Close up of the "Rebels Forever" logo on UNLV undergraduate gown.

Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement News

The Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement strives to build meaningful relationships with UNLV alumni and steward private investment in the university. We do this by supporting the mission and vision of the UNLV Foundation and the UNLV Alumni Association, two 501(c)3 organizations.

Current Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement News

Marni Dow sits on the Academic Mall
People |

The senior associate director of Student Government and Activities brings more than a decade of UNLV event experience to her new role co-chairing the university’s 60th Homecoming.

Headshot of a white man with dark hair wearing a casual dark blue suit and silver chain smiles in front of a gray background in an image inset within a stock photo that depicts a UNLV building in the foreground and Las Vegas Strip in the background amid a colorful sky at sunset
People |

An ‘eventful’ life and career led the 2026 Silver State Award honoree to develop a philanthropic relationship with UNLV that has proven to be mutually beneficial.

Headshot photo of a Native American woman with dark hair wearing a dark top with red lipstick and long dark green tassel-like earrings smiles in an image inset within a stock photo depicting desert brush in the foreground and a blue sky and mountain range in the background
People |

For the Patrick T. Smith Achievement in Service honoree, offering a helping hand to those in need isn’t an obligation — it’s a way of life.

Image of an Asian man wearing glasses and a dark blue suit and tie with light blue dress shirt and UNLV pin on his lapel smiles and crosses his arms while posing in front of red balloons in an image inset within a stock photo depicting a bright green tree with a UNLV-logoed banner attached to a light pole
People |

The Outstanding Faculty Award winner is committed to ensuring that all Rebels begin their careers with a wealth of financial knowledge

White man with brown hair, gray suit, white collard shirt and red UNLV-logoed tie with a white pocket square smiles as he poses in front of a building, with the photo inset on a stock image that depicts the Las Vegas skyline in the foreground and a mountain range in the background
People |

The 2026 Outstanding Alumnus shows his profound appreciation for UNLV through personal and professional deeds that resonate today, tomorrow, and far beyond.

Brian Paulson
People |

The William F. Harrah College of Hospitality Alumnus of the Year reflects on the people and experiences that shaped his career in hospitality.

Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement In The News

KLAS-TV: 8 News Now

Recently Silver State Schools Credit Union and the UNLV Alumni Association launched the Rebels Forever Affinity Card program, giving you a new way to support the Rebel community through everyday purchases. Here with an update on the program is Scott A. Arkills, President/CEO of Silver State Schools Credit Union.

KLAS-TV: 8 News Now

Silver State Schools Credit Union is strengthening its connection to higher education with a new partnership with the UNLV Alumni Association.

KSNV-TV: News 3

UNLV's Alumni Association is holding its annual Scholarship Golf Tournament to help current students stay in school. The funds raised through the tournament support the Fred C. Albrecht Alumni Scholarship, which assists deserving UNLV students with the cost of their education.

KSNV-TV: News 3

UNLV welcomes more than 5,000 students, staff, faculty, and alumni for Rebel Homecoming Week. The university calls it the Happiest Homecoming on Earth as people gathered in the Student Union Courtyard & Plaza.

Hospitality Net

The UNLV William F. Harrah College of Hospitality announces a $1 million philanthropic gift from Marco Benvenuti to establish the Marco Benvenuti Excellence Endowment. The gift represents the culmination of years of support from the local entrepreneur and 2002 graduate.

U.S. News & World Report

Before closing out the fall semester, many schools observe different holidays through unique and time-honored traditions.

Recent Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement Accomplishments

Monika Karney, alumna Taylor Gerson, and Helen Wing (Life Sciences) published a paper in Nucleic Acids Research (Oxford University Press). Gerson completed her Ph.D. in December and is a post-doc at Scripps Research, San Diego, Calif. Karney is a self-funded MS student who works as a lab manager on Wing's team. 
Sara Rosenkranz (Kinesiology & Nutrition Sciences), Donya Shahamati (Kinesiology & Nutrition Sciences Alumna), and Richard Rosenkranz (Kinesiology & Nutrition Sciences), along with colleagues from Kansas State University, recently published The feasibility and acceptability of height-adjustable stand-up desks in a self-contained…
Barbara Lewis, Erika Marquez, Chris Cochran, Neeraj Bhandari, Soumya Upadhyay (all Public Health), and Stowe Shoemaker (Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement), co-authored an article, "Hospital Patient and Family Advisory Council Accelerators and Barriers: A Qualitative Study," published in the Journal of Patient Experience.
Professor Karen Harry and Liam Frink’s (both Anthropology) collaborative Alaskan pottery study was recently highlighted on the Decoder Ring podcast (segment from 22:30–35:30). The episode grew out of publicity from The New York Times-bestselling author Sam Kean’s book Dinner with King Tut, which profiled their work alongside that of anthropology…
Darren Noble (Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement) recently attended the 20th Annual Alumni Career Services Network (ACSN) Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The event brought together professionals from 150 institutions and organizations committed to alumni career services support. Centered on the theme "Elevate. Empower. Engage.," the…
The College of Education is pleased to share that several faculty/staff-alumni were recognized for contributions to their field and program, and named as 2025 Alum of the Year. Recipients included: Maria Aladjova '19 M.S. Counselor Education Jennifer Guyer '05 Ed.S. School Psychology Kim Nehls '07 Ph.D. Higher Education Ignacio Prado '12 M.…