Originally posted: May. 21, 2025
By: Kia Cummings
People don’t dedicate their entire careers to one place like they used to. In the early 90s, it was even more uncommon for a woman to work in intercollegiate athletics. Rare as it is, Lisa Kelleher has been one-of-a-kind in many of the rooms and positions she has held in her over 30 years of service to UNLV. “Perseverance over persistence” has driven her forward. Now, as she prepares for retirement for a second time, her impact will continue to be felt by students who receive the Lisa Kelleher Intercollegiate Professional Sport Management (IPSM) Legacy Scholarship.
The scholarship honors her remarkable career. A dedicated leader in both Athletics and the College of Education’s IPSM program, Lisa has been a tireless advocate for women’s sports, helping restore NCAA volleyball, and adding women’s soccer and golf. She also played a vital role on UNLV’s Women’s Council and numerous campus committees, giving a voice to those female athletes and members of the university community.
When reflecting on her life, career, and future hopes for the program, this is what she had to say:
How did growing up in your family’s clothing and sporting goods store influence your passion for athletics?
“It was where everyone gathered on Monday to rehash the previous Friday night football game. When I was put out on the sales floor to work with my brothers, I didn’t know any differently. We all worked, played basketball, softball, baseball—whatever. I was included right away.” While most girls her age were discouraged from sports in favor of more traditionally feminine roles, Lisa escaped the typecasting. In her mind, women always belonged in athletics.
Throughout your career, you’ve held the titles of deputy and associate athletic director, senior woman administrator (SWA), part-time instructor, and now visiting associate professor. What role shaped you the most?
“First and foremost was my role as senior woman administrator,” she beamed. Within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), only four people get a seat at the table. The president, the athletic director, the faculty athletic rep, and the senior woman administrator. “It’s kind of a misnomer and glass ceiling position, because it assumes that the senior woman will never be the athletic director,” she said frankly. “But I always teach my students, you’ve got to get access to the table—get in the room. So, while maybe self-limiting, it was the pivotal and beneficial role for me because I got to go to all the NCAA conventions and Mountain West Conference meetings and was even on the Football Bowl Selection Committee.” In these spaces, Lisa learned to accept different perspectives, foster collaboration, and drive change.
What do you consider your proudest achievement?
“The establishment of three of our women’s volleyball, soccer, and golf programs,” she said, not missing a beat. In ‘96, ‘98, and ‘01, UNLV faced a problem. The university’s sports program numbers were unbalanced, violating Title IX compliance. Knowing that cutting back men’s programs would be a tough sell, Lisa worked hard to advocate for new and improved opportunities for women. “The intention was not to cut the guy’s sports in half. It was to go double. Volleyball was brought back, and added two new programs,” she explained.
This doubling up was easier said than done. Many of the men’s programs were worried that their money would be taken, they would lose access, or worse, have to share practice and playing facilities with women’s programs. “I worked with coaches saying, ‘If you’re currently getting three hours of tee time, I’m going to ask for six. If you get $50,000 from this group, I’m not going to ask them to split it, I’m going to ask them to donate $50,000 more.’ When they asked how they were going to share a space, I said, ‘We’re going to build new men’s and women’s practice fields.’” Lisa recounted tapping into her tactful negotiation skills and a kill-them-with-kindness mentality. “We will work it out,” she repeatedly assured them, and work it out she did.
The IPSM program was born out of a need to equip the next generation of professionals slated to lead the rapidly growing sport landscape in Las Vegas. What drew you to get involved in its continued development?
The college previously had a sports educational leadership Ph.D. program that dissolved in the early 2000s. Back then, Nancy Lough and Lisa were colleagues, respectively bridging the academic and administrative aspects of sport on campus. “When Nancy started to develop the program, I had already retired from athletics and was teaching first- and second-year seminars.” As the program was developing, the two talked about different opportunities, including Lisa teaching in these graduate-level courses.
“I taught several courses, but my favorite was eSports. I’m most proud of that,” she said with a chuckle. “Dr. Lough came to me one semester and said, you know, we want to start teaching eSports—it seems like a big thing out here. I’m like, ‘eSports? I don’t even play video games.” She asked Dr. Lough to give her a week or two to do some research to consider what the curriculum might look like. Lisa called up her daughter’s friends, asking them to bring their gaming consoles and computers to her house and teach her more about it. “Tell me what I’m doing. Tell me why you’re doing it and what the interest is, and then what would you like to learn?” she asked them. “I listened to them, and a week and a half later, agreed to teach the class.”
You’ve praised the local sports community for offering student growth, learning, and employment opportunities for students through internships and more. How can they continue to contribute to the program’s success, helping in its growth and development?
“I always say, it’s about access and funding. Before anything else, we need the money to grow the program.” Scholarships are another way that financial support can help improve access for students. “We want our students to be able to get in the door so the next generation can start driving decisions.” Adamant about opening doors for her students, like the advocates she had at every step of her career, we hope to honor her legacy with this new scholarship.
