MSI Task Force
From its earliest days as a small branch college to its current position as a major research institution, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas has long regarded diversity as one of its hallmarks. Located in a region that is inherently rich in multicultural diversity, UNLV makes every effort to reflect that diversity within its student body, its faculty, and its staff.
A key part of UNLV’s educational mission is to deliver a superior academic experience to students from all walks of life. UNLV prides itself on being an institution of opportunity where those who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education can receive the support they need to achieve their educational and professional goals.
The MSI Task Force, led by the University’s Executive Vice President and Provost, was established in Fall 2019. This group is a coalition of UNLV stakeholders dedicated to advancing student success initiatives for campus students of color, including promoting educational equity and eliminating the achievement gap.
About the Initiative
Mission
The MSI Task Force provides institutional leadership and support for establishing UNLV as a leading MSI. Its work includes to designing and maintaining institutional support systems to promote educational success for students of color and other underrepresented students in higher education.
The task force includes representatives from various administrative and academic units across the campus and is responsible for organizing a variety of programs and initiatives to support students and faculty of color as well as others underrepresented in higher education.
Members
The members of the MSI Task Force comprise a broad coalition of UNLV community members dedicated to promoting student success for students of color:
MSI Task Force Members
- Chris Heavey, Executive Vice President and Provost (Co-Chair)
- Juanita Fain, Vice President for Student Affairs (Co-Chair)
- Harriet Barlow, Executive Director, The Intersection
- Jacimaria Batista, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Melissa Bowles-Terry, Associate Director, UNLV Faculty Center
- Juliet Casey, Director of Communications, Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost
- Lori Ciccone, Executive Director, Office of Sponsored Programs
- Tondra De, Chief of Staff, Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost
- Sue DiBella, Interim Executive Director, Office of Community Engagement
- Brent Drake, Vice Provost for Decision Support
- Sunny Gittens, Executive Director of Student Engagement
- Emily Irwin, Senior Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, UNLV Foundation
- Joanna Jezierska, Director of Multicultural Programs
- Kyle Kaalberg, Executive Director of Strategy and Strategic Initiatives, Office of the President
- Kate Korgan, Dean, Graduate College
- Lawrence Letourneau, Director for Research and Training, Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach
- Cecilia Maldonado, Associate Vice Provost for Workforce Development
- Ann McDonough, Dean, Academic Success Center
- Eileen McGarry, Executive Director, Office of Career Services
- Janis McKay, Chair, Faculty Senate
- Jose Melendrez, Executive Director of Community Partnerships, School of Public Health
- Jeffrey Orgera, Associate Vice Provost for Student Success
- Laurel Pritchard, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
- Keith Rogers, Deputy Executive Director, Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach
- Renee Watson, Associate Vice President for Campus Life
- Anne White, Senior Director of Data, Assessment, and Retention, Academic Success Center
Subcommittees
A number of different subcommittees work in parallel to advance the goals and priorities of the MSI Task Force.
Student Services
Purpose
To review student-facing programs, service models, and policies that have implications for equity. Share best practices across campus and work with units on the refinement of existing student services and development of new ones.
Members
Resource Development and External Relations
Purpose
To plan and execute strategies for engaging community partners, donors, and funding agencies to establish a sustainable resource base to support MSI, HSI, and ANNAPISI initiatives.
Members
- Keith Rogers (Co-Chair)
- Jose Melendrez (Co-Chair)
- Lori Ciccone
- Sue DiBella
- Emily Irwin
- Liz Kahane
- Eileen McGarry
- Jeff Orgera
- Brandy Smith
- Haroon Stephen
Data and Assessment
Purpose
To review existing data sources related to underrepresented student enrollment and success metrics, faculty representation, campus climate, and other relevant measures and identify gaps in available data. Develop strategies to assess existing and new programs related to UNLV’s MSI, HSI, and ANNAPISI status if such assessment plans are not already in place.
Members
Programming
Purpose
To collaborate with units across campus to develop programming that engages faculty, staff, and students in UNLV’s efforts to create an inclusive and equitable campus culture and to be a part of the national conversation.
Members
Communications
Purpose
To centralize information about MSI, HSI, and ANNAPISI initiatives and related activities at UNLV and to disseminate this information to the campus community in ways that encourage engagement.
Members
Steering Committee
Purpose
To facilitate and support the activities of the MSI Task Force and its various subcommittees.
Members
- Chris L. Heavey, Executive Vice President and Provost (Co-Chair)
- Juanita Fain, Vice President for Student Affairs (Co-Chair)
- Juliet Casey, Communications Director, Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost
- Tondra De, Chief of Staff, Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost
- Brent Drake, Vice Provost for Decision Support
- Jose L. Melendrez, Executive Director of Community Partnerships, School of Public Health
- Barbee Oakes, Chief Diversity Officer
- Laurel M. Pritchard, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
- B. Keith Rogers, Deputy Executive Director, The Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach
- Renee' Watson, Associate Vice President for Campus Life
Learn More
To learn more about diversity and student success initiatives on the UNLV campus, please visit the following sites:
- Minority-Serving Institution
- Office of Diversity Initiatives
- Office of Student Diversity & Social Justice
- Office of Undergraduate Education
- The Intersection: Academic Multicultural Resource Center
- STEM Multicultural Program
- The Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach (CAEO)
Data on student and faculty diversity at UNLV are available through the Office of Decision Support.
Contact
The MSI Task Force is an effort jointly led by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost and the Division of Student Affairs. If you have any questions or would like to get involved with the work of the Task Force, please contact:
Chris L. Heavey, Executive Vice President and Provost
Phone: 702-895-3301
Email: chris.heavey@unlv.edu
Juanita Fain, Vice President for Student Affairs
Phone: 702-895-3656
Email: juanita.fain@unlv.edu
Tondra De, Chief of Staff
Phone: 702-895-0730
Email: tondra.de@unlv.edu