Lisa earned a B.S. in journalism from Syracuse University. After working in the television news industry, she returned to school, earning an M.A. from UNLV and a Ph.D. from Arizona State University. Her research has focused on how personal relationships impact, and are impacted by, substance abuse. Lisa returned to UNLV as a Faculty in Residence in Fall 2014, teaching classes in public speaking, family communication, interpersonal communication, health communication, and gender and sexuality. She became the Assistant Dean of the Honors College in January 2018, Acting Associate Dean in July 2018, and Associate Dean in November 2020. Lisa oversees the Honors College internship program and the Research and Creative Honors thesis program. She also helps Dean Hanson with the administrative aspects of running the Honors College.