The inside scoop on the people and projects that support UNLV

In this issue:

• Business Affairs All-Staff Meeting Recap
• Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• Business Affairs Departments Collaborate to Help Launch New Medical Clinic
• Spotlight on Service
• Call for First Generation College Graduates and Veterans
• NSHE Financial Wellness Week
• New Hires / Promotions
• Anniversaries

Business Affairs All-Staff Meeting Recap

Hello Colleagues,

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend the Business Affairs all-staff meeting on Sept. 30. It was great to be together, hear updates from our campus colleagues, and have a little fun. 

We kicked off the afternoon by encouraging tables to collaborate on a CARE-themed crossword puzzle designed by Financial Services’ Mike Ellison. Mike is a featured The New York Times crossword puzzle designer, so the puzzle was a bit tough. However, Business Affairs team members rose to the challenge - one table scored 100 percent!

Then, I shared some updates on our student enrollment and acknowledged the work that many of our teams did to prepare for the start of the fall semester - my first one at UNLV! We have a record-setting class of more than 32,000 students. This is excellent news. While universities nationwide are seeing stagnant enrollment numbers, we’ve increased our enrollment by 3%. To prepare, we closed out a fiscal year and implemented security enhancements in Beam Hall. Visit the UNLV News Center to read more about how our teams contributed to this effort. 

Interim Vice President for Diversity Initiatives / Chief Diversity Officer José Melendrez shared President Whitfield’s statement on diversity and provided an overview of designations that contribute to our being one of the most diverse universities in the nation. He also provided an overview of the state of DEI across the country and the impact of recent anti-DEI legislation. Teams who are interested in hearing more from José are encouraged to contact his office. 

Director of Learning and Organizational Development Brenda Thompson-El told us about the structure of her team, their role in the organization, and where to find the latest Learning and Development (L&D) offerings. The L&D team is currently accepting participants for the fall cohorts of the Administrative Assistant Academy and Management Training Academy. If you are interested in registering for either, please speak with your supervisor. 

Health and Wellness Program Manager Sonja Rogers got us up and moving with an energizing boxing routine. I was really impressed by everyone’s enthusiasm – Business Affairs knows how to pack a punch! After working up a sweat, Sonja shared valuable insights into the many dimensions of wellness and informed us about her new RebelWELL newsletter. The newsletter will feature goals and resources to help you build healthy habits such as getting better sleep, staying active (especially during the holiday season), drinking more water, tracking your steps, and more. All employees can sign up to receive the RebelWELL newsletter via email.

Sustainability Coordinator / Recycling Manager Tara Pike gave us an overview of the newly launched Rebel CAP, a plan that sets bold targets, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2057, just in time for UNLV’s 100th anniversary. The Rebel CAP Core team celebrated the completion of the plan with a launch event on Sept. 13. Check out the Rebel CAP launch event highlight video to see more. Sign up to get involved with university-led initiatives. For ongoing updates, visit the Rebel CAP website.

Then Tara tested our solid waste knowledge with an interactive sorting game. We all learned something including that you should always refuse UNR swag and plastic shopping bags do not go into recycling bins. 

We closed out the day by acknowledging Business Affairs Employee Appreciation recipients for the first six months of 2024 and taking photos of each of the Business Affairs teams. Thank you to Philip Dow from Purchasing & Contracts for being our photographer. 

On Oct. 2 we hosted a meeting for our Facilities team members who work the night shift. We shared updates on campus lighting improvements, our Rebel CAP planning efforts, faculty and staff appreciation nights for Athletic events (use promo code UNLVSTAFF), and more. Team members participated in rounds of Las Vegas and UNLV trivia, won prizes, and had a few laughs. Thank you to the night shift for working hard to maintain our campuses!

A special thank you to:

• The planning committee:
• Chantel McDonald, Director of Strategic Projects and Training Development
• Nohealani Benicarlo, Executive Assistant 
• Alexandra Nikolich, Chief of Staff
• Heather Ortiz, Director of Communication
• Rasheda Abdullah Hairston, Communication Specialist
• Liz Davis, Communication Specialist
• Lead Care Ambassadors:
• Chelsea Meggerson
• Michael Bailey
• Jan Lasagna
• Trinity Reynoso, Rebel CAP activity

Have a great rest of the semester!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month, observed every October, is a global campaign to raise awareness about breast cancer, its prevention, and the importance of early detection. Established in 1985, the month aims to educate the public about risk factors, encourage regular screenings, and support those affected by the disease. 

It also highlights advancements in treatment and research, as well as the importance of fundraising for continued efforts to find a cure. During this time, people often donate to breast cancer awareness charities, continue to acknowledge those affected, and remember loved ones. 

Events such as walks and fundraisers are common ways to show solidarity and raise awareness. This is a time for communities to come together, offering hope and strength to those battling breast cancer and honoring the memories of those we've lost.

Business Affairs Departments Collaborate to Help Launch New Medical Clinic

As UNLV Health expanded its services across the Las Vegas valley, collaboration within the university’s Business Affairs departments was essential to the development of its newest and largest facility. 

The UNLV Health clinic associated with the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, recently opened its doors at 2724 North Tenaya Way, thanks in part to the joint efforts of the Real Estate and Planning & Construction teams.

The clinic provides specialized care in family medicine, sports and musculoskeletal medicine, surgery, and plastic surgery. 

The need for expansion became apparent as UNLV Health continued to grow in size and scope, while providing valuable learning opportunities for medical students. To accommodate this growth, UNLV Health turned to the Business Affairs’ Real Estate team to find an ideal location for the new clinic. Over the course of two years, the Real Estate and Planning & Construction teams worked tirelessly to identify a suitable space that would not only meet the operational needs of the clinic but also serve the surrounding community.

Their efforts culminated in securing a 22,000-square-foot facility with a 317-person occupancy in northwest Las Vegas, under a 10-year lease agreement. The clinic includes 23 exam rooms and more than a dozen procedure rooms. However, identifying the right space was only one part of the challenge. To ensure the clinic met the vision and functional requirements of UNLV Health, the Real Estate team collaborated closely with Planning & Construction’s Interior Design team.

From the earliest stages of the project, the two departments worked hand-in-hand, meticulously planning and designing a welcoming, patient-centered environment.

The design team created a holistic environment that is both visually pleasing, yet functional space. Their task was to balance the aesthetic needs of the clinic with the practical requirements of a medical facility. Every element, from color palette to furniture, was carefully chosen to promote a sense of wellness and hospitality while maintaining a professional and efficient environment.

The clinic is now a key resource for both the local community and UNLV’s medical students, offering a one-stop location for various medical services.

Spotlight on Service

In Oct. 2023, 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 Real Estate. 

“The real estate office is great, they keep their various projects moving forward and are highly collaborative.”

“I corresponded a few times with this team during the year. They are very responsive and help me to resolve my concerns during those interactions.”

“The whole team is very friendly, timely, and helpful in processing documents, etc.”

Call for First Generation College Graduates and Veterans

In November, we will recognize Business Affairs employees who are first generation college graduates and veterans. See below for details:

First Generation College Graduates

UNLV's First-Generation Celebration Week is Nov. 4 - 8! Each year, Business Affairs recognizes the division’s first-generation college graduates (a person whose parents did not complete a four year college degree) in the Business Affairs Bulletin and on the Campus Services Building (CSB) lobby screens. We are excited to continue this tradition!

If you are a first-generation graduate, please fill out this Qualtrics form by Oct. 14. 

Veterans

We value the sacrifices our veteran employees have made for our country through their military service. In honor of Veterans Day, we will recognize and celebrate Business Affairs employees who served in all branches of the U.S. military in the Business Affairs Bulletin and on the Campus Services Building lobby screens.

If you are a veteran, please fill out this Qualtrics form by Oct. 14. 

If you are both a first generation college graduate and a veteran, please complete both forms. 

If you were featured last year as a first generation or veteran employee, please complete the form(s) and indicate that you would like to be featured again and / or if any of your information has changed.

Reach out to Rasheda Abdullah Hairston with any questions.

NSHE Financial Wellness Week

NSHE and TIAA will host a virtual financial wellness week Oct. 14-18. Sessions will include:

• Expert advice from representatives from NSHE, TIAA, Social Security, Nevada PERS and more.
• In depth information about Social Security and NSHE Retirement Plan benefits.
• Financial asset management. Get advice from a TIAA financial consultant to develop and execute your personalized plan.
• Information on latest financial scam tactics and ways to protect yourself.

Register for a session

If you have any questions, contact the benefits team at hrbenefits@unlv.edu.

New Hires

• Gavin Milmeister, Delivery Services
• Anthony Ogletree, Parking & Transportation Services
• Darryl Young, Facilities Management 
• Monique Desargant, Facilities Management
• Ana Sanjuan Agustin, Risk Management & Safety
• Ashley Harrah, Facilities Management
• Jorden Kang, Delivery Services
• Miah Griffith, Facilities Management
• Tessia Mauai, Facilities Management
• Noreysi Hodelin, Facilities Management
• Li Guan, Risk Management & Safety

Promotions

• Matthew Diggins, Financial Services
• Oscar Estrada Jr., Facilities Management

Anniversaries

Congratulations to the Business Affairs employees celebrating work anniversaries in October! Years of service have been determined using the UNLV hire date - first employment date without any breaks in service here at UNLV regardless of job type or full-time status.

If you notice an error in your listing, contact Heather Ortiz.