While Ariana Turiansky was the director of operations for the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, people often mistook her as being in charge of building maintenance. She’s since transitioned to the Office of the President, where she is responsible for similar activities that range from supporting academic leaders to long-term planning and major project management. 

In 2014, Turiansky moved from Pennsylvania to Las Vegas to enroll in UNLV’s creative writing MFA program. “I was humbled to be accepted into a program like UNLV’s, which had amazing writing faculty and a unique study abroad component,” she says.

She taught English courses as a graduate assistant — a job that ultimately led to her stay on following graduation. Turiansky worked as a part-time instructor and writing consultant for the Writing Center for two years before becoming the special assistant to the chief of staff in the President’s Office. In 2023, she transitioned to the Provost’s Office for the director of operations role.

Even if she’s slightly reluctant to be in the spotlight, Turiansky says having her work recognized on such a large scale is truly special and appreciated.

“I am a perfectionist at heart, so finding ways to be creative, efficient, and effective brings me a lot of satisfaction,” she says. “To be recognized in the operational excellence category is wonderful because I strive to promote organization and creative problem solving in each job I hold.”

You recently transitioned to a new role. But, what was the biggest misconception you experienced while director of operations for the Provost’s Office?

That my title, director of operations, means facilities operations! I get so many email inquiries from companies that do painting, HVAC, cleaning, etc.

What were some of your responsibilities as the director of operations?

My responsibilities now are very similar to that of my previous position. My former role included overseeing the organization of and materials for committees and groups, such as Academic Council and the MSI Task Force. I also collaborated with others to create or expand faculty professional development opportunities, including leadership training series and events. Writing and designing documents (research, reports, promotional stuff, presentations) for both internal and external audiences was also a large part of my job.

What inspired you to get into your field? 

I got into this field through a series of friendly pushes from past supervisors and mentors who saw more in me than I saw in myself. While I enjoyed my time teaching and working as a writing consultant, I’m incredibly grateful for those nudges because I landed in a position that I truly enjoy and that utilizes my skills.

What does being a UNLV Rebel mean to you? 

I’m always so impressed when I hear students answer this question because I think it’s a tough one! As a grad student, I knew how lucky I was to be on such a vibrant and welcoming campus each day, but I don’t think I truly appreciated the Rebel identity until I began working in administrative roles. Seeing the aerial view of UNLV — physically and metaphorically because I work on the top floor of FDH — has really given me such pride in this university and everyone who works here, learns here, and is part of our community.

What I value most about being a Rebel is the spirit of lifting each other up. I’ve seen my students, colleagues, and mentors embody this over and over again, and it’s something I greatly admire about our campus community.

What contribution have you made at UNLV that is meaningful to you and has made the greatest impact on campus? 

One of my first projects in this role was to redesign the application process for UNLV’s Regents’ Awards nominees. Through the creation of guidance materials, routing and review procedures, and the overall improved presentation of UNLV’s application packets, our institution began receiving more awards, giving our faculty the recognition they deserve. This past March, UNLV faculty won awards in four out of five competitive categories.

I’ve also done a variety of other work in the operational excellence space that is contributing to large-scale process digitization efforts on campus, which is very exciting.

How have you managed the challenges in your roles?

There are definitely challenges trying to produce high-quality work on short timelines, but what I love most is that everyone is working to make the university better as a whole. I think that mentality makes it easier to get people on board with change, which is inherently hard. There are solutions for just about everything, and from my perspective it's about finding a way to compromise forward, not backward.

You earned an MFA in creative writing from UNLV. From where did your interest in writing and poetry originate?

I've loved writing for as long as I can remember! It was and is how I process and make sense of the world. I was encouraged by a mentor in college to pursue an MFA, even if just for fun, so I did. If you read poetry, you'll find there are countless ways to say the same thing, yet each iteration presents a unique perspective. Writing poetry has given me the skills to move around all the little parts that make up any piece of writing — even the technical writing I do now — which helps me to accommodate a specific audience.

What is something that people likely do not know about you? 

Probably that I am a “horse girl” at heart. I spent the majority of my childhood at horse camp and my very first job was working with racehorses at a therapeutic rehabilitation center. I’ve had incredible opportunities to work with, train, and compete horses across multiple disciplines in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Florida. They will always hold a very special place in my heart, and I miss being a part of that world immensely.

What is the most memorable part of your time here at UNLV?

Definitely my graduate student experience! I have very fond memories of that time spent writing, reading, teaching (terrifying, at first!), traveling, and just being on campus. Looking back on it now, I see how impactful those three years were and just how much opportunity was created for me by the university community. 

What is the best advice you have received?

I’m biased, but I think some of the best advice comes from writers. There’s a line in the Frank O’Hara poem “A True Account Of Talking To The Sun At Fire Island” that reads: “And now that you are making your own days, so to speak [...].” 

I fell in love with that phrasing the first time I read it, and it’s been a mantra of mine for the last 10 years or so. This idea that we are each making our own days gives me a sense of agency, and I think it’s important to remember that we control what we put into  the world, how we make our days. 

Favorite hobbies?

I have the BEST little dog at home, so I spend a lot of time going on walks, training, and playing tug-of-war. I’m working on reading more books and bingeing less Netflix, but aren’t we all?

What keeps you motivated? 

At work, I’m motivated by knowing that what I do has purpose and is creating positive change. If I can go home at the end of the day and feel like I’ve helped someone, contributed ideas, or made progress on a project, then I’m a happy camper. The team I work with is amazing, and their hard work and dedication, as well as the positive environment they create, is a big motivator for me.

What is your favorite thing about living in Las Vegas? 

The sun! Hands down. For all its challenges, I absolutely love living in a place where it’s almost always sunny.