Business Affairs Bulletin

The inside scoop on the people and projects that support UNLV

In This Issue.....

• Dec. 6 Acknowledgement
• The Interview: Karlie Passey
• Business Affairs Departments Collaborate with OIT on Campuswide Juniper Network Upgrade
• Stress Free Family Holiday Month
• Top 10 Tips for a Low-Stress Holiday Season from Sonja Rogers
• Facilities Management Angel Tree Project
• Business Affairs Holiday Party Photo Submission 
• New Hires
• Promotion
• Anniversaries
• Dates to Remember

Dec. 6 Acknowledgement

Hello colleagues,

Two years ago, our university community was forever changed by a senseless act of gun violence. Since that tragic day, we’ve shown that the Rebel spirit cannot be broken. Each of you has played an important role in helping our university move forward. You’ve supported one another through the healing process and worked together to repair and enhance our campus spaces. I will forever be grateful and inspired by your resilience. 

Tomorrow, UNLV will host a Gathering for Remembrance and Healing to honor professors Jerry Cha-Jan Chang, Patricia Navarro Velez, and Naoko Takemaru, as well as the lives impacted by the events of December 6, 2023. If you would like to attend, visit the UNLV Calendar for details on the time and location. 

Anniversaries of this nature can bring up difficult memories and emotions. If you or someone you know needs assistance, please visit the UNLV Strong webpage for information about mental health and counseling resources.

Healing looks a little different for everyone. Let’s continue to show compassion for one another during this time and throughout the year.

Sincerely,

The Interview: Karlie Passey

Becca Schwartz/UNLV

Business Affairs Departments Collaborate with OIT on Campuswide Juniper Network Upgrade

Becca Schwartz/UNLV

When a project spans more than 100 campus buildings and involves complex technology, success depends on collaboration. That spirit of teamwork has been at the heart of UNLV’s Juniper Mist network upgrade, a campus-wide effort led by the Office of Information Technology (OIT) to strengthen the university’s digital foundation.

Telecommunications and Facilities Management are among the important partners in moving the project forward, demonstrating the OneUNLV spirit by helping replace 800 end-of-support wireless access points just in time for the start of the semester. 

The new Juniper Mist artificial intelligence platform uses self-healing technology to automatically detect and fix common network issues, keeping the campus connected and running smoothly.

“This project really showed how different departments can pull together to make something big happen for the university,” said Eric Kraft, interim manager of network services with OIT. “We checked in regularly to make sure everyone had what they needed and could adjust as things came up. Teamwork, communication, and flexibility helped keep the project moving smoothly.”

“The idea was to get the project wrapped up before the semester began by bringing different teams together to make it happen,” added Joseph Tammaro, telecommunications coordinator II. “My role was really to help connect the departments and keep everyone moving in the same direction. It took a lot of coordination, communication, and teamwork, but it showed how much we can accomplish when everyone works toward the same goal.”

That sense of shared purpose extended to Facilities Management, which played a hands-on role in the installation phase. “It was a big effort, but our team was glad to jump in and help with the installations,” said Garrett Hedges, facilities supervisor III with Facilities Management. 

He added, “Installing hundreds of access points across campus took a lot of coordination, but everyone worked together to keep things moving and make sure the job got done safely and efficiently.”

Network switch replacements, which make up another part of the overall upgrade, are underway across campus and will continue through February 2026, with improvements already enhancing connectivity in several buildings. By coordinating the work internally, OIT and its campus partners have improved efficiency and maximized university resources while maintaining project quality. Outside contractors will help replace wireless access points in select areas, like the Lied Library and Hospitality Hall, where structured cabling needs to be added or moved.

Thanks to the close collaboration between departments, the complex upgrade is staying on schedule and ensuring the campus remains connected every step of the way.

Business Affairs Holiday Party Photo Submission

Josh Hawkins/UNLV

Happy holidays, Business Affairs! As we prepare to celebrate together, be sure to submit your team photos by Friday, Dec. 12 to be shared at the holiday party. These photos help highlight the spirit and teamwork across our division, and we look forward to showcasing them during the event.

The party will take place on Friday, Dec. 19, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Thomas and Mack Center’s Strip View Pavilion. It will be a great opportunity to connect with colleagues and enjoy the festive season. 

We look forward to celebrating with you!

Stress Free Family Holiday Month

Sunny Studio

Observed each December, Stress Free Family Holiday Month raises awareness about the emotional and logistical pressures that often accompany the holiday season. It serves as a reminder to acknowledge those stressors and make room for healthier, more intentional ways of experiencing this time of year. It also emphasizes the value of strengthening interpersonal connections, setting realistic expectations, and recognizing the importance of balance during a month when demands are high.

This month, try to pause, reflect, and prioritize well-being for you and the people you love.

Top 10 Tips for a Low-Stress Holiday Season

Rido

From Sonja Rogers, Health and Wellness Program Manager 

1. Write out your calendar as early as you can.

Mapping out your holiday calendar ahead of time gives you room to breathe. Instead of feeling like everything is crammed into the same chaotic week, you can actually see what’s coming, pace yourself, and protect the downtime you need. This will help your holiday season feel more intentional, less rushed, and you’re likely to enjoy yourself more.

2. Create a spending plan.

A budget for the holidays can prevent overspending—and save you from the constant mental money chatter that likes to show up this time of year. Set boundaries that feel grounding for you, and do your best to not go over. This small step can make the whole season feel lighter.

3. Don’t be afraid to say “no thank you.”

Not every invitation deserves a yes. If something leaves you feeling drained before it’s even on your calendar, it’s okay to decline politely. And don’t feel like protecting your energy makes you rude. It actually makes you a better version of yourself for the things and people that are the most important to you.

4. Let go of perfection and embrace “good enough.”

The pressure to create the “perfect” holiday is everywhere, but chasing perfection almost always leads to burnout. Instead of obsessing about the flawless dinner or the amazingly aesthetic decorations, try shifting your focus to the truly meaningful parts of the holidays, like time for loved ones and recharging.

5. Make time for yourself.

With so much focus on others this time of year, it’s easy to forget that you also need care. Making space for yourself, even in small ways, helps you stay grounded. Ten minutes with a book, a quiet morning coffee, or a walk around the block can reset your mood and energy. 

6. Practice mindfulness.

When everything feels loud, crowded, or rushed, taking a moment to center yourself can make a noticeable difference. Slow down for a few deep breaths to help shift your body out of stress mode and give your brain a moment to catch up. 

7. Take a break from social media.

Scrolling during the holidays often leads to comparing your real life to everyone else’s curated version. Give yourself a break to reconnect with what’s happening around you. Instead of thinking about how things look, be free to actually enjoy them. Creating this kind of mental space can make the whole season feel more genuine and less performative.

8. Acknowledge your feelings.

The holidays can bring up complicated emotions, and pretending they’re not there usually makes them harder to deal with. It’s completely normal to feel grief, stress, loneliness, or pressure during this time. Acknowledging your feelings—through journaling, talking to someone you trust, or just naming them to yourself—keeps them from building up in the background and making this time of year more difficult.

9. Prioritize.

With so many expectations and traditions, it’s easy to feel like you have to do everything. Prioritizing helps you choose what’s actually meaningful and let go of what isn’t serving you this year. That might mean simplifying your gift list, trimming down events, or focusing on one or two traditions instead of all of them. Doing this gives you more time and energy for the things that genuinely matter to you.

10. Ask for help.

You don’t need to handle the entire holiday season by yourself (even if it feels like you do). Whether you’re overwhelmed by hosting duties, struggling emotionally or financially, or just need help with basic tasks, reaching out makes things easier. Most people are happy to lend a hand—they just need to know you need one. Sharing the load makes the season feel more manageable, and it reminds you that you don’t have to go through it alone.

Facilities Management Angel Tree Project

Becca Schwartz/UNLV

Facilities Management is proud to launch its Angel Tree Project in support of children in the Foster Kinship Program. We invite Business Affairs employees to support a child by completing a survey and choosing one or more virtual gift tags. There are eight children, and each child has four gift tag options. Employees can also donate cash to the overall project fund. 

All donations are due by Friday morning, December 12. Donations will be delivered the same day to Foster Kinship's main office.

How to participate:

• Complete the short survey to select your tag(s)
• Purchase your gift(s). 
• You may instead make a cash donation in the amount of the gift via Venmo or Zelle (information on last page of survey).
• If making a cash donation, please include the child's name and the gift you are funding in your donation memo.
• Return all items to CSB 126 (the Communications Suite) Monday - Thursday mornings.

Please contact Tara Pike or Toni Arcadipane with any questions. 

New Hires

• Michael Eugenio, Facilities Management
• Sean Thomasson, Facilities Management
• Carlos García, Facilities Management
• Justin Mamuad, Risk Management & Safety

Promotion

• Jason Halgas, Facilities Management

Anniversaries

• Leah Wilgard, 1 year
• Jeremy Sandoval, 1 year
• Frank Miranda, 2 years
• Zoe Howard, 2 years
• Darlene Jones, 3 years
• Pamela Sparks, 4 years
• Bruce Fox, 4 years
• Victor Reza, 7 years
• James Fisher, 8 years
• Anthony Otero, 8 years
• Hector Mason, 8 years
• Anthony Fields, 9 years

• Katie Benally, 9 years
• Betty Nielsen, 10 years
• Tofilua Mika, 10 years
• Colin Tewey, 11 years
• Jennifer Del Valle, 12 years
• Christopher Lane, 12 years
• Jimmer Drollinger, 12 years
• Racquel Rodriguez, 13 years
• Jose Miramontes, 22 years
• Gary Gray, 25 years
• Sandy Ziegler, 29 years

Dates to Remember

• Dec. 6: December 6 Remembrance & Healing event
• Dec. 10: Human Rights Day
• Dec. 14: Hanukkah begins
• Dec. 16: Master’s and Doctoral Commencement
• Dec. 16: Las Posadas begins
• Dec. 17: Undergraduate Commencement
• Dec. 18: William S. Boyd School of Law Commencement
• Dec. 19: Business Affairs holiday party