Originally posted: Jun. 1, 2026

By: Kelsey Claus

When Lisa Rubin arrived at UNLV as a doctoral student, few could have predicted the national impact she would go on to make in higher education. Today, as the recipient of the UNLV College of Education Higher Education Alumna of the Year, Dr. Rubin’s career stands as a testament to the power of leadership, scholarship, and unwavering connection to her alma mater.

Dr. Rubin completed her Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership at UNLV in 2012 while balancing full-time work in career services and teaching responsibilities at institutions across Southern Nevada. Colleagues remember her as a driven scholar and collaborative leader who embraced every opportunity to support students both inside and outside the classroom. 

Just two years later, she accepted a tenure-track faculty position at Kansas State University, where she would begin a remarkable rise through the academic ranks. At Kansas State, Dr. Rubin became nationally recognized for her scholarship in student affairs, academic advising, and student-athlete development. Her research has helped shape conversations around how institutions support college athletes and the professionals who guide them academically and personally. She co-authored the only published book dedicated specifically to student-athlete development, a text now used in graduate coursework at UNLV. She has since risen to the rank of full professor while earning numerous professional honors for her research, teaching, and leadership.

Among her many accomplishments, Dr. Rubin was named one of the Top 25 Women in Higher Education by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education and has received multiple national awards recognizing her contributions to student-athlete development and academic advising. 

Despite her national prominence, Dr. Rubin has remained deeply connected to UNLV and the Rebel community. Over the years, she has returned to campus to speak with students in Higher Education Leadership and Intercollegiate and Professional Sport Management programs, sharing insights from her professional journey and mentoring the next generation of leaders. She has also maintained close ties with fellow alumni across the country, proudly representing UNLV wherever her work has taken her. 

Her career reflects the values that continue to define the College of Education community: leadership, service, scholarship, and a commitment to helping students succeed. As Higher Education Alumna of the Year, Dr. Rubin represents the lasting impact of UNLV graduates who continue to shape education far beyond campus.  

Originally posted: Apr. 20, 2026

By: Sakinah Musa

What would you do if your business needed 100 employees but you only had 60? Who picks up the workload of the other 40? Who skips breaks, covers gaps, and keeps things running? 

And how long until the people barely holding it together start to burn out and the system collapses? 

Four years ago, that was the reality at Cheyenne High School. Today, the school is almost fully staffed with a vacancy rate of 3.5%, a transformation that reflects years of strategic leadership, collaboration, and a commitment to growth. 

At the center of that transformation is Principal Anthony Nuñez, ‘06 M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction, ‘09 M.Ed. Educational Leadership, whose strategy is built on vision and authenticity. 

Change Begins with Culture

“The first step was identifying our shared core values,” Anthony shared.  

When he first arrived at Cheyenne, the challenge was clear. Teachers were tired, and systems lacked structure. His plan of attack? Focus on culture.

Inspired by a book, Traction, Anthony and the staff conducted an exercise reflecting on the qualities of the individuals they admired most. Recurring trends in those responses helped them define the school’s values and establish a common vision for what Cheyenne should represent.

“And to this day, I think that our core values remain authentic to the staff.” 

The vision not only boosts staff morale but also plays a key role in recruitment. Anthony and the assistant principals involved in hiring tell candidates that the school is committed to improvement and growth, and that he will support anyone willing to learn and grow.

A Growth Mindset 

Anthony encourages his teachers to develop their practice over time rather than feel pressured to be perfect immediately. This growth mindset helps to create an environment where educators feel safe to grow professionally. 

“There’s a slightly different focus every year, but the goal is to keep growing and improving,” he shared.  

Now, the focus is beyond basic instructional practices; it also includes refining classroom management, strengthening lesson planning, and improving academic instruction.

Changing the Narrative

Before Anthony, Cheyenne had long carried a district-wide reputation as a difficult school. Anthony knew improving the school’s reputation required more than internal changes. One strategy was to give staff positive stories and data to share.

“A lot of what people know about our school is from what the people here are saying,” he said. 

Another strategy Anthony uses is increasing the school’s visibility. He has presented at conferences to share the school’s progress and also mentors other administrators.

“If I can talk about Cheyenne, I will talk about Cheyenne.”

Community partnerships have also played an important role. Events held at the school and collaborations with local and national organizations have brought new resources and positive attention to Cheyenne. For instance, the school hosted President Barack Obama twice. 

Beyond culture and collaboration, there is also a visible transformation of the school’s physical space. A larger school sign and redesigned outdoor spaces with turf have created welcoming areas for students to gather and build pride in their school. 

All of these efforts have yielded results that reinforce the shifting narrative. The school’s graduation rate rose to 88% from 75%, surpassing the district average, a testament to the fact that when teachers stay, students stay. 

Looking Ahead

Although the progress at Cheyenne has been significant, the work is far from finished.

“We are going to keep improving graduation rates, increase ACT performances, and ensure our [Career & Technical Education] programs give our students clear pathways into college or the workforce,” Anthony shared. 

Another priority for him is staff retention. Recruitment was the first step, but long-term success will depend on retaining the teachers and leaders who have helped rebuild the school.

Above all, the transformation of Cheyenne High School demonstrates what sustained leadership, collaboration, and a growth mindset can accomplish.