Maria Roncal, ’11 BA Journalism and Media Studies, manages the social media presence for the Palms Casino Resort where her work has resulted in up to five times the return on advertising spending and has doubled the resort’s Instagram fan base in less than a year. Previously, she worked at SLS Las Vegas, earning local, national, and international marketing awards for its grand opening media strategy, and at Caesars Entertainment where she produced new media content. Her proudest personal accomplishment is losing 50 pounds. Her hobbies include travel blogging, becoming trilingual by learning French, and many types of fitness activities.

Jeffrey Lavigne, ’09 BA Communication Studies, ’11 MA Communication Studies, ’15 JD, has joined the litigation department in the Las Vegas office of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. His practice will focus on commercial litigation and will include assisting business clients in litigation disputes involving trial and arbitration. Previously, he taught public speaking at the College of Southern Nevada. He volunteers with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Southern Nevada.

Erik Kludasch, ’08 BA Journalism and Media Studies, ’11 BA Philosophy, traveled last summer to Borneo to study model community-based efforts to preserve Bornean species along the Kinabatangan River in Sabah (East Malaysia). A sixth-grade teacher at Victory Prep Academy in Denver, he took the graduate course in pursuit of his master’s degree from Miami University’s global field program.

Pj Perez, ’07 BA Journalism and Media Studies, is digital content editor for Caesars Entertainment Corp. where he focuses on content marketing. He also is the bass player for the indie rock band Moonboots, which released its debut EP in March. He is married to Sara Gorgon, a student in UNLV’s MBA program and also director of communications for the Lee Business School.

Melissa Rothermel Biernacinski, ’06 BA Journalism and Media Studies, celebrated her 10th year at local marketing/public relations firm Imagine Communications in 2015. She is married to Marek Biernacinski, ’05 BA Communication Studies. He is president and CEO of Words by a Pro, a company that was honored at the Las Vegas Digital Media Awards by being named Best Business Blog for the second year in a row.

Cynthia De La Torre, ’03 BA Communication Studies, is the communications manager for a $20 million grant from the National Institutes of Health that is housed at UNLV. The grant involves 13 institutions in seven states. She handles all social media and communications for the grant, including campaigns for its various funding mechanisms. Each year she organizes a meeting for 200 scientists and faculty members across the Mountain West. An advocate for immigration, prison reform, and higher education, she facilitates a support group for women coping with incarcerated family members. Her hobbies include hiking, cycling, reading, and networking. She has an 11-year-old daughter.