Brock Dixon briefly served as acting president from 1978 to 1979 after President Donald Baepler was appointed chancellor of the state's higher-education system. Dixon had spent most of his career in the Northwest, including nearly 20 years as an administrator at Portland State University and three years as provost of Pacific University.

At UNLV, he served in a variety of capacities, including dean of administrative services and vice president for administration. Widely respected in the campus community, Dixon was known as a troubleshooter and was appointed to oversee the planning and construction of the Thomas & Mack Center. Additionally, Dixon prepared the university for the coming administration by maintaining campus affairs and helping conduct an executive search.

After Leonard (Pat) Goodall was appointed president, Dixon returned to his position as administrative vice president for four years before joining the department of public administration. He retired from the university in 1985.

Sources

• Hulse, James W.; Goodall, Leonard; and Allen, Jackie. Reinventing the System: Higher Education in Nevada. University of Nevada Press, 2002.
• Moehring, Eugene P. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas: A History. University of Nevada Press, 2007.