Heather Torgersen serves as senior advisor for philanthropy and donor relations in the Office of the President at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where she advances the university’s philanthropic mission and strengthens relationships with donors and the broader community. She brings more than two decades of experience cultivating donor relationships and community partnerships in Nevada, most recently within UNLV’s College of Liberal Arts, where she served as senior executive director of external affairs.

Heather holds a Bachelor of Science in political science and sociology from Southern Utah University, a Master of Arts in political science with an emphasis in public policy, followed by a doctorate in public policy from UNLV’s School of Public Policy and Leadership, making her a two-time Rebel graduate. Her research focused on higher education funding, specifically examining dedicated support for Minority Serving Institutions through student programming designed to increase degree attainment and enhance social mobility.

Heather is a graduate of the Emerge Nevada program (2008) and an alumna of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Las Vegas program, class of 2024. After beginning her career as a fundraiser on political campaigns, she transitioned into the nonprofit sector, starting in public policy advocacy and volunteer mobilization with AARP. She later spent seven years with the American Cancer Society, where her roles spanned local and national levels and included event planning, fundraising, leading a national training team for development professionals, and managing a team of fundraisers while securing major gifts.

Outside of her role at UNLV, Heather is a founding board member of the local nonprofit Branded One, a PTA member and volunteer at a local elementary school, and a licensed Realtor—a hobby she shares with her UNLV alumnus husband. She is also the mother of three UNLV/CSUN Preschool graduates, making it a household of proud Rebels.