Achievement in Service Award winner Michael Gordon is a vice president at The Public Education Foundation. He came to Las Vegas from Cape Town, South Africa in September 2006 on a Rotary International Ambassadorial scholarship. He is a double alumnus of UNLV with a master's of public administration in 2008 and doctorate in 2013, and continues, through his professional work and community involvement, to give back to UNLV and the community.
What motivates you to give back to UNLV?
It will sound trite, but without the academic and community engagement education I received at UNLV, I would not be where I am today. During my student days I was lucky enough to be part of several Foundation and Alumni events where I quickly learned that the civic leadership, persistence and a rebellious spirit is what build this university and town. The continued support and advocacy of these donors and community leaders is what allows UNLV to continue to produce the workforce for our growing economy and expanding city. Without their dedication to Las Vegas, none of us would be here.
I was lucky enough to benefit from other people’s generosity and vision to make this university – and city – an excellent place to live and work. I want to help build on their vision and that’s why I’m proud to be a Rebel and to support the institution that will continue its proud tradition of opening doors for a different, daring and diverse student population.
Spreading it Around
Michael Gordon came to Las Vegas from Cape Town, South Africa in September 2006 on a Rotary International Ambassadorial scholarship. As a student, he served three terms as president of the Graduate and Professional Student Association as well as one term as chair of the Nevada Student Alliance.
Gordon continues to give back to the Las Vegas community through his work at The Public Education Foundation, a group dedicated to transformational change in teaching, learning and education leadership. He is a 2012 graduate of Leadership Las Vegas and serves on the boards of The Salvation Army of Southern Nevada, the Boy Scouts Las Vegas Area Council, Beacon Academy of Nevada and the Rotary Club of Las Vegas.
