal experiences my grandparents shared with me detailing their lives during World War II and their subsequent struggles are engraved in my mind as life’s lessons and make me appreciate peace and stability that much more.

My parents’ decision to immigrate and leave everything they knew behind in hopes of a brighter future for their children is immeasurable. And, of course, my children amaze me with their accomplishments and push me to keep up with innovation.

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

My undergraduate degree in business administration and a minor in mathematics as well as my Master of Business Administration with a concentration in finance allow me to apply an analytical approach to my work. Operating mostly within federal grants, I can appreciate the communication, structure, and logic that serve as a common denominator for these disciplines. Ensuring compliance, accuracy and timely responses keeps us funded and able to provide critical services to our students.

CAEO encompasses so many different programs. Tell us more about the work of your team.

The mission of CAEO is to provide traditional and innovative educational opportunities to a diverse community through targeted services and research that promote personal success. CAEO helps middle and high school students, college students and adults from low-income families — and from families where neither parent nor guardian has graduated from a four-year institution — access and graduate from institutions of higher learning.

Currently, we operate a number of federal TRIO, GEAR UP, AANAPISI and FIPSE grants, as well as donor funds, to support more than 15,000 participants. Our overall objective is to increase the enrollment, retention, and graduation rates of individuals who come from underserved and under-resourced backgrounds.

CAEO offers a variety of services that include academic advising, tutoring, instruction in developmental courses, assistance with college admissions and financial aid or scholarship applications, counseling on college-adjustment issues, school decisions and admissions, personal counseling, referrals to other campus and community resources, undergraduate research opportunities, basic needs support, Fostering Hope Scholars support, scholarships and more.

When you mentor students and staff who are unsure of their next steps, how do you support them in those moments?

I firmly believe that a person who is happy in their career is a more productive and fulfilled individual. Oftentimes, we may focus on immediate rewards, such as a paycheck or prestige, versus things that bring us joy. So, I ask my mentees what they love to do or what makes them happy. Based on their response, I help them focus more on exploring that path.

What does being a Rebel mean to you today?

Being a Rebel means being myself, feeling a family vibe, having a voice, and fitting in without being judged.