Robert Cortez, ’95 Bachelor of Music, teaches instrumental music at Mexico Senior High School in Mexico, Missouri. Previously, he spent 10 years as a band director with the Clark County School District. He was inducted in to the Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity in 2013 and serves on the board of the Missouri Alliance for Arts Education. A fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus, he enjoys traveling with student groups and with his family. He and his wife, Mikelle, have three children, Alex, Ryan, and Nic.

Shifon Foster Berumen, ’95 BA Interdisciplinary Studies, teaches U.S. and world history at Chino High School in California. Her hobbies include hiking, kayaking, and motorcycle riding. She and her sons, Jared and James, have two dogs.

James Williams, ’94 BS Computer Science, is a firmware engineer. Tennis and flying are among his hobbies. He lives in Reno.

Linda Gray Norcross, ’94 BA Political Science, ’04 JD, recently transitioned from private practice to assistant general counsel for Aristocrat Technologies. Previously, she worked for the Las Vegas office of Howard & Howard. She was named a Mountain States “Super Lawyer” for 2015 by Super Lawyers. Also this year she was named to the “Legal Elite” and “Best Up and Coming Attorneys” lists by Nevada Business magazine.

Mika Takasaki Koike, ’94 BS Hotel Administration, is an interpreter for Japan’s Yokohama District Court and an instructor at Sundai Travel & Hotel College. Her hobbies include volleyball and exercising in the gym. She is married and has two daughters and one son. The family lives in Yokohama.

Lynn Tynan, ’92 BA Political Science, recently retired, but has her own jewelry business, is a professional actress locally, and does property management. She previously owned her own tour company, served as director of a women’s substance abuse center, and organized recovery events. She has sung with the UNLV Women’s Choir for more than 10 years, plays tournament badminton, and enjoys traveling to see friends and family, including her three grandchildren. She recently traveled to upstate New York for her 50th high school reunion.

Jon Thumin, ’92 BA Liberal Studies, is a special education teacher in Des Moines, Washington.

Brian Slipock, ’92 BS Hotel Administration, has purchased a hair salon, Mad About Hair. For the past 13 years he has owned Jackson’s Bar and Grill. He is married to Robin Harris Slipock, ’93 BS Hotel Administration. They have a teenage daughter, Dina, who is described by her father as a “future Rebel.”

Erin Maloney, ’92 BS Mechanical Engineering, sat for and passed the mechanical engineering – thermal fluids principles and practices of engineering exam in April.

Christopher Bond, ’92 BS Hotel Administration, has been promoted to vice president of sales at the Mirage. He oversees convention sales, convention services, and catering. He is married to Serena Arce Bond, ’95 BS Business Administration. They live in Henderson.

Heidi Almase, ’92 BA Psychology, ’96 MA Psychology, ’01 JD, was elected to Las Vegas Municipal Court in 2011 and is serving a six-year term. In 2013, she was nominated to serve a two-year term on the Nevada Judicial Council. In February, she was named an alternate judicial member to the Commission on Judicial Discipline. She is married to attorney Caesar Almase. They have three children. 

Matt Engle, ’91 BS Business Administration, is chairman of the board for the Las Vegas Natural History Museum and is heading its expansion committee efforts. He received the 2015 Achievement in Service Award from the Alumni Association.