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After college, Cherie spent six years with Clark County, where she gained valuable experience in planning, land use, and demographic studies. Her work with the census bureau and on redistricting gave her a front-row seat to how fast Las Vegas was growing—at one point, nearly 10,000 new residents were arriving each month. “It was an incredible learning experience,” she says. “You really got to see how growth affected every aspect of the community, from schools to water resources.” That perspective proved invaluable when she transitioned into higher education.
Cherie will celebrate her 20th anniversary with UNLV this November. As the executive director of real estate, she manages the university’s property acquisitions, sales, and leases. Her office works closely with legal counsel and the Nevada Board of Regents, consistently drafting complex agenda items that go before the board.
Since 2017, UNLV has completed $157 million in property acquisitions and sales under Cherie’s leadership, including 35 different transactions, the 42-acre lot near The Strip, and all of the property along the east side of Maryland Parkway. One of the most ambitious real estate projects on the horizon is the complete transition of the North Campus to UNLV ownership, which she anticipates by 2027.
What Cherie loves most about her work is how unique it is in addition to its long-term impact. “If I were in the private sector, I would never get to work on projects like these,” she says. “It’s unique, challenging, and no two days are ever the same. You don’t always see the results immediately—but these acquisitions shape the future of the university. We’re helping set UNLV up for a long legacy of growth and success.”
Outside the office, Cherie enjoys traveling, especially to Hawaii, where she and her husband honeymooned and have returned many times. She also loves spending time with her daughter, who lives in Las Vegas, as well as her three rescue dogs and one cat. She serves on the board of the Ice Age Fossils Park Foundation, which supports the preservation of Ice Age Fossils State Park—home to fossils of sloths, mammoths, and other prehistoric animals.
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