Like many of our students at the Harrah Hotel College, senior Alex Murdock could be considered a non-traditional student. Murdock came to UNLV in 2012 with a wide range of life experience, including a previous turn at the University of Kansas and eight years of active duty in the Navy.

Once Murdock left active duty, he wanted to find a degree program that made sense for him at the time. Some research pointed him in the direction of the Harrah Hotel College at UNLV. "I wanted a degree that would be useful right away. Plus Hotel is really the flagship program of the university." Murdock also had something else going for him. His military experience included attending the Defense Language Institute to learn Mandarin. "It was more of an advantage to learn Chinese than Arabic," explained Murdock, who spent much of his service in the Middle East. "Many who speak Arabic, also speak English very well. There is much more of a need for Mandarin translators."

Murdock’s command of Mandarin will no doubt lead to many opportunities in an industry with more and more focus on Asian markets. Thinking ahead to the spring when he graduates with a Hospitality Management degree, Murdock remains open-minded about his options. "One of my goals is to start a business offering customized group-guided tours for Chinese visitors. I’m also considering Law School."

Meanwhile Murdock’s participation in the Navy Reserve, active role in local politics and schoolwork keep him busy.

"UNLV has been a good experience," Murdock said, reflecting on his time here in Las Vegas. "This college has been even better," he added. “Students leave with so much knowledge."