UNLV is familiar stomping grounds for Kass Moore, the “Rising Star” of the 2025 Administrative Faculty of the Year Awards. The two-time Rebel alum came to UNLV as a first-generation student, earning a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in higher education before deciding to stay on to work at the university. They’re now the director of career life & design in the Office of Career Services & Work Development.

As a proud Rebel, Moore is able to connect with faculty and staff, students, and alumni on a deeper level because of their shared experiences at UNLV. They also approach their work with a sincere interest in wanting others to achieve their truest potential in life and in their career. 

That caretaker mentality continues at home. Moore and their wife are parents to two French bulldogs and two cats. The couple is also looking forward to receiving a foster care license and hope to grow their family in the future. Meanwhile, Moore is working on their cooking skills. “When I asked my wife what would surprise people to know about me, she immediately said I’m a really good cook. So, I’ll lean into that,” says Moore.

Moore's sense of responsibility is a quality that's been noticed by others at UNLV since their time as a graduate student. Moore showed so much promise that a supervisor offered them a full-time job in Career Services — before Moore even graduated.

“UNLV didn't just offer opportunities; it showed me possibilities I'd never imagined for myself,” says Moore. “Here, I truly feel seen and celebrated for exactly who I am — and that feeling empowers me to give back, to make a real difference on campus, not just for myself, but for students walking these same paths and the alumni who came before me.”

Moore’s held other roles at UNLV including career coach, recruiter, and career and professional development specialist. Now, the culmination of their hard work is being recognized by colleagues through this very special annual award. 

“To have the work I pour my heart into, the work focused on opening doors and creating opportunities for our students acknowledged by my colleagues and the wider university community — it feels like a profound affirmation that I’m doing something that matters," says Moore.

What inspired you to get into your field?

Honestly? It kind of happened by beautiful happenstance! I knew I was drawn to working with people and that I wanted to be in higher education, but I didn't have a super-defined path initially. After graduating with my bachelor's, I landed a role as a graduate assistant in Career Services, and early on, my supervisor saw something in me and offered me a full-time career coach position even before I started my master's that fall. I felt like I was making a difference. I finished my degree, and stayed with Career Services until early 2021. 

At that point, I felt this pull to explore something different, so I took a leap and worked at a tech startup that focused on career acceleration. I learned a ton and wore so many different hats, but the biggest takeaway was how much I missed making a real, tangible impact, and how much I missed the higher education environment. 

Fast forward to 2023, the career & life design director role opened up at UNLV, I applied, and the rest, as they say, is history! I truly love being in this space of personal, professional, and career development. Knowing that a primary reason students come to college is to launch a fulfilling career and life, being a part of helping them do that, in whatever way I can, is incredibly inspiring and keeps me here.

What’s the biggest misconception about your role?

That it's just student-facing. While my incredible team works directly with students and alumni on career coaching every single day, my role is this fantastic blend of connecting with students, alumni, faculty, staff, and employers. 

Seriously, there's never a dull moment, and my calendar is a wild mix of different meetings and opportunities to impact career readiness across the entire UNLV ecosystem and out into the greater Las Vegas community. It's so much more integrated and far-reaching than just one-on-one student appointments.

What does being a UNLV Rebel mean to you? 

I’d say it means unlocking doors I didn't even know were there. What's incredible is that here, you're not just a number; you're genuinely celebrated. That feeling fuels my desire to make a tangible impact right here on campus, for my fellow students and alumni, and for myself. Seriously, the life I get to live today — the chance to teach, to serve, to contribute – I owe so much of it to the foundation UNLV gave me.

What's a contribution you feel most proud of?

As a first-generation grad who came back to UNLV, just walking these halls as a staff member feels like a contribution in itself. It's about being visible, hopefully showing students that a successful life and future isn’t just possible, but attainable, regardless of who you are or where you started.

From there, the impact feels like it ripples out through the amazing things I get to be a part of in Career Services. Whether it's bringing over 200 employers to campus for our annual career fairs, creating spaces through engaging programs where students can actively design their lives and careers, or developing asynchronous tools that let them explore their potential on their own time — it all ties back to opening those doors and expanding their vision of what's possible. 

And honestly, getting to teach a first-year seminar? That's a pure highlight, a direct chance to connect with students at the very beginning of their Rebel journey and plant those seeds of possibility. 

What does it feel like to receive this award?

It's not just about the award itself, but what it represents: that the effort to truly see and support our students, to help them build confidence and chart their own paths, resonates. It's a powerful feeling of being valued by the institution that has already given me so much. It fuels that passion to continue showing up, to keep innovating, and to keep fighting for our students' success. It's a reminder that the dedication to making a real impact is seen, and honestly, that's the greatest gift this recognition offers.

The most memorable part of your time at UNLV?

Oh gosh, after nearly 12 years here, first as a student and now as staff, picking one is genuinely tough. If I have to choose, it has been getting the chance to serve as chair for the Rebel Career Champions Network. 

It's given me this amazing platform to champion the mission of career readiness across campus and connect with so many brilliant people I might never have met otherwise, especially faculty. We've really managed to elevate the conversation around why career readiness matters for everyone, everywhere at UNLV. 

What is your favorite thing about living in Las Vegas?

The palpable desire people have to build this city into an even more incredible place to live and grow. Seeing how much it's transformed in the 20-plus years I've been here and knowing it's still evolving is exciting. And beyond all the growth and energy, there are just some truly amazing, kind, and inclusive people who call Vegas home.

What is the best advice you have received?

Hands down: No amount of money in the world can truly buy you happiness. Real happiness comes from building and living a life that feels authentic and genuinely meaningful to you. 

Don't get me wrong: I'm incredibly grateful for the stability and salary my role at UNLV provides, but you have to figure out what your core needs are, what truly fuels you, and then build your life and career from that foundation. 

Favorite hobbies?

Oh, I'm definitely one of those people who pick up hobbies constantly – some stick around for a while, others are more fleeting! But the things that truly fill my cup when I'm not on campus usually involve just being with my wife and our fur babies. We love doing simple things together, like building Legos (yes, we're big kids at heart!), taking the pups on little adventures to places like Market in the Alley, or exploring all the cool independent coffee shops around town. I really cherish the more mundane parts of life.

What keeps you motivated?

It's the journey of building a life I genuinely never thought I'd have. Part of that journey, just a little over a month away now, is getting our foster care license. We have so much love to give, and the thought of sharing that with some of the over 4,000 kids in foster care right here in Clark County — that's a powerful motivator. 

We're only here on this planet for such a short time, less than a century, and the drive to really make it count, to leave a positive mark on my community and help shape future generations, that's what truly fuels me.

What’s in store for you in the future?

For the next couple of years, it's about refining my leadership skills and solidifying the importance of career development across UNLV. We're doing some cool things with badging and microcredentials, and I want to connect with even more faculty and keep building on the momentum of the Rebel Career Champions Network! 

Beyond that, I'd love to explore pursuing a Ph.D., maybe within the College of Education. I'd love to continue teaching and contribute more to the academic side of things.  

Personally, the journey of continued growth and prioritizing my mental and self-care is really important. And, as I mentioned, growing our family is a huge goal! 

Oh, and a fun fact/future goal? I've actually never traveled outside the country, so exploring the world is definitely on the list!