The inside scoop on the people and projects that support UNLV

In this issue:

• Nevada Allergies Nothing to Sneeze At
• Employee Profile: Kelly Owsley, Senior Purchasing Analyst
• Improving Campus Visibility One Sign at a Time
• Farewell Reception Honoring Jean Vock
• Open Forums With Vice President, Business Affairs / CFO Candidates
• National Wellness Month
• Happiness: A Key to Life’s Satisfaction Webinar
• Spotlight on Service
• Upgrading Your Digital Literacy

Nevada Allergies Nothing to Sneeze At

The following excerpt from the UNLV News Center article, Nevada Allergies Nothing to Sneeze At, features Grounds Superintendent James Kearney explaining Facilities Management’s role in allergen reduction.

Curbing Pollen Through Thoughtful Landscaping

Meanwhile, residents can always consider short-term solutions like being more mindful of what they plant in their yards. Fruitless mulberry trees, for example, were originally brought to the area to create more shade but banned by Clark County in 1991 due to the amount of pollen they shed. In the same year, the county also banned European olive trees.

Kearney keeps things like that in mind as he tends to campus. UNLV is recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Campus USA, but its large concentration of trees and plants can definitely have an impact on allergies for those on campus.

“Desert plants like cactus and succulents tend to have lower levels of pollen. Grasses are pollinated by wind whereas desert plants rely on moths, bees, and bats,” explains Kearney, who also manages the UNLV Grounds Instagram account, which regularly posts informative (and often humorous) commentary about the trees and plants found on campus. “We are planting more of these types of plants for the purposes of water conservation anyway, so it’s a win/win.”

Read the full article.

Employee Profile: Kelly Owsley, Senior Purchasing Analyst

Kelly Owsley is passionate about helping departments get the most out of their purchasing activities. As a senior purchasing analyst and contract administrator for Purchasing and Contracts, Kelly works with department representatives across campus to complete software agreements, consulting contracts, and other business documents in accordance with purchasing procedures.

During her career at UNLV, Kelly has been involved in a variety of large procurements and other agreements that determine which vendors supply us with equipment like copiers and computer software. Kelly says the best part of her job is learning new things. “I’m always busy talking to vendors and finding solutions,” says Kelly.

Kelly spends time reviewing quotes, bid and RFP documents, scopes of work, terms and conditions, and other details to ensure the university is entering into agreements that benefit our mission and, when appropriate, small businesses within our community. Kelly recently awarded a temporary staffing contract to several local companies that will result in hundreds of short-term job opportunities.

A long-term Nevada resident, Kelly moved to Las Vegas when she was two years old from Huntsville, Alabama. After graduating from Arizona State University, she returned to Las Vegas to start her career. In August, Kelly will celebrate her 21st work anniversary at UNLV. Before locking down a career at UNLV, she worked at a correctional facility. When she isn’t working, Kelly spends time hanging out with her two children and family dog.

Improving Campus Visibility One Sign at a Time

The following is an excerpt from the UNLV News Center article Improving Campus Visibility One Sign at a Time featuring the Planning and Construction department for their work to improve wayfinding on campus.

Navigating a university as large and complex as UNLV can be challenging. Think back to the first time you arrived on campus. How long did it take you to find the building or facility you were looking for? Did the exterior signage stand out? Were there enough directional signs? Having good signage helps you get where you need to go quickly and efficiently and sets the tone for the visitor experience.

Enhancing the campus environment and improving wayfinding is a major component of the Maryland Campus Master Plan. Thanks to recent funding, the UNLV Planning and Construction (P&C) department, together with Architectural Design & Signs, Inc. (AD/S), is making the campus more inviting and easier to navigate for students, faculty, staff, and visitors with the campus signage and wayfinding project.

Read the full article.

Farewell Reception Honoring Jean Vock

Faculty and staff are invited to a farewell reception honoring Jean Vock on August 16, from 2 p.m.- 5 p.m. at the Tam Alumni Center Grand Hall.

Join us in thanking her for her leadership and wishing her well in her future endeavors. Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP if you plan to attend.

Open Forums With Vice President, Business Affairs / CFO Candidates

The Vice President, Business Affairs / CFO search committee is pleased to invite you to participate in open forums with three finalists for the position. Participation will be via Zoom only. Registration is not required.

If you would like to ask the candidates a question, please submit it via the CFO Finalist Questions form by today at 5 p.m. This will help us to ensure all candidates have the opportunity to respond to each question and efficiently manage our meeting time.

Visit the Vice President, Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Search webpage for more information and candidate CVs.

National Wellness Month

August is National Wellness Month, a time when attention is given to the importance of self-care and promoting healthy lifestyle routines. Simple ways to create wholeness habits so you can feel your best include:

• Managing stress through physical activity or adopting a hobby
• Understanding your stress triggers and finding healthy ways to cope with them
• Practicing mindfulness meditation
• Moving around and staying active, even at work
• Getting adequate rest and sleep

UNLV’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) partner ComPsych offers resources for National Wellness Month and resources for employees with children returning to school. For more information on these EAP resources, check out this UNLV Today announcement.

Happiness: A Key to Life's Satisfaction Webinar

Happiness can affect the way we think and act in our daily lives. Feelings of joy, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfillment are positive emotions that showcase what it means to be happy. If you struggle with any of these, then it’s time to assess your level of happiness. 

Learn ways to better achieve happiness in a free webinar from ComPsych on Wednesday, Aug. 9 at 12 p.m. Register via GoToWebinar.

Spotlight on Service

Kudos to Sherri Newcomb, senior advisor to Jean Vock, senior vice president of business affairs/chief financial officer, for receiving the 2023 Service to NACUBO Award for her extensive contributions to the association.

Upgrading Your Digital Literacy

Google Workspace recently introduced the ability for users to set working locations in Calendar that indicate where they’re working for specific portions of the day. In addition to this feature, users now have the ability to programmatically read and write working locations for specific portions of the day. 

To learn more about these recent changes, visit the Google Workspace Blog.