Volume 160 | August 21, 2026 | |
Business Affairs Bulletin
August 21, 2026
| | The inside scoop on the people and projects that support UNLV | |
- A Message from Vice President / CFO Chris Viton
- Plan Ahead for Your 2026 Fall Commute
- Meet Jan Lasagna, Accountant Technician 1 with Parking & Transportation Services
- Spotlight on Service - Parking & Transportation Services
- Business Affairs Bites - Hazel M. Wilson Dining Commons
- Volunteer for the College Football Playoffs National Championship
- Dates to Remember
| | A Message from Vice President / CFO Chris Viton | | |
Hello colleagues,
Rebel Ready Week is coming to a close, and campus is full of energy again as students prepare for the start of another academic year. This is my first fall semester since returning to UNLV, and it has been great to see everyone back on campus.
Over the past few months, I’ve enjoyed meeting with teams across Business Affairs and learning more about the work happening throughout our division. I’ve been impressed by how much our teams accomplish every day, most of it behind the scenes. Over the summer, you closed out another fiscal year, prepared our buildings and grounds for the return of students, built new services and systems, and completed major infrastructure projects, including the Marlow Early Childhood Education Campus expansion, major restroom renovations in the Alta Ham Fine Arts building, vital road maintenance, and more. This, in addition to handling the day-to-day work that keeps UNLV running.
None of this happens without deliberate planning and long hours from the people across every part of this division. Thank you for everything you’ve done to get us to this point.
As we begin the fall semester, I want us to continue focusing on how Business Affairs can be a strong partner to the rest of the university. Our roles take many forms, and they all contribute to UNLV’s ability to serve our students and community.
With so much ahead this academic year, I look forward to working alongside all of you. I also encourage each of you to attend the UNLV All-Hands Meeting on September 22 and the Business Affairs All-Staff Meeting on September 28. Attendance keeps campus connections strong and helps you stay apprised of upcoming and important university news.
Thank you again for everything you do to support UNLV. Have a great fall semester, and Go Rebels!
| | Plan Ahead for Your 2026 Fall Commute | | Meet Jan Lasagna, Accountant Technician 1 with Parking & Transportation Services | |
After more than two decades at UNLV, Jan Lasagna has learned the university from the inside out.
Her title with Parking & Transportation Services is Accountant Technician I, and her work touches nearly every aspect of the department’s financial operations. This includes budgeting and recharge operations, financial reporting, account management, purchasing, PCards, travel, financial coordination and reconciliation, and more. Her team also supports Vehicle Repair Services (VRS), which recently became part of Parking & Transportation Services.
“When it’s running the smoothest, you don’t even notice that I’m there,” Jan says, laughing. “The less you notice me, the better.”
For much of her career, Jan managed her responsibilities largely on her own. Today, she leads a small team that includes Michael West and Jade Sorenson. Both came to the department with experience that could transfer to their new roles, and Jan has enjoyed helping them learn the intricacies of university finance within Parking & Transportation Services. She jokes that she is finally “giving up her secrets.”
As her role has grown, so has the trust placed in her, which is something she takes seriously. In addition to her regular work, Jan is also a lead CARE ambassador, representing her department and promoting the Business Affairs culture and service standards. It’s another way Jan can help share knowledge with others, which is one of her favorite things about her work.
“I love teaching and watching people learn and grow,” she says. She especially enjoys helping others understand how the university and the department work on a systems level. “It helps me learn too—I learn something new every day, and I’ve been here for over 20 years.”
Jan joined UNLV in May 2005 after relocating to Las Vegas from Southern California. She grew up in Lancaster, where her father worked as an engineer at NASA during an era when test pilots such as Neil Armstrong were part of the program.
At 19, she moved to Long Beach and attended Educorp Career College for medical billing before working with Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs). She later applied for an administrative job at UNLV and moved to Las Vegas.
Twenty-one years later, she is still finding ways to challenge herself.
In May, Jan earned an associate’s degree in business administration from the College of Southern Nevada while working full time.
It was a goal she had returned to after putting her education on hold years earlier to take care of her aging father. She is her own toughest critic, which made completing the degree especially satisfying. For now, she is taking a year away from school before deciding whether another degree will follow.
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During the break, much of Jan’s free time belongs to Sailor Blue. This little pup is her new Shih Tzu, and he came into Jan’s life after being repeatedly passed over for adoption. “I don’t know why,” Jan says. “He’s so smart, and he’s just the sweetest thing.” She describes how he loves to cuddle, and how he’s learning to ride along in her bike basket and go to dog-friendly restaurants with her.
While Sailor Blue is woman’s best friend, Jan’s closest human friendships have lasted more than 50 years so far.
“Something that people would be surprised to learn about me is that my friend group has been together since we were toddlers,” Jan says. Despite marriages and divorces, families, moves, and decades of change, the four women have remained close. One tradition helps keep it that way: they take a trip together every year, and nobody is allowed to back out.
Jan says maintaining a friendship for that long takes the same kind of effort as any lasting relationship. People change, so friends have to be willing to grow with one another, make time for each other, work through disagreements, and remain dependable.
“One day we’re going to be like the Golden Girls,” she says, laughing.
Travel is also high on Jan’s list for the years ahead. Nashville is a favorite destination, particularly for its live music. Eventually, retirement may provide more opportunities for travel and perhaps a move somewhere with more green space and a large yard for Sailor Blue.
But for now, Jan talks about her work and department with unmistakable enthusiasm. She credits the people around her with making the work easier, better, and more enjoyable. And after more than two decades, she is still proud to be part of the team that keeps Business Affairs moving.
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In October 2025, we distributed our annual Business Affairs customer service survey. Many of our campus colleagues replied to the survey with notes of praise for our hard-working teams. See below for some highlights for Parking & Transportation Services.
“The Parking & Transportation team is a valuable campus partner. They are efficient in their collaboration of campus projects. They are diligent in maintaining parking areas and keeping UNLV ahead of parking shortages as we look toward campus growth.”
“The staff is very nice and able to assist in a timely manner. It is very easy to order my parking pass online.”
“Very good and easy to work with. They always answer the phone with a smile on their face and if they don't know the answer, they will find someone who does.”
“They are always very responsive and have helped me out when I forgot to change the license plate on my new car. They have been instrumental in providing great insight into several projects.”
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Welcome to Business Affairs Bites, a monthly feature where Business Affairs team members share their favorite dining spots near campus so others can enjoy them too.
This month’s recommendation comes from the Business Affairs Communications Team and highlights an underrated campus spot!
Hazel M. Wilson Dining Commons • $ Budget/Casual - Under $15 • American/Variety
On campus! Near the Student Recreation & Wellness Center and residence halls
Loves: food, price/value, menu variety/dietary options, location
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What makes the Dining Commons special?
The variety and the great price! It’s all-you-care-to-eat, and there are multiple stations to choose from, so you can get a little bit of everything or go back for more of whatever you like. It’s also right on campus, which makes it an easy lunch option when you don’t want to get in the car.
What's the #1 menu item that we HAVE to try?
The menu changes regularly, so this is one place where we can’t pick just one. You can check the daily menu for breakfast, lunch, or dinner before you go, or be surprised when you arrive.
Jessie recommends trying the beef goulash if it’s on the menu. It’s her favorite because it’s savory and delicious. It usually shows up at the True Balance station.
Liz recommends the grilled orange chicken. This one pops up at the Global Kitchen station, and she loves it because it’s tasty and light—not fried or heavy.
Is there anything else we should know before we go?
Faculty and staff get a discounted rate of just $8 plus tax (about $8.67) every day. Just bring your RebelCard to get the employee rate.
Have a favorite place to grab a bite nearby?
| Volunteer for the College Football Playoffs National Championship | | |
The 2027 College Football Playoff National Championship is coming to Las Vegas. We invite you to express your interest in volunteering with the Las Vegas Host Committee by completing the interest form. If you don’t already have an account with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), you will be asked to create one before submitting the form.
The event dates are January 22 - 25, 2027. Volunteer shift registration will open in September, with additional details to be shared in the coming months. The interest form will tentatively close on September 14, 2026. LVCVA encourages all prospective volunteers to review the following details prior to submitting an interest form:
- This is an unpaid volunteer opportunity.
- Not all volunteer opportunities are inside the stadium or on game day.
- Participation does not include access to the stadium, the game, or game tickets.
- Volunteers are required to complete a minimum of three shifts during event weekend (January 22–25, 2027).
- A background check and signed waiver is required prior to participation.
- Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age by January 22, 2027.
For questions, please email eventvolunteers@lvcva.com.
| | - August 24 - Fall Semester starts
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